Both of EagleBank chairman and co-founder Ron Paul's kidneys have been donated to him. The fact that he's thriving, healthy and wealthy all led to yesterday, when Ron and his wife, Joy (on the right), opened the new Ron and Joy Paul Kidney Center, thanks to a $2.5M donation from Ron and Joy's foundation.

The center, at George Washington University's hospital and medical school, will be charged with increasing awareness of kidney disease and live kidney donations in the District. Ron and Joy cut the ribbon on the center yesterday with Jeffrey Akman, dean of the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences; Barry Wolfman, CEO and managing director of GW Hospital; and Keith Melancon, who leads the transplant division at the hospital and GW Medical Faculty Associates.

Ron was diagnosed with kidney disease when he was 26. At 33, he got the blessing of a new kidney from his brother, Steven. At 52, Ron needed another kidney, and his friend and co-worker Kathy McCallum was able to donate it. “Kidney donation saved my life and can save the lives of countless others in Washington, DC,” Ron said.