Current Newsletters

News of Note

2011: Seize the Day 

Donate Life’s 2011 Rose Parade float entry soars with beautiful kites that inspire people to Seize the Day and register as organ, eye and tissue donors.

Based on the parade theme Building Dreams, Friendships and Memories, the float’s kites depict an opportunity to share laughter, sun, wind and the visual beauty of the moment. The colorful kites soar in the wind as donor families, living donors and transplant recipients enjoy a special moment and make new memories. The tails of the kites are adorned with memorial “floragraph” portraits of deceased donors whose legacies lift the kites and the hopes of those in need of transplants.
 
The Donate Life Family Circle rose dedications opened July 1.  See “Family Circle” at www.donatelifefloat.org.  Thousands of organ, eye and tissue donors nationwide are memorialized on the float with dedicated roses, each vial carrying a personal message of love, hope and remembrance.

D tour: A Rock-N-Roll Film about Life, Death, and Bodily Functions

Meet Your Neighbor: Leasa Wilkens 

An active volunteer in Eugene, Leasa has a family and full time job but still finds time and takes initiative to make things happen to promote organ donation.  A trained speaker, she also recently hosted a Gather for Good 50/50 raffle event at the credit union where she works.  Furthermore, she contacted the largest cinema in the area and was successful in securing an educational/registration table in the lobby.

Leasa says, “growing up, my family always agreed that when the time came, our decision would be to ‘donate and cremate.’  I became aware of Donate Life Northwest after my father passed away in 2007.  I submitted a Threads of Life quilt square in memory of him and was inspired when attending the unveiling.  Now I’m an active volunteer/speaker in the Eugene area.” 


What do you think is the most important thing for people to know about donation and transplantation? Donation impacts so many different lives that if people could see in advance how many lives you would touch and enhance through making this decision – there would be no question…everyone would want to become a donor!  It’s powerful!  The donation process also helped in my personal healing through honoring my father’s wishes.

What is your favorite hobby?  I love anything that has to do with water!  My husband and I went scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.  Closer to home, we have a boat that we enjoy throughout the summer – swimming, tubing (and to add comic relief for spectators…I occasionally attempt to water ski).  On land, I love watching or attending sporting events Football is my favorite -- Go Ducks!

What is your favorite book? I can’t really say I have a favorite book.  I enjoy motivational speakers and inspirational quotes.  One quote I like is "Life's not about waiting for the storms to pass...It's about learning to dance in the rain." ~Vivian Greene

What is your favorite music? I really enjoy blues guitarists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jonny Lang.  I’m also a huge Dave Matthews Band fan. 

Supporting the Mission

Calling all golfers to register in Donate Life Northwest’s 17th annual golf tournament on August 10, 2010 at the Reserve Golf Club.  Golfers can expect fast play and a great time.

Donate Life Northwest’s goal is to register 170 golfers and raise more than \$50,000.

Dave and Darcey Bone of Hillside Chapel, Presenting Sponsor of the golf tournament say “Through our work with Donate Life Northwest, we have met so many people whose lives are positively impacted by this organization.  Our work with donor families has assured us that their decision to donate is something positive during such a sad and tragic time in their lives.  We are honored to support this event and hope to encourage other businesses and individuals to join us.”

Join Hillside Chapel and register your golf tournament foursome today. Golfers will be personally greeted on the course by transplant recipients, donor families and living donors and will experience the impact of Donate Life Northwest’s work.

Imagine winning two airline tickets, a beach getaway, a Kindle e-reader, or over \$200 in restaurant gift cards, just by spending \$20.00.

You can! Donate Life Northwest’s raffle tickets are still available…but are selling fast. Individuals need not be present at the drawing on August 10th to win one of seven exciting prizes. What’s more, all raffle proceeds support programs that register donors and save lives.  Buy raffle tickets today!