Archive: Toledo Rocket Success Stories

By Alek Wood, University of Toledo Athletic Communications intern

On a clear, sunny day last August, Madison Giglio stepped to the mound to throw out the honorary first pitch at Fifth Third Field, home of the Toledo Mud Hens. As a junior diver on the University of Toledo's women's swimming and diving team, Giglio was used to performing under stress. But this time she was uncharacteristically nervous. As she prepared to throw to Muddy, the Mud Hens' mascot who was stationed behind home plate, only one thought was going through her head.
 
Don't blow it. This pitch is for Maddog.

Never one to crack under pressure, Giglio came through. "It was a good pitch," she recalled with a laugh. "I made it to home plate."
 

Giglio was asked to throw out the first pitch by Life Connection of Ohio due to her efforts in organizing an organ donation club at the University of Toledo – Students for H.O.P.E (Helping Organ Procurement Education).
 
"I couldn't believe I was out there," said Giglio. "It was an honor and I felt really appreciative. It was a really special moment that I got to share."
 
Giglio founded Students for H.O.P.E in memory of her late friend, Maddie "Maddog" Grobmeier. Grobmeier passed away in 2019 following an acute asthma attack.
 
Giglio and Grobmeier's friendship began in their elementary school days. They first met at gymnastics class, where they became fast friends. They remained close throughout their youth despite the fact that they did not go to the same high school. One of the many things they liked to do together was to attend concerts. Sadly, tragedy struck at one show in 2019.
 
Shortly after high school graduation, they were attending a Shawn Mendes concert when Maddie had an acute asthma attack. She was hospitalized for three days before passing away, a day after her 18th birthday.
 
Maddie donated many of her organs and tissue to recipients in urgent need and for medical research.
 
As overwhelming as this tragedy was for Giglio, she was determined to draw inspiration from her friend's life. She has carried on her friend's legacy and built it into something that she hopes will impact many lives for years to come.
 
Giglio founded Students for H.O.P.E. in the fall of 2020, a year after Maddie's death. The goal of the organization is to sign up people for the organ donation registry, allow a space for those affected by organ donation to get together and talk about their stories, and promote the Maddog Strong Foundation, of which Students for H.O.P.E. is a chapter.
 
The Maddog Strong Foundation is run by Maddie's parents, Frank and Cyndi Grobmeier. Cyndi said that Giglio's efforts on behalf of the organization have been groundbreaking.
 
"She is our pioneer," said Cyndi of Giglio.  "The University of Toledo was our first chapter to get approved for Students of H.O.P.E. Madison has been setting the bar for the other chapters. She comes up with a lot of ideas and beta tests them for us. She's been a tremendous leader, not only at the University of Toledo, but at the organization as a whole."

 

"My main reason for starting the organization was to honor her and to promote organ donation in order to keep her legacy alive,"  said Giglio, a civil engineering major who hopes to one day build safe, sustainable buildings and infrastructure. "It's important to get information out there to students and have them register on the donor registry. Sometimes you can't get people to sign up but at least you're getting people to think about it.
 
"Ultimately, my goal is to give something more to someone's life, and give them back the gift of life, so they can keep going."
 
Giglio's efforts have not only made an impact on local organ donation, they've also helped keep Maddie's memory alive in the hearts of those who loved her.
 
"To see good work being done knowing that the inspiration was Maddie and that Maddie lives on in that spirit is really important to us," said Cyndi Grobmeier. "In that regard, Madison has been the brightest light."