The third annual Matthew Coll Gift of Life Games took place recently at Tacony Academy Charter High School.
Matthew Coll, of Fox Chase, graduated from Tacony Academy in 2018 and was a member of the baseball team. He died in February 2022, two weeks after being involved as a passenger in a car accident at Verree Road and Bloomfield Avenue.
Matthew was an organ donor, and his kidneys and liver were donated to people in need while his lungs, brain and tissue went to research.
On April 25, during National Donate Life Month, the Tacony Academy baseball and softball teams squared off against Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School in games played at American Legion Playground, across from Tacony Academy.
Some members of Matthew’s family – parents Mike and Colleen, sister Caitlin, brother Thomas, grandmom Joanne McDonald and aunt Megan Brown – threw out the first pitches, with No. 33 (Matthew’s number) and Matthew’s initials printed on the balls.
Meanwhile, Tacony Academy hosted New Foundations in a boys volleyball game in the air-conditioned Lions Den Gymnasium.
Each player on all teams wore shirts featuring No. 33 and the Gift of Life logo. Some wore bracelets that read, “Matt Coll, Always a Lion.”
Philadelphia Performing Arts won the baseball game 15-8 and the softball game 14-6, while New Foundations prevailed 3-0 in volleyball.
But the Tacony Academy scholarship fund and the Gift of Life Donor Program were the real winners.
Matthew’s family raises money in a variety of ways, including at an annual Phillies game, this year set for Sept. 12. Family and friends also join forces as the Matthew’s Gentle Giants team at the annual Gift of Life Donor Dash, which took place this year on April 27 at the Navy Yard.
Proceeds from those two events and other donations and fundraisers go to scholarships to selected Tacony Academy students and to the Gift of Life.
At the April 25 games, Gift of Life volunteer Earl Jones, who received a heart transplant 23 years ago, set up an information table on organ and tissue donations. There were also pretzels, snacks and drinks. ••
Donations in Matthew’s memory can be sent to the Gift of Life Donor Program, 401 N. 3rd St., Philadelphia, PA 19123 or at https://give.donordash.org/team/479808.
To become an organ and tissue donor, call 800-DONORS-1 or visit donors1.org/register.
