Dear "Jjump",
The "Floodsisters" site mentioned above notes these hospitals as accepting "altruistic" (that is, not directed to a friend or family member) kidney donations:
ARIZONA:
--- "UMC", Tuscon
--- Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale
--- Mayo Clinic, Phoenix
TEXAS:
--- Texas Baylor U., Dallas
--- Methodist Speciality, San Antonio
(their websites are listed at the "floodsisters" site)
Keep in mind also that the techniquies for safely transporting a removed kidney for transplatation in another State have improved so much that now some (many?) transplant hospitals can fly your kidney elsewhere and still have it in excellent condition for implantation. So it is not always necessary to go to where the recipient is. You might be able to donate close-to-home and have the kidney flown acress-country to the recipient. Kidney donation has its risks, so there is a benefit of being CLOSE to the hospital where you donate, so that IF there are complications afterwards you are nearby to have them treated by the same hospital that knows you.
The government program mentioned above does have financial elegibility requirements. Once you know where you plan to donate, the social worker at that hospital SHOULD know how to manage the paper-work. The "Transplant Recipients International Organization" ("T.R.I.O.") has a limited ability to help some living donors with transportation.
www.TRIOWEB.org .
By the way (information for everybody) that same TRIO group collects unused frequent-flyer miles that some airlines let them use to get free tickets for donors. Anyone who has frequent flyer miles and wants to donate them can contact TRIO.
best wishes,
Fr. Pat