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Find Gift of Life Michigan news and updates, as well as news relating to organ and tissue donation.

Featured | April 16, 2025

Michigan Senate recognizes April as Donate Life Month, introduces new bills focused on organ, eye and tissue donation education

Today, the Michigan Senate adopted Sen. Kevin Daley’s (R-Lum) resolution to recognize April 2025 as Donate Life Month. Celebrated each April, the national observance is a time to raise awareness about organ, eye and tissue…

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Blog, News | April 16, 2025

Michigan Senate recognizes April as Donate Life Month, introduces new bills focused on organ, eye and tissue donation education

Today, the Michigan Senate adopted Sen. Kevin Daley’s (R-Lum) resolution to recognize April 2025 as Donate Life Month. Celebrated each April, the national observance is a time to raise awareness about organ, eye and tissue…

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GOL logo image for new office phones
Blog, News | April 15, 2025

CBS Evening News shows organ donation in action at Gift of Life Michigan

Gift of Life Michigan opened its doors to CBS Investigative Correspondent Tom Hanson last summer, providing him unprecedented access to allow viewers an inside look at the organ donation process from beginning to end. The…

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Blog, News | April 9, 2025

Donor mother Debra Wyant to receive Gift of Life Michigan’s Honoring Life Through Donation Award, May 2

Debra Wyant, the mother of Michigan’s first and only hand donor, has exemplified what it means to honor life through donation since 21-year-old Shayna Sturtevant became a donor nine years ago in Muskegon.   Debra will…

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Blog, News | April 1, 2025

Gift of Life Michigan hosts Genesee County Interfaith Breakfast Thursday, April 24

GRAND BLANC – On Thursday, April 24, Gift of Life Michigan will host the inaugural Genessee County Interfaith Breakfast. The free event will take place at the Captain’s Club Golf and Event Center in Grand…

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Blog, News | March 24, 2025

Hurley Medical Center named Gift of Life Michigan’s Hospital of the Year

FLINT, Mich. – Gift of Life Michigan has named Hurley Medical Center in Flint as its Hospital of the Year for 2025 for its outstanding commitment to organ and tissue donation. The hospital is the…

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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

Event focuses on reflective voices, riveting results and revolutionary future in transplantation The Detroit MOTTEP (Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program) Foundation and Gift of Life Michigan are proud to host the 15th annual Kountz…

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This year, saving lives is on your tax form.
News | February 21, 2025

Michigan residents can save lives when filing taxes

Tax forms provide opportunity to join Michigan Organ Donor Registry  Six million Michiganders file tax returns each year. Giving them the ability to join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry by simply checking a box on…

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Dr. LokMan Sung
News | February 11, 2025

New members join Gift of Life Michigan Governing and Advisory Boards

Gift of Life Michigan is proud to announce new board members who will bring fresh perspectives to both its Governing and Advisory Board of Directors.   Dr. Terra DeFoe, regional director to U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin,…

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News | January 14, 2025

Gift of Life Michigan promotes Jeff Patierno to vice president, hires new director of organ services

Gift of Life Michigan is proud to announce new promotions and additions within its clinical leadership team. Jeff Patierno has been promoted to vice president, clinical operations and will oversee the clinical operations departments responsible…

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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.
News | January 9, 2025

2024 was a year of historical firsts and innovation for Gift of Life Michigan

More than 206,000 joined Michigan Organ Donor Registry 2024 was a year of growth, innovation and finding new ways to help patients in need for Gift of Life Michigan. The state’s organ and tissue donation…

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Paddles for a Purpose
News | November 4, 2024

Grand Rapids pickleballers take on Guinness World Record for a worthy cause

Four Michigan pickleball players are hoping to set a new world record and raise both awareness and money all in one swing.  West Michigan residents Brad Haverkamp, Julie Ondersma, Sydney Sonday and Caleb Dang will…

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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.
News | September 17, 2024

Michigan organ donor contributes to historic bone marrow transplant

A Michigan organ donor has made history and saved the life of a 68-year-old woman from Flint, Mich. Suffering from leukemia, she needed an urgent bone marrow transplant and is now the first person in…

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Sheila Alston received the DAISY Award for exceptional care in nursing.
News | September 17, 2024

Gift of Life Michigan’s Sheila Alston receives Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation’s Nurse of the Year DAISY Award

Gift of Life Michigan is proud to announce that its own Senior Performance Improvement Specialist, Sheila Alston, received the Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation (AMAT) Nurse of the Year DAISY Award. Alston was honored…

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Ryan Cormier, director of tissue services
Blog, News | July 22, 2024

Ryan Cormier Elected Chairperson of Accredited Tissue Banks Council

Gift of Life Michigan is proud to announce that Ryan Cormier, Director of Tissue Services for the organization has been elected Chairperson of the Accredited Tissue Banks Council (ATBC). His term will begin later this…

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Dorrie Dils is president and CEO of Gift of Life Michigan
News | June 26, 2024

AOPO Names 2024-2025 President and Board of Directors

OPO Leaders Elected to Champion Organ Donation Mission Today, the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) announced the appointment of its new President and the newly-elected members of the 2024-2025 Board of Directors, whose terms…

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Guests enjoyed free Dippin' Dots ice cream at Donate Life Night at the Zoo
News | June 25, 2024

Donate Life Night at John Ball Zoo honors those impacted by organ and tissue donation

Registration still open to this free event Gift of Life Michigan’s largest West Michigan event honoring organ, eye and tissue donation returns 6-9 p.m. Thursday, July 18 at the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids….

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Donor families in the March of Honor at the 2024 Check Your Heart Capitol Rally
News | June 13, 2024

Check Your Heart Rally in Lansing focuses on educating the next generation

Hundreds gather in support of organ, eye and tissue donation   More than 400 people from across Michigan gathered outside the state Capitol building in Lansing on Wednesday, June 12 in support of organ, eye and…

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Group of patients waiting for organ transplants carrying a banner reading "Waiting to Live" along the Capitol sidewalk
News | June 10, 2024

Check Your Heart Rally at State Capitol encourages next generation to donate life

Hundreds expected in support of organ, eye and tissue donation on June 12 Hundreds of organ, eye and tissue donation supporters are expected to join Gift of Life Michigan in Lansing on June 12 to…

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May was a record month with 197 tissue donors
News | June 5, 2024

Gift of Life Michigan has record-breaking month

197 people gave tissue in May to heal patients in need May was a record-breaking month for the state’s organ and tissue donation program, thanks to nearly 200 people who donated bone, skin, ligaments and…

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More than 12,000 people joined the Michigan Organ Donor Registry this year while filing their income tax returns.
News | May 14, 2024

Michigan Organ Donor Registry sees major growth thanks to Check Your Heart Act

More than 12,000 new registrants added during 2024 tax season Thanks to the Check Your Heart Act, the Michigan Organ Donor Registry has 12,475 new registrants. This increased volume resulted in year-over-year growth for the…

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