fbpx

Donate Life Day at the Zoo goes virtual

v_dldz_logo_261x143

Grand Rapids, MI – Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gift of Life Michigan could not host its annual Donate Life Day at the Zoo at the John Ball Zoo. The Gift of Life Michigan Donate Life Day at the Zoo will be a virtual event this year.

Instead, Gift of Life is bringing the zoo to you. The event, scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, will take place online, featuring stories of organ recipients, donor families and, of course, animal adventures.

“We wanted to bring the zoo to the community as much as possible,” said Alison Gillum, community relations coordinator for Gift of Life Michigan, who is organizing the event. “I think it’s going to be a fun experience.”

The goal of the event is to highlight the organ and tissue donation transplantation and transplantation community and to encourage people to sign up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. Gift of Life is working with the Mercy Health Kidney Transplant Center and Spectrum Health as well as Richard DeVos Heart and Lung Transplant Program to raise awareness about the issue.

Sponsored by Mutual of America, the Virtual Donate Life Day at the Zoo will feature some of the same activities as previous events, and allow attendees to go behind the scenes at the zoo – from the comfort of their own homes. There will be a Celebration of Life Trail that will honor organ donors and their families as well as the recipients who benefitted from those gifts of life, healing and mobility. A virtual Community Cove will provide resources and information about organizations partnering with the event. The program, which runs until 2 p.m., will include interviews with transplant recipients and other stories of hope.

In addition, attendees will be able to take virtual safaris, where zoo staff takes them behind the scenes at the zoo and offer an up-close look at some of the exhibits.

Because it is a virtual event, it is not limited to people in western Michigan. Anyone with a computer or smart phone can join in. For more information or to register for the event visit www.golm.org/zoo.

Read More Posts
Hartley, the Gift of Life Michigan mascot, gives a high five to a member of Bobby's Rockers at the finish line at LIFE Walk/Run 2023.

Gift of Life Hosted Annual LIFE Walk/Run on Belle Isle

Gift of Life MOTTEP hosted its 26th annual LIFEWalk/Run event on July 22 on Belle…

Read More
Someone holding a pen signing their state income tax form

Gov. Whitmer signs bill to add Organ Donor Registry question to state income tax forms in 2024

Check Your Heart Act is the first of its kind in the nation. Groundbreaking legislation…

Read More
A large crowd gathered on the Michigan Capitol steps (including mascot Hartley T. Heart) holding Donate Life flags and banners for donor families, living donors, transplant recipients and those waiting to live.

Hundreds celebrate new legislation placing donor registry question on state income tax forms

Check Your Heart Act would be first of its kind in the nation More than…

Read More
President and CEO Dorrie Dils leans against a glass wall at Gift of Life Michigan

Gift of Life Michigan CEO named president-elect of association representing organ donation programs across the country

The Association for Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) has named Gift of Life Michigan President and…

Read More
A large group gathered on the Michigan Capitol steps holding signs recognizing them as donor families, transplant recipients and those waiting to live.

Rally in Lansing will celebrate new legislation placing donor registry question on state income tax forms

Check Your Heart Act would be first of its kind in the nation As many…

Read More
May was a record month in Michigan with 63 organ donors providing 167 organs transplanted and 177 tissue donors.

Gift of Life Michigan breaks yet another state record for donors

Organ and tissue donors help hundreds in May   Gift of Life Michigan helped a record…

Read More
Scroll to Top