Donate Life Night in Grand Rapids draws a record number of organ donation supporters to John Ball Zoo

Dominic Anastasi and his family gather next to his poster on the Circle of Life Trail at Donate Life Night at the Zoo

Donate Life Night at the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids experienced its largest attendance yet. More than 1,400 donor family members, living donors, transplant recipients, patients on the waiting list and other supporters from across West Michigan came out for the exclusive after-hours event honoring organ, eye and tissue donation.  

Donate Life Night at the Zoo guests walk through the Celebration of Life Trail, a series of posters featuring the photos and names of donors and recipients.A Celebration of Life Trail featured 230 beautiful poster tributes to donors, living donors, recipients and those patiently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Guests making their way from the entrance up to the exhibits paused to reflect. Families and friends gathered in matching t-shirts, stopped when they spotted their loved ones to take photos and share their stories. 

It was a night of connection.  

WOOD-TV anchor, Teresa Weakley served as the evening’s emcee and spoke of her own connection as a living kidney donor. Guest speaker Natalie Frias joined her to talk about her experience as a kidney recipient.  

Natalie received a kidney from her husband just three months before their wedding. An artist, mother, fitness trainer, author and advocate, Natalie has detailed the challenges she’s overcome in her book “Fighting Failure.”  

Leslie Palacios, cornea transplant recipient, with another guest at Donate Life Night at the Zoo in 2024“Stories are important,” Natalie said. “Even though statistics matter, we are not just a statistic. We are a face. We are a name. We have people that love us and it’s all about quality of life, not just quantity.” 

Guests were able to visit with the animals, stop by one of the many community resource booths, have their face painted, enjoy free Dippin’ Dots and of course, get a photo with Hartley T. Heart, Gift of Life Michigan’s mascot 

Donate Life Night at the Zoo was sponsored by Corewell Health, Trinity Health of Michigan y Lucky’s Self-Serve Auto 

More than 4.5 million Michigan residents are on the Registro de donantes de órganos de Michigan. About 2,500 Michigan patients are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. The best way to save lives is by joining the Donor Registry. To register or learn more about the donation process, visit giftoflifemichigan.org.

A young boy, wearing a photo of his late mother on his t-shirt, stares down a hippo at the John Ball Zoo  A woman with a fun animal hat enjoys Dippin' Dots at Donate Life Night at the Zoo

 

Leer más publicaciones
Liver recipient Alex and his mom, Tanisha, at his high school graduation.

From 8 months to 18 years old: Young man with donated liver reaches another milestone

From the outside, 18-year-old Alex Chandler seems like a typical teenager with a love for…

Lee mas
Students in Kingsford raised $1,500 for Gift of Life in hopes of making a difference.

Motivated U.P. students turn pennies into $1,500 for Gift of Life Michigan

When Finnley Lutz saw her fellow high school students roll up with two wheelbarrows filled…

Lee mas
Ossium Health is working to find more sources of life-saving bone marrow for patients in need. Organ donors are now giving marrow through Gift of Life Michigan and other organizations.

Ossium Health enables organ donors to save even more lives

Gift of Life collaborates with bioengineering leader for bone marrow transplantation  An innovative bioengineering company…

Lee mas
Emilio DeFoe in the hospital, before he donated his organs

Myth debunked by fact: Doctors work to save your life if you’re a registered organ donor

A terrified Terra DeFoe waited and watched as physicians and nurses at University of Michigan…

Lee mas
Students at Lincoln High School in Ypsilanti get a glimpse of human organs during a Gift of Life presentation at their school in June. To learn how to welcome All of Us into your school, go to golm.org/allofus.

New bill would educate more ninth graders about organ and tissue donation

Just 21% of new drivers in Michigan are registering as organ donors, and we’re concerned…

Lee mas
Public Education Specialist Cristal Rivas explains to Lincoln High School students that people with health conditions could still help others with organ and tissue donation.

Michigan’s only source for teen education about donation is saving lives

High school students fresh out of a wide-eyed hour of Gift of Life’s All of…

Lee mas
Vuelve al comienzo