When a Hall of Fame athlete who owes his life to a kidney transplant steps onto a Las Vegas golf course, the message is impossible to miss: organ donation saves lives. That was the scene on October 5, when the Nevada Donor Network Foundation hosted its 2026 Golf Invitational at the Las Vegas Country Club, mixing sport with a serious public health mission.
2026 Nevada Donor Network Foundation Golf Invitational Opening Ceremonies from L-R: Gordon Prouty, Alonzo Mourning, Seema Sadekar and Joe Ferreira
Alonzo Mourning, Kidney Transplant Recipient and NBA Icon, welcomes guests to the 2026 Nevada Donor Network Foundation Golf Invitational
2026 Nevada Donor Network Foundation Golf Invitational honors the growing community while sharing their lifesaving mission in Las Vegas.
Mourning, a kidney transplant recipient, NBA champion, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, and Olympic gold medalist, served as the event’s special guest. He opened the day by reflecting on his personal stake in the cause. Basketball icon Julius “Dr. J” Erving also appeared, lending his support to the organization’s lifesaving work.
The numbers behind the event are stark. More than 109,000 Americans are currently on the waiting list for a lifesaving organ transplant, including nearly 700 Nevadans. In 2025 alone, Nevada Donor Network facilitated 262 organ donations that led to 795 transplants, and supported 5,633 tissue, ocular, and birth tissue donations.
As a kidney transplant recipient, I understand firsthand the gift of life that organ donation provides.— Alonzo Mourning
“As a kidney transplant recipient, I understand firsthand the gift of life that organ donation provides,” Mourning said. “Golf is a passion of mine and a game that can be used to build awareness, celebrate donors and their families and inspire others to join in the Nevada Donor Network mission.”
Produced by PGD Global and hosted by former professional golfers and sisters Nisha and Seema Sadekar, the invitational was designed to feel less like a typical tournament and more like a celebration. Guests were greeted with a decorated arrival, gift bags, on-course activations, food, and entertainment, all leading up to a closing dinner and awards ceremony.
“This event is more than a golf tournament, it’s a celebration of hope, strength and life,” said Gordon Prouty, president of Nevada Donor Network Foundation. “Every swing supports our mission to honor heroic donors and their families, raise critical awareness and fund lifesaving programs for our community.”
The evening closed with recognition of the day’s top performers, with awards presented across multiple categories:
2026 NEVADA DONOR NETWORK FOUNDATION GOLF INVITATIONAL AWARD WINNERS
Tournament Champions, presented by Caymus
Mark Jarvis
Lindsay Hoskins Casey
Justin Alonzo
Kevin Misch
Second Place Team, presented by Green Society Golf
Julius Erving
Brian DiBartolomeo
Antonio Trillo
Deacon Nauslar
Third Place Team, presented by GHOST Energy
Franzen Wong
Will Eddins
Jonathan Minkoff
Jamie Yoon
Last Place Team; “Most Honest Golfers”, presented by Topgolf
Yvonne Wade
Amber Lopez Lasater
Miles Lanning
Jonathan Jossel
Best Dressed, presented by MACEOO
Male Champion: James Renzvold
Female Champion: Avis Brown Riley
Legend of the Lounge, presented by GUCCI
Men’s Champion: Neil Gokal
Women’s Champion: Alycia Bolling
Longest Drive, presented by PXG
Men’s: Nathan Lee
Women’s: Jamie Yoon
Closest to the Pin, presented by Resorts World Las Vegas
Champion: Russ Williams
The day wrapped with an awards ceremony and sunset at Las Vegas Country Club, bringing the focus back to the foundation’s core purpose: honoring donors and their families, celebrating the gift of life, and furthering Nevada Donor Network Foundation’s lifesaving mission.
ABOUT NEVADA DONOR NETWORK
Nevada Donor Network is a federally designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organ procurement organization responsible for facilitating organ, tissue and cornea donation statewide. Founded in 1987, the organization coordinates the recovery and allocation of lifesaving organs and healing tissues for transplantation and research, provides education to hospital and community partners, and supports donor families throughout the donation process. Nevada Donor Network is a member of Donate Life Nevada. For more information, visit https://www.nvdonor.org.
ABOUT NEVADA DONOR NETWORK FOUNDATION
Nevada Donor Network Foundation raises funds and resources to support and expand organ, eye and tissue donation programs through innovation, technology, education and community outreach. For more information, visit https://www.nvdonor.org/foundation.
ABOUT LAS VEGAS COUNTRY CLUB
Founded in 1967, Las Vegas Country Club is a private, member-owned club in the heart of Las Vegas. Designed by renowned golf course architect Ed Ault, the historic course has hosted professional golf events and many of the game’s most notable players throughout its history. For more information, visit https://www.lasvegascc.com.
ABOUT PGD GLOBAL
Founded by former professional golfers and sisters Nisha and Seema Sadekar, Play Golf Designs Inc., known as PGD Global, is a golf marketing, creative and event production company specializing in experiences that connect golf with entertainment, fashion, culture and lifestyle. For more information, visit https://www.pgdglobal.com.
Nisha Sadekar
Play Golf Designs Inc.
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2026 Official Nevada Donor Network Foundation Golf Invitational Recap Video
Why it matters: The event underscores a persistent gap between the number of people waiting for transplants and the number of donations that occur each year. With nearly 700 Nevadans and over 109,000 Americans on waiting lists, gatherings like this one play a practical role in keeping the conversation — and the donor registry — active.
