Donor family workshops & events
Please join us
Saving lives through organ and tissue donation is possible only through donors and their families. We are honored to support you and all donor families with ongoing information and support, opportunities to connect and activities bringing us together to remember your loved one and the lives changed through the gift of donation.
One way we do this is to provide in-person and virtual (online) programs for donor families throughout the year. Some programs are exclusively for donor families, while others invite transplant recipients, volunteer Ambassadors and staff from Gift of Hope and partner organizations to take part. On this page you’ll find information about these programs and events especially for donor families.
Si desea registrarse, envíe un correo electrónico a [email protected] o llame al 630/758-2718.
Donor family events
View details and register for upcoming donor family events below.
Grief Support Group for Donor Families
This open grief support group is exclusively for our Gift of Hope donor families via Zoom. We meet on the first Tuesday of every month from 6-7 p.m. CST.
Whiting Illuminated 2025 Christmas Parade
We invite all who have been touched by donation to join us at the Whiting Illuminated 2025 Christmas Parade. Connect with one another and help share the message of our loved one’s legacies by walking together in this holiday parade. Registration is required. Register here.
Loved Ones & Legacy – Trees on Tees
Donor families are invited to join us at Decatur Park District’s Trees on Tees Festival! Add your loved one’s name to the Gift of Hope tree, meet our Donor Family Services Team, and other donor families. Limited number of tickets will be available. Open to the public. Registration is required. Register here.
Holiday Magic Meet & Greet
Donor families are invited to this special meet and greet at Brookfield Zoo’s Holiday Magic. Add your loved one’s name to the Gift of Hope tree, meet our Donor Family Services Team & other donor families. Limited number of tickets will be raffled. Registration is required. Register here.
Learn more about our programs for donor families:
Workshops & Events
Memory Box assembly workshops bring together donor families, recipients and others who have been touched by donation to prepare the keepsake boxes that each donor family receives to honor their loved one.
Programs throughout the year are in-person or virtual (online) activities throughout the year for donor families, transplant recipients and Ambassadors to connect, take part in a discussion or presentation, and celebrate their special donors.
Events have included holiday gatherings at Brookfield Zoo and other public spaces throughout Illinois and northwest Indiana where we have established a Gift of Hope holiday tree honoring all those who have donated life as organ, eye and tissue donors, and their families.
During in-person workshops, we often break bread to share a meal and stories together.
Keepsakes
At Memory-Making Workshops, donor families gather to connect with one another and create physical keepsakes honoring the life and memories of their loved ones, and the gifts of hope they gave through organ and tissue donation. Memory-making activities have included:
- Creating ornaments that are featured on Gift of Hope holiday trees for the public each December
- Creating an altar in celebration of Dia de Los Muertos
- Creating keepsakes in conjunction with National Donate Life Month and other special observances.
Loved Ones & Legacy Events
These events create a meaningful space for donor families to honor and celebrate their loved ones’ generous donations within a supportive community. They offer a unique opportunity for communities to see how donor families and their loved ones are honored and supported through the gift of donation. Loved Ones & Legacy Events also foster connections among donor families, champions, Ambassadors, partners, colleagues, and the broader community in a public setting. To date, we have participated in events such as:
- The Water Lantern Festival
- Luminary events at public parks
- Winter community parades
- Summer community parades
We are here for you.
Our Donor Family Services Team is here for you. Reach out to us any time at [email protected] or call 877/577-3747.
Don’t miss the next event
Visit Gift of Hope’s Programs & Event calendar to save the date for upcoming workshops, as well as all Gift of Hope activities including our community programs.
