Gerald Lau
Founder & President
A corporate attorney who has counseled businesses from startups to Fortune 50 enterprises, Gerald founded Life4Donors after receiving a kidney from a living donor—a gift that reshaped what he wanted his work to mean.
Our mission
Donors should not be forgotten after the gift.
Life4Donors is building lifelong post-donation support for living organ donors—beginning with hardship grants for verified non-directed donors and growing into community, resources, advocacy, and whole-life support.
A founder’s reason
“I am alive today because someone gave me a kidney.”
A friend made a decision that changed the rest of my life. He went through surgery, pain, recovery, risk, and uncertainty so that I could have more time with my family and a future I might not otherwise have had.
After my transplant, I learned more about non-directed living donors—people who donate to someone they do not know, often anonymously, with no expectation of recognition or repayment.
What troubled me was learning that after surgery, some donors are left with medical bills, lost income, emotional strain, employment issues, insurance problems, or the quiet feeling that once the gift was given, the world moved on.
Life4Donors was created to help close that gap.
Read why Gerald founded Life4DonorsWho we are
The people behind the promise.
Charles Rickert, MD, PhD
Director
A transplant surgeon and healthcare leader with expertise in transplant care and clinical research, focused on improving transplant outcomes and equitable access to specialized care.
Michael Aniff
Director
A finance executive and former CFO, Michael brings extensive experience in financial strategy, fundraising, regulatory compliance, governance, and sustainable organizational growth.
Paulina Song
Director
A healthcare policy expert with deep experience inside large healthcare nonprofits, Paulina helps mission-driven organizations navigate complex challenges and deliver meaningful community impact.
John Shioshita
Director
A systems administrator at UC Berkeley for more than 25 years—and a living kidney donor. John knows firsthand how little structured support exists long after donation, and he serves to help close that gap.
What guides us
Mission first. Stewardship always.
Integrity
Transparent, objective, and fair program decisions.
Stewardship
Every donated dollar treated as a public trust.
Collaboration
Partner where strong services already exist instead of duplicating them.
Evidence
Donor feedback, research, and measurable outcomes guide priorities.
Sustainability
Programs grow only when resources can support them responsibly.
Innovation
Better ways to serve donors, discovered and tested over time.
The end goal