Donor family workshops & events

Donor family workshops & events

Saving lives through organ and tissue donation is possible only through donors and their families. We are honored to support you and all donor families with ongoing information and support, opportunities to connect and activities bringing us together to remember your loved one and the lives changed through the gift of donation.

One way we do this is to provide in-person and virtual (online) programs in English and Spanish for donor families throughout the year.  Some programs are exclusively for donor families, while others invite transplant recipients, volunteer Ambassadors and staff from Gift of Hope and partner organizations to take part.

Visit Gift of Hope’s Programs & Event calendar to save the date for upcoming workshops, as well as all Gift of Hope activities including our community programs. Donor families are always warmly welcomed and celebrated at our public events.

Our programs for donor families include:

WorkshopsConnections Workshops & Events

Connections programs throughout the year are in-person or virtual (online) activities throughout the year for donor families, transplant recipients and Ambassadors to connect, take part in a discussion or presentation, and celebrate their special donors.

Events have included holiday gatherings at Brookfield Zoo and other public spaces throughout Illinois and northwest Indiana where we have established a Gift of Hope holiday tree honoring all those who have donated life as organ, eye and tissue donors, and their families.

During in-person workshops, we often break bread to share a meal and stories together.

Memory-Making Workshops

workshop

At Memory-Making Workshops, donor families gather to connect with one another and create physical keepsakes honoring the life and memories of their loved ones, and the gifts of hope they gave through organ and tissue donation.  Memory-making activities have included:

  • Creating ornaments that are featured on Gift of Hope holiday trees for the public each December
  • Creating an altar in celebration of Dia de Los Muertos
  • Creating keepsakes in conjunction with National Donate Life Month and other special observances.

Writing Workshops

The decision to write to your loved one’s recipients is a personal choice. If you make this decision to write, we provide guidelines for donor family/recipient correspondence and a sample letter that can help.

You can also take advantage of attending a Writing Workshop.  Donor families and transplant recipients talk with our Aftercare Specialists as we discuss Gift of Hope’s correspondence program. It provides you the opportunity to connect with other families and recipients, to learn and share experiences as well as support one other in writing your letters.

Contact: donorfamilies@giftofhope.org

Visit Gift of Hope’s Programs & Event calendar to save the date for upcoming workshops, as well as all Gift of Hope activities including our community programs.

We are here for you.

Our Donor Family Services Team is here for you. Reach out to us any time at donorfamilies@giftofhope.org or (877) 577-3747.

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