Rooted in Resilence: TRIO San Francisco's Legacy of Connection and Hope

Since its founding in March 1994, the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of TRIO has stood as a beacon of hope, connection, and advocacy for transplant recipients, candidates, and their families. Emerging just months after TRIO National launched in October 1993, the chapter quickly became a vital space for education, support, and community-building.

From the beginning, compassionate leaders like Linda O’Hara, the chapter’s first president, and early members such as Monet Thomson, Cheryl Moss, and Bob Moss cultivated a vibrant, intergenerational network—welcoming new faces and fostering lifelong friendships.

Over the years, the chapter has celebrated remarkable milestones. Among them: the inspiring journey of the Stenzel twins, whose story, The Power of Two, chronicled their path from Cystic Fibrosis to lung transplantation and touched hearts across the nation. These stories reflect the chapter’s enduring purpose: to learn from one another, navigate the complexities of transplant life, and uplift each other through every stage.

Nima Chhay, began serving the transplant community as a Membership Chair, Vice President, and continues as President of the San Francisco Chapter of TRIO since 2023. The Chapter has 40 to 50 members who span the nine counties in the Bay Area. However, the chapter embraces geographic diversity and has members in other California counties of Orange and Sacramento, as well as the States of Alaska and Utah

While time zones and varied interests present challenges, monthly Zoom meetings (held every second Thursday) and twice-yearly in-person gatherings—a summer picnic and a holiday luncheon—keep the more than forty members connected. The shift from hospital-based meetings to virtual platforms has expanded their reach and deepened their impact, especially among younger transplant recipients drawn to the accessibility and warmth of the community.

TRIO San Francisco is proud to collaborate with esteemed medical professionals such as Dr. Charles Rickert, Assistant Professor of Surgery at UCSF, and Dr. Oscar Salvatierra, whose distinguished career spanned both UCSF and Stanford. The chapter also partners with organizations like Donor Network West, the Organ Procurement Organization, to support initiatives such as the Transplant Games and promote donor awareness and transplant education.

With a strong foundation—financially secure and supported by their website and Facebook page—the chapter offers complimentary memberships to welcome new members. Yet it’s the small gestures that truly sustain them: a phone call, a shared story, a moment of encouragement. TRIO San Francisco thrives because someone always steps up—to initiate, to care, and to connect. that day.