Featured | April 17, 2024
Mallaki receives the gift of life and a new family
Ben and Karen Hayes knew no one could care for the foster boy like they could A 7-year-old boy in the foster care system was recovering from a life-saving liver transplant when two strangers walked…
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| August 28, 2016
Dorrie Dils named CEO at Gift of Life Michigan
ANN ARBOR, MI—Dorrie Dils, an Ohio native and 25-year veteran in the donation world, takes over today as chief executive officer of Gift of Life Michigan, the state’s federally designated organ and tissue donor program….
Stories of Hope | August 10, 2016
Dayja Foster
Kidney recipient Dayja Foster was diagnosed with kidney failure when she was just 16. Dialysis kept her going, but robbed Dayja of her time as a teenager. Last year, a generous donor saved her life…
| June 8, 2016
Gift of Life begins recovering organs and tissue at new Ann Arbor surgical center
ANN ARBOR, MI – A new era of organ and tissue donation has begun in the state with the first organ and tissue recoveries at Gift of Life Michigan’s state-of-the-art surgical center. The $14.3-million expansion…
| April 27, 2016
Gift of Life and Eversight Michigan honor funeral service educator for organ, eye and tissue donation advocacy work
DETROIT – Sharon L. Gee-Mascarello of St. Clair Shores is the first recipient of the Gift of Life Michigan Eversight Michigan Donation Champion Award for professionals in the funeral service industry. The award was presented…
| April 14, 2016
Gift of Life unveils new surgical suites and learning center
ANN ARBOR, MI—Gift of Life Michigan, the state’s organ and tissue recovery program, has officially opened a $14.3-million expansion that includes its own surgical center to help save and improve more lives. The expansion allows…
| April 1, 2016
Gift of Life launches yearlong Transplant Center Challenge to bolster the state’s donor registry
ANN ARBOR, MI— The state’s nine transplant centers have accepted a brand-new challenge by Gift of Life Michigan to compete for an honor that will net them more than a fancy trophy – it will…
| February 26, 2016
Rick Hillbom takes over as CEO at Gift of Life
Replaces Richard Pietroski, who leaves as CEO emeritus after distinguished career ANN ARBOR, MI—Gift of Life Michigan, the state’s federally designated organ and tissue recovery program, has named Rick Hillbom as interim CEO following the…
| February 25, 2016
Wayne State University and WMU Stryker M.D. School of Medicine win statewide competition
ANN ARBOR — College rivalries aren’t limited to athletics. For the past five weeks, 12 Michigan colleges and universities used their school pride to save lives by signing people up to the Michigan Organ Donor…
| February 23, 2016
Bronson Methodist Hospital issues statement correcting details about 14-year-old Kalamazoo shooting victim
Gift of Life Michigan extends its deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the senseless shootings in Kalamazoo and hopes for the full recovery of those injured in the violence. Here is…
| January 21, 2016
13th annual Gift of Life Campus Challenge gives college rivalries life-saving purpose
ANN ARBOR, MI— Twelve colleges and universities are preparing for a life or death competition. However, they most likely will never know the people whose lives they are saving. The schools are participating in the…
| January 19, 2016
Gift of Life Michigan has successful year saving and improving lives statewide and beyond
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Gift of Life Michigan helped make it possible for 1,130 people to become heroes in 2015 by donating organs and tissues to patients in need. Those donors gave 875 organs, each…
| November 6, 2015
Gift of Life Michigan earns national accreditation by the American Association of Tissue Banks
ANN ARBOR — Gift of Life Michigan has been awarded the prestigious accreditation by the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB), Gift of Life CEO Richard Pietroski announced today. Accreditation follows an intensive nine-month process,…
| November 3, 2015
State Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr. introduces bill to pave way for organ recoveries at Gift of Life surgical center in Ann Arbor
ANN ARBOR, MI — Gift of Life Michigan, the state’s organ and tissue recovery program, is pleased to announce that state Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr. has introduced a bill that will permit Gift of Life…
| October 20, 2015
Gift of Life and partner win national awards for donor awareness
Gift of Life Michigan and the Donate Life Coalition of Michigan have been recognized nationally for 2014 initiatives to bolster awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation. Both recieved 2015 Pinnacle Awards: Gift of Life’s…
| October 6, 2015
Libraries join statewide initiative to save lives
ANN ARBOR, MI – Michigan Libraries for Life and Gift of Life Michigan announced today that libraries across the state will be participating in a seven-day campaign to inspire residents to join the Michigan Organ…
| September 21, 2015
Gift of Life Michigan sponsors national multicultural conference
ANN ARBOR—Gift of Life Michigan is pleased to welcome donation and transplantation leaders from across the nation to the annual meeting of the Association of Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation (AMAT). The group’s 23rd annual conference…
| July 24, 2015
Michigan Organ Donor Registry tops 4 million
DETROIT ‒ The Michigan Organ Donor Registry now stands at more than 4 million people willing to be organ, tissue and eye donors, bringing the statewide total of donor registrants to 52 percent of adults….
