15th Annual Betty Buckley Donor Family Ceremony
Gathering together to honor the organ and tissue donors of 2006, more than 450 people participated in the 15th Annual Betty Buckley Donor Family Ceremony in East Lansing on September 30, 2007.
More than 80 families received U.S. Surgeon General Certificates of Appreciation.
Most families submitted photos of their loved ones, which were lovingly put together into a moving slideshow tribute. You can view the slideshow on You Tube by clicking this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1VqmH_B70A
Families personalized quilt squares in memory of their loved ones, and pinned them up for display.
There were enough quilt squares provided to create three new quilts over the coming months. Medical staff from St. John Hospital, Beaumont Hospital and Henry Ford Hospital, as well as staff from the Michigan Eye-Bank and National Kidney Foundation of Michigan attended in support of the donor families, also. Over the coming weeks, many families will have the opportunity to share their photos and stories with community newspapers across the state, inspiring others to donate the gifts of life, sight and mobility.
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Bringing Organ Donation Awareness
to our Faith Communities
On September 21, 2007, dozens of ministers, chaplains, nurses, social workers and other supporters gathered at Woodside Church in Flint to be educated, inspired and motivated in their ministries of helping the faithful cope with end-of-life issues. Extremely informative presentations from professionals in end-of-life care, including donation, were intertwined with inspirational stories of those personally touched by organ and tissue donation. Participants were also graced with the sounds of music by Charity Choir (comprised of kidney patients and their supporters) and Pamela Powell (double lung recipient). After brainstorming some great ideas on bringing organ donation back to their home congregations, attendees were given tools and support materials to participate in National Donor Sabbath weekend in November.
Mackinac Bridge Labor Day Walk
On Labor Day, Gift of Life Michigan volunteers asked residents to "show us your heart" at the 50th anniversary of the Mackinac Bridge Walk. More than 65,000 people crossed the 5-mile span during the annual event, and many were met at the finish line by transplant recipients and donor family volunteers. The day began for the volunteers with an opportunity to be part of a photo taken with Governor Jennifer Granholm, who recognized the group's outreach efforts. Media coverage included a news clip featuring Dianne Longo, a heart recipient from Ludington, which aired on Channels 9&10 out of Traverse City (click the link to watch the video!). Governor Granholm was interviewed during the broadcast and stated, "The gift of an organ, obviously, is the bridge to life for many, many people. I'm so glad that they are out here in celebration of this physical bridge and really to send the message that people should donate."
LIFE Walk 2007
The 10th Annual LIFE Walk attracted more families than ever, and 24 teams, with a 5KWalk, Fun Run on Detroit's Historic Belle Isle. Funds raised will be used to educate Michigan residents, in particular members of minority communities, about organ and tissue donation, as well as healthier living habits to prevent the need for transplant. WXYZ-TV 7 interviewed MOTTEP's Remonia Chapman and some participants, while highlighting 2006 information indicating 27% of Michigan donors and 34% of Michigan transplant recipients were ethnic minorities. The heroes of the University of Michigan Survival Flight Team were honored during the opening program, and Gift of Life MOTTEP committed to fund a child's participation in Camp Michitanki in honor of Richerd Chanault II, one of the Survival Flight crash victims and a former MOTTEP Advisory Board member.
For more information about LIFE Walk, visit www.motteplifewalk.org.
Gift of Life Rose
Planting ceremonies
2007 Rose Planting Ceremony - Ludington
Lung recipient, Bev Cherwinski, of the Northern Transplant Support Group, organized a Rose Planting Ceremony at Memorial Medical Center in Ludington,
MI on July 13, 2007. Many local organ recipients and donor families remembered the gifts of life that have been shared, including Mille David, aunt of
recent organ donor Dawn Leon of Muskegon.
The event speakers included the Mayor of Ludington John Henderson, State Representative Dave Palsrok, and
Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land.
ALIVE '07 at Parkwest Gallery
Hundreds of donation supporters celebrated the gifts of life, sight and mobility at this dynamic event! Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land opened the program, and surprised Lisa Langley, from the Michigan Eye-Bank, with a Shining Star Award for all that Lisa does to promote donation.
Dr. Darla Granger, transplant surgeon from St. John Hospital & Transplant Center, presented several awards on behalf of the Donate Life Coalition of Michigan. Bill Gillespie, liver transplant recipient, received the 2007 Visionary Award for always looking for more ways to help the cause. The Detroit Tigers received the 2007 Crusader Award for promoting organ donation at the ballpark for over a decade. Patricia Anstett, Detroit Free Press reporter, received the 2007 Outstanding Media Award for using the "power of the pen" to educate her audience about organ and tissue donation.
Jazz V98.7's Alexander Zonjic graciously served as emcee of ALIVE '07, and Hunter Brucks played the song "Second Chance", which he wrote specifically for the transplant kids camp, Camp Michitanki. Many thanks to our fine artists who helped make the event spectacular!
The Coalition extends its gratitude to those who bid on the hundreds of silent auction items, the fantastic live auction items and the treasure chest raffles, and to those who bought "goodie bags" full of surprises. The monies raised will be used to continue the Coalition's mission to educate all Michigan residents about the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, and the gifts of organ, tissue and eye donation.
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