Former United Way Executive Director Has a New Mission

, the former executive director for the United Way, spent most of the last two decades raising money for the community charity that he led. By all accounts he was a successful fundraiser.

But now, faced with his own personal mission of raising money to save his daughter's life, asking for money isn't as easy,.

Koontz and his family need to raise $600,000 to pay for two transplant procedures for his daughter, Kathe Koontz Wimberly, who has been an insulin-dependent diabetic since she was 16.

Wimberly, 44, lives in North Carolina with her 16-year-old son Matthew and is on the transplant list. She needs a kidney and a pancreas.

Diabetes affects kidneys and other organs over time. Wimberly did well for years, but last spring she was informed that her kidneys had suddenly and rapidly gone into decline.

In May her kidney function was at 27 percent. A month later her kidneys had decline to 24 percent function. And doctors told her she needed to start looking for a donor. Once her kidney function is at 20 percent she will be put on the transplant registry. Because she's still young, Wimberly's doctors also want to transplant her pancreas, which would cure her diabetes.

But of course transplants cost money and a lot of it. Even after insurance, Wimberly's share of the cost is at least $600,000.And the medical community caring for her told her it is time to start raising that money.

And that's where Jerry and Pam Koontz come in. They are helping to raise the money for their only daughter. It's one of the reasons Koontz retired from the United Way when he did.

"We are just hoping and praying," he said. "She is an amazing young lady. She owns her own business and has two full-time employees. She is hard working and ambitious."

They are looking at several options since one of Wimberly's friends offered to donate a kidney, but was not a suitable match. Now she is hoping to participate in a kidney transplant swap program that could benefit Wimberly.

If  Wimberly gets the kidney, then she can begin to explore options for a pancreas transplant or other possible treatments.

"She has made a committment to her son and to life," Koontz said.

Wimberly is chronicling her health issues and her search for a kidney. Throughout the process it is apparent she is holding on to her sense of humor. At the same time it is apparent that the clock is ticking on her life.