| March 20, 2015
Gift of Life Michigan CEO elected treasurer of United Network for Organ Sharing Board of Directors
Richard Pietroski, CEO of Gift of Life Michigan, has been elected to the position of treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network/United Network for Organ Sharing. As board treasurer…
| March 2, 2015
Wayne State University and Siena Heights University are tops in statewide organ donor drive competition at college campuses
ANN ARBOR — Showing that college rivalries can be used for social good, students across the state participated in the 12th annual Gift of Life Campus Challenge, encouraging classmates, alumni, faculty and others to join…
| February 12, 2015
Contest on college campuses statewide aims to add 2,000 names to the Michigan Organ Donor Registry
Ann Arbor – Putting school rivalries and competitive spirit to a new purpose, college students across the state are encouraging their peers, professors and local community members to sign up on the Michigan Organ Donor…
| January 26, 2015
Gift of Life reaches agreement with Saginaw County’s new medical examiner
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Gift of Life Michigan and the Saginaw County medical examiner have signed an agreement that will allow for both criminal investigations and organ, tissue and cornea donations to occur. The deal…
| January 20, 2015
Michigan reaches historic milestone: More than half of adults are registered donors
LANSING – Secretary of State Ruth Johnson today announced that the number of Michigan adults registered as organ, tissue and eye donors has now surpassed 50 percent and she credited her staff with helping to…
| November 17, 2014
Gift of Life earns Crain’s Detroit “Cool Places to Work” distinction
Crain’s Detroit Business recognizes organization’s employee engagement, philosophy ANN ARBOR — Gift of Life Michigan has been named one of the state’s “Cool Places to Work” by Crain’s Detroit Business and Best Companies Group. The…
| August 25, 2014
Gift of Life Michigan breaks ground on major expansion of state’s Ann Arbor headquarters
Surgical suites, learning center and donor memorial to be completed in Sept. 2015 ANN ARBOR – Gift of Life Michigan, the state’s organ and tissue recovery program, today broke ground on a $12.3 million, three-story…
| August 19, 2014
Gift of Life is first organ procurement organization with ground-breaking lung technology
ANN ARBOR, MI – Gift of Life Michigan, the state’s only organ and tissue donor program, has approval to begin using an extraordinary technology that will boost both the number and quality of lungs available…
| July 25, 2014
Gift of Life MOTTEP Walk/Run raises awareness about the importance of minority organ donations
DETROIT – More than 1,000 supporters of efforts to expand minority patients’ access to tissue and organ transplant operations will participate in the 17th annual Gift of Life Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP)…
| June 23, 2014
Gift of Life looks forward to working with new Saginaw County medical examiner to assist investigations and save lives
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Gift of Life Michigan is withdrawing a legal action against the former Saginaw County medical examiner, now that a new chief medical examiner has been appointed. Gift of Life had asked…
| June 9, 2014
Gift of Life Michigan sponsors driver Joey Gase in NASCAR Nationwide race to promote organ and tissue donation
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Gift of Life Michigan will serve as the primary sponsor for NASCAR Nationwide driver Joey Gase’s No. 52 Chevy Camaro at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday, June 14. Gase’s mother, Mary…
| April 30, 2014
Angels for Life campaign urges minorities in southeast Michigan to save and heal lives through organ donation
Detroit, MI — Even if you haven’t attended a house of worship lately or aren’t connected with a faith community at all, four Detroit clergymen — Bishop Phillip A. Brooks, Rev. Ronald Copeland, Rev. Patrick…
| April 28, 2014
Gift of Life works to uphold the law in Saginaw County so lives can be saved
Gift of Life Michigan has sued Saginaw County and its medical examiner after authorities there prevented the donation of life-saving organs instead of cooperating with Gift of Life, as required by law. The suit asks…
| April 2, 2014
Secretary of State, advocates kick off Donate Life Month at Wayne State University
DETROIT – Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and organ donation leaders kicked off Donate Life Month at Wayne State University today with music, awards and an energetic call for community members to sign up on…
| March 25, 2014
It’s official: Donate Life Coalition of Michigan set Guinness World Record for largest gathering of heart transplant recipients
The Donate Life Coalition of Michigan, its members and Art Moran Buick GMC are proud to announce that our attempt has officially been accepted and was set on February 14, when 132 heart transplant recipients…
| February 28, 2014
Wayne State University and Siena Heights University win coveted trophies in statewide organ donor drive competition.
