Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency  

68190 Highway 190 Service Rd. 
Company Fact Sheet  Covington, LA 70433 

1-800-521-GIVE (4483) 
 

 
The Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency (LOPA) was established on 
 
April 1, 1988, as a non-profit agency. The company is Louisiana's 
Overview  number one supplier of services and support to organ donors, as well 
as those seeking donations. LOPA links all individuals in need with 
other potential donors while raising awareness about the need for 
tissue and organ donations. 

   
 
- Maintaining the Louisiana Donor Registry 
 
Main Objectives  - Educating the Louisiana citizens on organ procurement 
through community events and seminars   
- Grief management for families that have lost loved ones 

- Connecting those same families to the patients their donation 

affected 
 

Purpose  - “Make Life Happen” 

 

Responsibilities  - Housing and maintaining the Louisiana Donor Registry 

  - Recovering organs and tissue for transplant 
   
Employees  - Over 3,000 
   
   
  - Kelly Ranum, ​CEO 
Leaders  - Kyle Hagan, ​COO 
  - Chrissy Hagan, ​CAO 
  - Joey Boudreaux, ​CCO 
   
   
Social Media  https://www.facebook.com/LOPAmakinglifehappen 
https://www.instagram.com/lopamakinglifehappen/ 
https://twitter.com/LOPA_org 
 
 News Release

Contact:
RAVEN SMITH
STUDENT
(318) 955-3379
SMITHRG@WARHAWKS.ULM.EDU
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS GIVING

MONROE, La. (Nov. 21, 2019) - The University of Louisiana-Monroe’s Communication

Program students will host a Pop-Up and Flash Donation Sign-Up in collaboration with the

Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency (LOPA) on Monday, Nov. 25 from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. The

event will take place on ULM’s campus, in front of the Student Union Building, next to the

library.

With over 2,000 individuals in Louisiana waiting on life-saving organ transplants, this

event will raise awareness in the Ouachita community about the importance of organ, eye, and

tissue donation just before the Thanksgiving holiday. "It gives you the last chance to be a hero to

somebody that desperately needs one. You don't need your organs in heaven, so give your organs

here and help save a life," said Jonathan Perry, father of 6-month-old organ donor, John Clarke.

LOPA representatives, donor families, recipient families and ULM students will be available to

help individuals register as organ donors and for photo opportunities and interviews.

Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency (LOPA) was established on April 1, 1988, as an

independent, not-for-profit organ and tissue recovery agency and is tasked with two main

objectives; housing and maintaining the Louisiana Donor Registry, and recovering organs and

tissue for transplant. LOPA's Core Purpose is “Making Life Happen”. To find out more about

organ donation, visit LOPA’s website at ​https://www.lopa.org/​.

 ###

Media Alert
Contact:
RAVEN SMITH
STUDENT
(318) 955-3379
SMITHRG@WARHAWKS.ULM.EDU
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 21, 2019

Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency host first-ever organ donation pop-up

LOPA and students give community an opportunity to learn more about organ donation with
pop-up event.

Who:
Chuck Riddick, ​President of Public Relations Student Society of America-ULM
Leah Lopez​, Community Educator of Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency
Jonathan Perry​,​ Director of John Clarke Perry Foundation
Kelly Ranum,​ CEO of Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency

What:
LOPA and public relations students are hosting a flash organ donation registry to bring organ
and tissue awareness to the Ouachita community.

Why:
There are over 2,000 people waiting for organ donations in Louisiana, and LOPA needs help
lowering this number. By raising awareness of the issue, we might put an end to this tragic
situation in our state and erase the stigmas surrounding organ donation. LOPA contributes to
international efforts to provide and help for families in need of donations or financial assistance.

When:
Monday, November 25th
Pop-up at 11:30am
Interviews at 12pm

Where:
The Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency
700 University Avenue
Monroe, LA 71212
Parking will be free for all media guests. All guests present will be required to show one form of
identification upon entry. No RSVP required.
 -###-

Executive Profile

Leah Lopez, Community Educator, Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency

Leah Lopez is the Community Educator for

the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency.
Leah joined LOPA in after resigning from her
bank teller job in 2010. As the Community
Educator, Leah provides detailed information
about organ, tissue and eye donation to the
communities of Central and North East
Louisiana. Her daily objectives are to plan
community events such as the Krewe De Life
Mardi Gras Ball, a fundraising campaign that
made a life-changing difference for those
awaited organ and tissue transplants by
funding LOPA’s Community Education and
Family Service programs. Leah also helps
LOPA raise the number of registered donors
in Louisiana.

Leah attended McNeese State University in Leah Lopez

Lake Charles, LA and got her Bachelor’s
degree in Early Childhood Education.

Leah was born and raised in South Louisiana

and is a married mother of three beautiful
children.

###
November 2019
 Backgrounder

Contact:
RAVEN SMITH
STUDENT
(318) 955-3379
SMITHRG@WARHAWKS.ULM.EDU

LOPA Strives to Make Life Happen Through Organ Donation

LOPA History:

The Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency (LOPA) was founded as an independent non-profit

organ and tissue recovery agency on April 1, 1988. LOPA is officially recognized by the Centers

for Medicare & Medicaid as the Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) accountable for the

administration of the state of Louisiana.

LOPA Purpose:

LOPA's main purposes are the care and preservation of the Louisiana Donor Registry and the

retrieval of organs and tissue through transplantation. LOPA partners with clinics, parish

coroners, funeral homes, researchers and driver education providers in pursuit of their Central

Purpose, Making Life Happen. These powerful partnerships enable them to deliver quality care

and education throughout the donation process.

LOPA Education:

One of the biggest problems confronting LOPA is the shortage of organ donation awareness

throughout the state of Louisiana. LOPA emphasizes that the first step is to choose to donate.

Education is needed in this process and LOPA's workforce offers a wide range of educational

resources for the community and professionals in Louisiana. There are 2,139 people waiting for a

life-saving organ transplant in Louisiana today. One donor will potentially save up to nine

people's lives.

LOPA Facilities:

LOPA has a state-of-the-art clinic that is designed up to improve the Donor Care Center organ

and tissue donation process. The Donor Care Center is complete with medical and surgical

instruments that guarantee a secure and timely procedure and an atmosphere that provides the

highest level of care and responsiveness for each and every donor.

-###-