Gift of Life Michigan

We Honor Life
Through Donation

Choosing to become an organ and tissue donor can make an impact on many lives. Read the stories of donors and recipients, and find out how you can make a difference!

Learn About Donation
April is National Donate Life Month

Learn how you can support organ, eye and tissue donation in your community!

Donate Life Month Resources
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Read the digital LifeLINES magazine

LifeLINES is available as a digital magazine flipbook. Check it out!

Dr. Tim Frankel is leading critical research into deadly pancreatic cancer with the help of organ donors from Gift of Life Michigan.

Donors provide the ‘holy grail’ of pancreatic cancer research

Dr. Tim Frankel is in the midst of groundbreaking research into pancreatic cancer, and the key to his findings is the generosity of organ donors from Gift of Life Michigan, just a few miles across town. 

Michael Love, two-time double lung transplant recipient, is a Gift of Life volunteer

Two-time lung recipient gives hope to those waiting for a miracle

“This transplant process has blessed me so much,” he said. “Even after the first transplant, I felt like a walking miracle. Then I got another chance. I want to turn this tragedy of needing two transplants into a blessing for other people.” 

Sarah Jelsomeno holds up her Donate Life license plate

Donate Life license plates drive awareness

The back bumpers of thousands of vehicles across the state sport the Donate Life logo specialty license plate which encourages residents to give the gifts of life, sight and mobility. 

Sheila Alston has worked as a nurse for more than 40 years

Sheila Alston has been saving and healing lives for 40 years

Sheila said, “I always thought, ‘I’m going to work there someday.’ I needed to know that something I did made a difference. And I wanted to be there for someone who was losing a loved one.” 

Sign up to donate life!
National Donate Life Month

Connections. Stories. Impact.

Erik

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Greg

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Steven Dye with his wife, child and Jaime, his living kidney donor.

Steven

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Read all Connections

Events

LIFE Walk/Run

Join us for the state’s largest celebration of the gifts of life, sight and mobility! You can run the 10K or 5K, walk the 5K […]

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Donate Life Night at the Zoo

Explore John Ball Zoo after-hours at this exclusive event! Check out resources from our community partners, and enjoy some Dippin’ Dots on us! We’ll also […]

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Gift of Life Champions Gala

Gift of Life will host the seventh annual Champions Gala on Friday, May 2, 2025 at The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit. The awards represent every […]

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Check Your Heart Open House

Please join us for our annual Community Open House. Our doors will open at 1:30 p.m. with a brief program starting promptly at 2:15 p.m. […]

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Check Your Heart Capitol Rally

Join hundreds of organ, eye and tissue donation supporters at the State Capitol in Lansing to encourage legislators to pass laws supportive of donation and […]

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Donation in Multicultural Communities

Since 1971, Gift of Life Michigan has honored life by connecting people who need vital organ and tissue transplants with donors.

Omar Garcia holds a framed photo of his daughter, Ceci, who was a donor at age 11.

Latino Experience

The decision to donate is an important decision. We know that faith and family informs this decision.

It wasn’t until Mary Taylor’s son, Charles, died of an aneurysm at age 32 that she learned he had joined the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. Charles’ generosity inspired others in his family to register, too. Mary is pictured here with three of her children.

African American Experience

Despite a history of mistrust and misinformation, doctors will work just as hard to save your life.

Mohamed El-Souri received a heart transplant as a teenager.

Arab American Experience

We are partnering with healthcare professionals and community leaders to ensure information about organ donation is culturally sensitive and consistent with faith beliefs.

Making a Difference

Who We Serve

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Donors

Learn how to become a donor, what organs are eligible for donation, and more.

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Donor Families

We help you and the rest of your family cope, grieve, understand and – if you wish – become an advocate of donation.

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Recipients

While GOL doesn't work directly with/assign organs to recipients, transplant recipients are why we do what we do.

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Volunteers

Want to get involved? Find out how you can make a difference through volunteering with Gift of Life Michigan!

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By the Numbers
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Number of Michigan patients who have received a life-saving organ transplant in the past 10 years.
Number of lives saved each day by an organ transplant in the United States.
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Number of people on the national organ transplant waiting list.
Learn About Donation
Recent Posts

Gift of Life Blog

The family of Mitch Potter says their goodbyes at the hospital before he is moved to Gift of Life Michigan to give his final gifts.
In the Media | April 22, 2025

Behind the Scenes of “The Final Gift”: CBS News Spotlights Gift of Life Michigan’s Lifesaving Work

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Blog | April 17, 2025

Dior Chambers is waiting for that life-saving gift

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Blog, Stories of Hope | April 15, 2025

“I’m so thankful I’m here and for the gift of life”

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Londel Cook is living life to the fullest after his kidney transplant.
Blog, Stories of Hope | April 10, 2025

“Where I was, was not who I was.”

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Shalonda Griffin with her late husband, Greg Jones
Blog, Stories of Hope | April 9, 2025

Turning pain into purpose

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Kendall Todd received a heart transplant shortly after being added to the national waiting list.
Blog, Stories of Hope | March 14, 2025

“We are so grateful for them. They didn’t have to donate. They chose to.” 

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15th annual Kountz Callender Drew Transplant Symposium
News | March 10, 2025

Detroit MOTTEP and Gift of Life Michigan host 15th annual Kountz Callender Drew Transplant Symposium, March 19

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Dr. Alfred Bolden and Rev. Dr. Remonia Chapman
Blog | March 4, 2025

30 Years of Detroit MOTTEP – The beginning of building community, hope and trust

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