ANN ARBOR — Using college rivalries for social good, students across the state participated in the 11th annual Gift of Life Campus Challenge, encouraging classmates, alumni, faculty and others to join the Michigan Organ Donor…
| February 27, 2014
World record 132 heart recipients gather to celebrate new life on Valentine’s Day
A world record 132 heart recipients crowded into an auto dealership on Valentine’s Day in Southfield, creating a media stir and heartfelt appreciation for organ donors and their families. The first-time event was held at…
| January 23, 2014
Hundreds to gather for celebration of organ, eye and tissue donation at state Capitol
LANSING, Mich. – People from across the state are expected to converge at the Capitol on Wednesday, Sept. 18, to celebrate the miracle of organ, eye and tissue transplantation. It will also be a day…
| January 21, 2014
11th annual Gift of Life Campus Challenge aims to sign up 3,000 new organ donors
Ann Arbor, MI—Using college rivalries and a competitive spirit for social good, college students across the state are encouraging their peers, professors and local community members to sign up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry….
| January 21, 2014
Gift of Life achieves new marks while saving and improving lives in 2013
Ann Arbor, Mich. – In 2013, Gift of Life Michigan helped 1,064 people donate organs and tissues for transplant as their final act of generosity. Those donors and their families provided 915 organs for transplant…
| January 2, 2014
Michigan organ donor honored on float in Tournament of Roses Parade
Ann Arbor, Mich. – A 39-year-old wife and mother of two from Grand Blanc was among 81 organ, tissue or cornea donors from across the nation honored on the Donate Life Rose Parade Float in…
| November 25, 2013
Gift of Life honors organ donation champions for life-saving work
Ann Arbor, Mich. – Gift of Life recognized five Michigan residents for their outstanding work in promoting organ, eye and tissue donation at the 42nd annual Gift of Life Foundation meeting Thursday. Gift of Life,…
Stories of Hope | August 8, 2013
Dr. Marwan Abouljoud
“Organ donation and transplantation is the gateway from the dying to the living.” Dr. Marwan Abouljoud isn’t just a surgeon. He’s a transplant surgeon. World renowned for his abilities in liver and split liver transplant,…
Stories of Hope | August 8, 2013
Harry Lucas
“My daughter delivered four miracles and it doesn’t stop there.” Click here to sign up. Within a matter of minutes, a headache for Wixom native April Lucas turned into unimaginable tragedy. The popular 23-year-old Central…
Stories of Hope | August 8, 2013
Maggie
Heart recipient “We are very lucky to have her healthy, and we are hell-bent on making sure she understands the gift she was given.” Mother Kelly McLaren One family facing an unimaginable tragedy in early…
Stories of Hope | August 8, 2013
Cassandra Perry
Cornea recipient Cassandra Perry was 30 and a single mom of two when the news came: She was going blind. Click here to sign up. She had been experiencing a gradual loss of vision that…
Stories of Hope | May 22, 2013
Pat Golden
Mother, Nana, loving wife, dear friend, Caring, loving, giving are just a few words that describe my Mom, Pat Golden. She was the most giving person I have ever known even right up to her…
Stories of Hope | May 22, 2013
Nicole Carlton
I am a different story: I didn’t receive a organ donation but I did receive a tissue donation. And with out it I would be able to do the thing’s I do today. The number…
Stories of Hope | May 22, 2013
Gregory Harrison
Hi! My name is Gregory Harrison and I’m so glad to have volunteered in the Transplant Tuesday donor sign up event sponsored by the Gift of Life on July 6 at the Secretary of State…
Stories of Hope | May 22, 2013
Rachel Postma
Rachel was diagnosed with a cardiomyopathy at 6 weeks of age while we lived in Virginia. She was later seen at the University of Michigan Hospital where she was treated with a maintenance prescription heart…
Stories of Hope | May 22, 2013
Melissa Tuff
I was diagnosed at age 16 with Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis and immediately thrown onto dialysis. I had no idea what to expect or what was happening. All that I was sure of was that I…
Stories of Hope | May 22, 2013
Lynn
5/13/2010, I just wanted to post that today my mother has had her lung transplant from the University of Michigan for 18 years. She also had a kidney transplant 5 years ago, donated by my…
Stories of Hope | May 22, 2013
Dixon Hamilton
My son Dixon was 17 when he went off the back of an ATV and suffered severe head injuries. He was pronounced brain dead on June 20th 2009 at Aspirus Hospital in Wausau, WI. He…