During November, Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network observes Faith & Hope Month a time to reflect on the spiritual values that call us to compassion, generosity and service to others. For many faith traditions, organ, eye and tissue donation is one of the highest expressions of love for others.
Across Illinois and northwest Indiana, faith leaders, hospitals, and communities join together with Gift of Hope to honor that sacred calling and encourage everyone to learn the facts about organ and tissue donation, register as a donor, and talk with loved ones about their decision.
The Power of One Gift
A single donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation, enhance more than 75 lives through tissue donation, and restore sight for two people. Each act of donation carries forward the faith, love, and compassion that connect us all. Every major religion in the United States supports organ and tissue donation as a selfless expression of generosity.
Faith That Heals
For one Illinois family, faith and hope took on special meaning through the generosity of a tissue donor family. Charlotte, known to her friends as Charley, is a 15-year-old athlete who received a tissue donation during knee surgery. Her mother, Ashley, wrote to the donor family:
“We are incredibly grateful to your family. God bless you.”
In her own words, Charley shared:
“I’m a soccer player and because of your donation I am able to keep playing! I promise to live my life to the fullest. I pray for your family every day.”
She closed her note with Philippians 4:19: “I pray that God will take care of your needs with the wonderful blessings that come from Christ Jesus.”
For Charley, her family and friends, this gift was not just a medical procedure, it was a reminder of God’s grace and the human capacity for love.
View letters here.
As we mark Faith & Hope Month, Gift of Hope invites you to honor those who give, those who receive, and the faith traditions that inspire us to serve one another. Together, we can turn faith into action and hope into healing. Register to be an organ and tissue donor at Join the Registry.