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!
Fall Into Action Community Resource Fair
Nov. 4, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
St. Mary of Celle, 1428 Wesley Ave., Berwyn, Ill.
Gift of Hope will host a donation table at this event to bring awareness about organ & tissue donation to the community.
Contact: Tonisha Brown
IHSA Cross Country Championships
Nov. 4, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Detweiler Park, 8327 Galena Road, Peoria, Ill.
Join us as we cheer on the high school athletes competing in the Cross Country Championships! Gift of Hope will host a donation information and registration table at the event to educate attendees about organ & tissue donation.
Contact: Lisa Dodson
Virtual Grief Support Group: for donor families
Nov. 7, 6 – 7 p.m.
Donor families are welcome to join us monthly for our Open Grief Support Group via Zoom. We meet on the first Tuesday of every month.
Contact: Donor Family Services
Northeastern Illinois University Health Fair
Nov. 14, 10:30 – 4 p.m.
Northeastern University, 5500 N Saint Louis Ave., Chicago, Ill.
Gift of Hope will host an organ & tissue donation education and registration table at this health fair for students, faculty and staff.
Contact: Luis Ortega
Memory Box Assembly Workshop
Nov. 17, 5 – 7 p.m.
Windhill Pancake Parlor, 3307 W. Elm St., McHenry, Ill.
All those who have been touched by donation are invited to connect during this workshop while assembling memory boxes to be given to future donor families.
Registration is required for this event. Email Donor Family Services for info and registration.
Thanksgiving Celebration and Food Drive
Nov. 18, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Michele Clark High School, 5101 W. Harrison, Chicago, Ill.
Gift of Hope will host an organ & tissue donation education and registration table at this event.
Contact: Tonisha Brown
Light Up the Holiday Parade
Nov. 24, 5 p.m.
Downtown Joliet, Ill.
We invite donor families and all those who have been touched by donation to walk with us in this holiday parade! Connect with one another and help us share our donation message with the community.
Registration is required for this event. Email Donor Family Services for info and registration.
Stroll on State Parade
Nov. 25, 1 – 3 p.m.
Municipal Parking Lot Downtown Rockford, 401 S. Main St., Rockford, Ill.
We invite donor families and all those who have been touched by donation to walk with us in this holiday parade! Connect with one another and help us share our donation message with the community.
Registration is required for this event. Email Donor Family Services for info and registration.
Writing Workshop: for donor families and recipients
Nov. 30, 6 – 7 p.m.
Virtually via Zoom
Donor families and transplant recipients are invited to learn about Gift of Hope’s correspondence program, connect with one another while discussing their correspondence journeys and helping each other with their letters.
Registration is required for this event. Email Donor Family Services for info and registration.
Loretto Hospital’s 33rd Annual Visit with Santa
Dec. 2, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Columbus Park Refectory, 5701 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, Ill.
Contact: Tonisha Brown
Holiday Lights Parade
Dec. 2, 5 p.m.
Downtown Springfield, Springfield, Ill.
We invite donor families and all those who have been touched by donation to walk with us in this holiday parade! Connect with one another and help us share our donation message with the community.
Registration is required for this event. Email Donor Family Services for info and registration.
Holiday Magic Meet & Greet: for donor families
Dec. 2, 4 – 5:30 p.m.
Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st St., Brookfield, Ill
Donor families are invited to this special meet & greet at Brookfield Zoo’s Holiday Magic. Add your loved one’s name to the Gift of Hope tree and meet our Donor Family Services team. The tree display will be open to the public Nov. 24 – Dec. 31.
Contact: Donor Family Services
Virtual Grief Support Group: for donor families
Dec. 5, 6 – 7 p.m.
Donor families are welcome to join us monthly for our Open Grief Support Group via Zoom. We meet on the first Tuesday of every month.
Contact: Donor Family Services
Trees for Tees Meet & Greet: for donor families
Dec. 8, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Hickory Point Golf Course, 727 W. Weaver Rd., Forsyth, Ill.
Donor families are invited to this special meet and greet at the Decatur Park District Trees on Tees Festival. Add your loved one’s name to the Gift of Hope tree and meet our Donor Family Services team. Limited number of tickets will be available. Open to the public Dec. 7 – 10 and 13- 17.
Contact: Donor Family Services
Memory Box Assembly Workshop
Dec. 16, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Aurelio’s Pizza, 1372 Main St., Crete, Ill.
All who have been touched by donation are invited to connect during this workshop while assembling memory boxes to be given to future donor families. Registration is required for this event.
Contact: Donor Family Services
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
September
- National Hispanic Heritage Month
November
- Eye Donation Month
- Faith and Hope Month
- National Donor Sabbath