Event Calendar
Join us throughout the year at community and public programs at which our Gift of Hope staff and volunteers are engaged with community advocate and providing education about life-giving organ, eye and tissue donation.
In addition to our public programs and fundraisers below, please check our programs specifically for:
Mark your calendar and follow us on Facebook for updates and announcements!
Women in Science Conference
March 30, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
North Eastern Illinois University, 5500 N. St. Louis Ave., Chicago, Ill.
The 2023 6th Annual Women in Science conference will celebrate women’s contributions to the field of Public Health. This event aims to bring together the NEIU community, students, faculty and many others for an interactive conference of presentations and activities centered around Public Health. Gift of Hope staff will be presenting on Organ Transplantation in Public Health and host a virtual panel on Women in the Organ and Tissue Transplant Space.
This conference is open to the public.
Contact: Luis Ortega
Rockford IceHogs: Donation Awareness Night
March 31, 6 – 9 p.m.
BMO Center Arena, 300 Elm St., Rockford, Ill.
Rockford IceHogs and Gift of Hope will host a Donation Awareness Night to educate the community about organ and tissue donation. Be sure to stop by our donation education tables for information about the life-saving gift of donation, and how you can register to be an organ & tissue donor.
Contact: Luis Ortega
National Donate Life Month Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt
Apr. 1, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
ImpactLife, 2801 S. 10th St., Springfield, Ill.
The Springfield donation community is hosting an Eggstravaganza event during National Donate Life Month to spread awareness about organ & tissue donation. Join us for this fun-filled event!
Contact: Tina Montgomery
National Donate Life Month: Flag Raising
Apr. 1
Justen Funeral Home, 3700 Charles J Miller Memorial Hwy., McHenry, Ill.
Contact: Tony Cusinato
Candle Making Workshop: for donor families
Apr. 1, 12 – 2 p.m.
Farm to Wick Soy Candles, 648 County Rd. 1200 N., Stanford, Ill.
During National Donate Life Month, join Donor Family Services and Farm to Wick Soy Candles for a candle making workshop and make a candle in honor of your loved one. Spots are limited. To register or ask questions email Beth Kelley at bkelley@giftofhope.org.
Grant Memorial AME Presentation
Apr. 2, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Grant Memorial AME Church, 4017 S. Drexel Blvd., Chicago Ill.
Marion Shuck, Vice President of Governmental Relations & External Affairs will be joined by a transplant recipient to speak to the congregation about the importance of organ and tissue donation. Gift of Hope will have a donation education table at this event to inspire attendees to join the donor registry.
Contact: Olivia Fox
Virtual Open Grief Support Group: for donor families
Apr. 4, 6 – 7 p.m.
We welcome all donor families to join us monthly for our Open Grief Support Group via Zoom on the first Tuesday of every month from 6-7 p.m. CST.
Contact: donorfamilies@giftofhope.org
National Donate Life Month: Flag Raising
Apr. 4, 8 – 9 a.m.
Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, 1000 N. Westmoreland Rd., Lake Forest, Ill.
Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital will host a flag-raising ceremony to honor organ, tissue and eye donors and their families in recognition of National Donate Life Month. This event is open to hospital staff, members of Gift of Hope and individuals of the community.
Contact: Jamie Martin
National Donate Life Month: Flag Raising
Apr. 10, 9 – 9:45 a.m.
OSF Saint James – John W Albrecht Medical Center, 2500 W. Reynolds St., Pontiac, Ill.
Contact: Callie Sommer
National Donate Life Month: Flag Raising
Apr. 10, 2 – 3 p.m.
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, 530 NE. Glen Oak Ave., Peoria, Ill.
Contact: Lauren Moreland
Atlas Senior Center Donate Life Month Fair
Apr. 11, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
SouthEast Atlas Regional Senior Center, 1767 E. 79th St., Chicago, Ill.
Gift of Hope in collaboration with the National Kidney Foundation, will host a donation information table to educate the community about the importance of organ & tissue donation.
Contact: Olivia Fox
Northeastern Illinois University Health Fair
Apr. 11, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
NIU, Holmes Student Center, 5500 N. St. Louis Ave., Chicago, Ill.
Gift of Hope will host a donation information table to help educate students, faculty and staff about the life-saving gift of organ and tissue donation.
Contact: Luis Ortega
National Donate Life Month: Flag Raising
Apr. 11, 9 – 9:45 a.m.
OSF Saint Paul Medical Center, 1401 E. 12th St., Mendota, Ill.
Contact: Callie Sommer
National Donate Life Month: Flag Raising
Apr. 11, 9 – 9:45 a.m.
OSF Saint Mary Medical Center, 3333 N. Seminary St., Galesburg, Ill.
Contact: Callie Sommer
National Donate Life Month: Flag Raising
Apr. 11, 10:30 – 11:15 a.m.
OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center, 1100 E. Norris Dr., Ottawa, Ill.
Contact: Callie Sommer
National Donate Life Month: Flag Raising
Apr. 11, 10:30 – 11:15 a.m.
OSF Holy Family Medical Center, 1000 W. Harlem Ave., Monmouth, Ill.
Contact: Callie Sommer
National Donate Life Month: Flag Raising
Apr. 11, 12 – 12:45 p.m.
OSF Center for Health-Streator, 111 Spring St., Streator, Ill.
Contact: Callie Sommer
National Donate Life Month: Flag Raising
Apr. 11, 2:30 – 4 p.m.
OSF Saint Joseph Medical Center, 2200 E. Washington St., Bloomington, Ill.
Contact: Callie Sommer
Candle Making Workshop: for donor families
Apr. 12, 6 – 8 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn, 455 Riverstone Parkway Dr. Kankakee, Ill.
During National Donate Life Month, join Donor Family Services and Farm to Wick Soy Candles for a candle making workshop and make a candle in honor of your loved one. Spots are limited. To register or ask questions email Beth Kelley at bkelley@giftofhope.org.
National Donate Life Month: Flag Raising
Apr. 13, 10 – 11 a.m.
OSF Sacred Heart Medical Center, 812 N. Logan Ave., Danville, Ill.
Contact: Alexis Plumb
National Donate Life Month: Flag Raising
Apr. 13, 1 – 1:30 p.m.
OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center, 1400 W. Park St., Urbana, Ill.
Contact: Alexis Plumb
National Donate Life Month: Flag Raising
Apr. 13, 1:30 – 2:15 p.m.
OSF Saint Clare Medical Center, 530 Park Ave. E., Princeton, Ill.
Contact: Callie Sommer
National Donate Life Month: Flag Raising
Apr. 13, 3 – 3:45 p.m.
OSF Saint Luke Medical Center, 1051 W. South St, Kewanee, Ill.
Contact: Callie Sommer
Coffee with Hope at Rush Hospital
Apr. 14, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Rush University Medical Center, 1725 W. Harrison, Chicago, Ill.
In honor of National Donate Life Month, Panera Bread and Starbucks Coffee at Rush Hospital will be participating in Coffee with Hope. This informal indoor event invites everyone to have a cup of coffee and learn how to give hope to others by registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor.
Contact: Tonisha Brown
National Donate Life Month: Flag Raising
Apr. 17, 1 – 2 p.m.
Decatur Memorial Hospital, 2300 N. Edward St., Decatur, Ill.
Contact: Terri Cagle
Illinois Society of Medical Assistants Conference
Apr. 22, 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Holiday Inn, 8 Trader Circle, Normal, Ill.
Gift of Hope will present on the life-saving gift of organ & tissue donation.
Contact: Tina Montgomery
National Donate Life Month: Flag Raising
Apr. 25, 1 – 2 p.m.
Morris Hospital, 150 W. High St., Morris, Ill.
Contact: Alyson Keeney
National Donate Life Month: Flag Raising
Apr. 28, 12 – 1 p.m.
Carle Foundation Hospital, 611 W. Park St., Urbana, Ill.
Contact: Alexis Plumb
Candle Making Workshop: for donor families
Apr. 28, 6 – 8 p.m.
Gift of Hope, 425 Spring Lake Dr. Itasca, Ill.
During National Donate Life Month, join Donor Family Services and Farm to Wick Soy Candles for a candle making workshop and make a candle in honor of your loved one. Spots are limited. To register or ask questions email Beth Kelley at bkelley@giftofhope.org.
Stroke Awareness Fair
Apr. 29, 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Community Hospital, 1040 Ridge Rd., Munster, IN.
Gift of Hope will host a donation education table at this community event to provide information about the life-saving gift of organ & tissue donation.
Contact: Olivia Fox
Donation Awareness Day at the Ballpark
Apr. 30, 12 – 1 p.m.
Les Miller Field at Curtis Granderson Stadium, 901 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, Ill.
Gift of Hope is excited to join families of organ & tissue donors and donation advocates for a fun-filled afternoon of baseball as the UIC Flames host the Bradley University Braves. During the event we will honor all those who “Say Yes” to organ, eye and tissue donation, and have a donation education table available for attendees to learn about the life-saving gift of donation and how they can join the donor registry.
Contact: Tonisha Brown
Annual donation and transplantation observances
February
- National Donor Day, Feb. 14
April
- National Donate Life Month
- National Donate Life Living Donor Day
- National Donate Life Blue and Green Day
- National Pediatric Transplant Week
- Transplant Nurses Week
August
- National Minority Donor Awareness Month
November
- Eye Donation Month
- Faith and Hope Month
- National Donor Sabbath