Donation champion award winners for 2024 will be announced this month

Gift of Life's President and CEO, Dorrie Dils, presented the Multicultural Difference Maker award to donor mother Artelia Griggs at the 2023 Champions Gala

Tickets available for the popular April Gala

Gift of Life Michigan will soon announce the names of about 20 donation champion award winners which will include Hospital of the Year, Legacy and Honoring Life through Donation honors.

A near-record number of people, hospitals or organizations were nominated this fall for the extraordinary work they do to promote donation or help make it happen across the state.

“We’re overwhelmed by the interest and participation this year in what has become Gift of Life’s premier event honoring heroes in the field,” said Director of Advancement Susan Rink. “We can’t do our work without champions in our communities, hospitals and transplant centers. And we can’t wait to hold up their work in April.”

The annual cocktail-attire event has evolved since 2019 into the most inspiring and emotional gathering Gift of Life has to offer to Michigan’s donation and transplant community.

Staff from Ascension St. John Hospital celebrating their Hospital of the Year award at the Champions Gala in 2023.The sixth celebration of excellence will expand in 2024 to allow for greater sponsorship and partnership opportunities and higher attendance with individual tickets available for sale for the first time. To learn about sponsorship opportunities or purchase tickets go to golm.org/gala.

Winners for 2024 will be honored on April 4.

“We just want to welcome as many people as we can so they can help us celebrate all the incredible life-saving work,” Susan said. “Everyone leaves this event with full hearts, so why not share that?”

The signature gala is also Gift of Life’s premier fundraiser, helping pay for the gala itself and other initiatives that support its mission and community. The event has so far recognized about 100 individuals and organizations.

The awards strategically represent every aspect of the donation process from efforts to grow the Donor Registry to exceptional work at schools, hospitals, funeral homes, transplant centers and more.

Winners will be chosen from nominations submitted this fall by the public and by Gift of Life employees who work with hundreds in the donation field every day. The accomplishments of nominees cover their work over the past 18 months and — in some cases — over years.

Gift of Life received a record number of nominations, an indication that the donation community is engaged and its members are working hard to save lives.

Susan Rink, director of advancementTo learn about sponsorship opportunities or purchase tickets go to golm.org/gala. The annual Champions Gala is thriving thanks to the generosity of sponsors. If you, your hospital, organization or other workplace is interested in supporting the event financially, please reach out to Susan Rink at [email protected].

“We can’t do our work without champions in our communities, hospitals and transplant centers. And we can’t wait to hold up their work in April.”

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