Local Agencies Honor Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donors and Their Families‏

The Donor Recognition Ceremony will be a time of remembrance, and an opportunity to be part of a special day of sharing memories and meeting donor families and special guests.

Image courtesy: mysweetmaci.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Lions Eye Bank of Oregon, Pacific Northwest Transplant Bank, and Community Tissue Services of Portland are making plans to honor the lives of organ, eye, and tissue donors and their families at the Elsinore Theatre in Salem, Oregon on October 20th.

They say the event will celebrate the lives of those who made the decision to donate and in doing so have saved and enhanced the lives of thousands in Oregon, SW Washington, the United States, and around the world.

"This is our way of letting donor families know that we continue to remember and appreciate the priceless gift that their loved one has given" said Barbara Crow, Executive Director for the Lions Eye Bank of Oregon. "…it's a small measure of thanks on behalf of the lives that have been saved and enhanced by such an immeasurable gift."

There are currently over 96,000 individuals on the waiting list for a life-saving organ, and while waiting lists for corneas and tissues are no longer a problem in the US there are still over 35,000 cornea transplants and close to 1 million tissue transplants taking place in the US each year. While medical advancements have created new treatments for many diseases the need for organ, eye, and tissue for transplant continues to grow.

"Every day I continue to be humbled by the generosity of strangers, who in a very dark hour for themselves, choose to help others" said Corrina Patzer, Communications Director for the Lions Eye Bank of Oregon. "This ceremony is our small way of giving back and acknowledging people who have made a positive difference in the lives of others."

The Donor Recognition Ceremony will be a time of remembrance. It will be a wonderful opportunity to be part of a special day of sharing memories and meeting donor families and special guests. It will be a time to join together and honor loved ones and friends, as well as celebrate their legacy in giving the gifts of life, sight, and mobility.

The Lions Eye Bank of Oregon, Pacific Northwest Transplant Bank, and Community Tissue Services of Portland would like to invite all members of the community to join us at this event and help us to honor the lives of those who have given so graciously to help others in need. The ceremony will begin at noon at the Elsinore Theatre in Salem, Oregon. For more information contact Corrina Patzer at the Lions Eye Bank of Oregon at (503) 413-8376 or corrina.patzer@orlions.org .