April is National Donate Life Month

National Donate Life Month

Every April, we celebrate National Donate Life Month to honor those who have saved lives through the gifts of organ, eye, and tissue donation. It's a fantastic time to raise awareness about the importance of donation and transplantation. This year's national theme is Let Life Sing! Birds are known across many cultures as one of the most welcomed and visible signs of spring. They represent both new beginnings and visits from loved ones who have passed away. The yearly return of birds and their songs offer us a sense of peace and hope.

For 2025, we have multiple ways you can celebrate donation! Find out how you can get involved below! If you have any questions, as always, you can email us at info@donatelifenw.org. 

Events

Klamath Falls Happy Hour: April 4
Drop by our happy hour in Klamath Falls at the Garage Tap House from 4-7pm and celebrate Donate Life Month with us! Grab a drink and chat with other members of the Donate Life community! RSVP here.

Klamath Falls 5k: April 5
Payton Idrogo, DLNW volunteer, is coordinating a 5k at Moore Park in Klamath Falls with proceeds going to Donate Life Northwest. Find out more information and register here.

Thank Your Healthcare Heroes- Thank You Card Writing Party: April 5
Join us in our office in Portland between 12:30 and 3:30 to write a heartfelt thank you card to your transplant teams. Cards will be delivered to our local Transplant Centers as a part of "Thank Your Healthcare Team" day during Spirit Week. Register for the event here.
Not able to make this event? Feel free to request your own notecards and write your own thank you notes to the healthcare heroes in your community.

Donate Life Day at the Blazers: April 6
On April 6, Donate Life Northwest and Cascade Life Alliance will be tabling at the Trail Blazer game against the San Antonio Spurs. Donate Life Northwest community members can get discounted tickets to the game by visiting rosequarter.com/groupnights and using the promo code: DONATELIFENW. Tickets must be purchased by Friday, March 14 to receive the discount.

Rock Painting Kit Packing: April 13
We will be packing up rock painting kits from 1-4pm with our friends at Northwest Kidney Kids and Hayden Rocks Kindness. Kits will be packed and delivered to patients at Doernbecher Hospital. Find out more information and RSVP here.

Trivia Night: April 17
We're bringing back in-person trivia! Brush up on your knowledge, get a team together, and sign up to show off your trivial knowledge at Lucky Lab Multnomah Village. Find more information and register here.

Redmond Coffee Chat: April 21
Whether you're new to the organization or a long-time volunteer, our volunteer coordinator, Jenny, would love to buy you a coffee (or your favorite beverage) at Junction Roastery and chat about all things volunteering and Donate Life Northwest. Find out more information and RSVP here.

Redmond Happy Hour: April 21
Snack on some appetizers and chat with members of the Donate Life Northwest community at our happy hour at Initiative Brewing. Find more information and RSVP here.

Hood River Happy Hour: April 23
DLNW is on the road again! Join us for a community mixer at Solstice Wood Fire Pizza and enjoy a slice and meetup with other members of the donation and transplant community. Find more information and RSVP here.

Hood River Coffee Chat: April 24
Drop by Ground Coffee between 10am and noon and meet up with Jenny, our volunteer coordinator, to learn about Donate Life Northwest and volunteer opportunities. Find out more information and RSVP here.

 

Observances

Living Donor Day: April 2
We will celebrate living donor stories on our Facebook page. In the meantime, you can read more living donor stories here or submit your living donation story here.

Blue & Green Spirit Week: April 5-12
April 5: Dress Up Your Pets
April 6: Make Blue & Green Treats
April 7: Thank Your Healthcare Team
April 8: Write a Message of Hope
April 9: Donate Life Flag Raising Day
April 10: Create Donate Life Art
April 11: Blue & Green Day
April 12: Share Your Decision Day

Blue and Green Day: Friday, April 11

Lighting of the Morrison Bridge: April 8-10
In honor of the 8 lives one organ donor can save, during Blue & Green Spirit Week, the Morrison Bridge will be lit up blue and green from April 8 to April 10. Special thanks to our partners at Cascade Life Alliance.

Organ, Eye, Tissue Donor Appreciation Week: April 7-11
In the State of Oregon, the second week of April is designated as Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donor Appreciation Week! We will highlight donor stories on our social media, and if you are the family or friend of an organ, eye, and/or tissue donor, we'd love to have you share their story here.

Pediatric Transplant Week: April 20-26
Check out Northwest Kidney Kids to see their work with our local pediatric community.
Follow us on social media as we share pediatric transplant stories.

 

All Month Long

Register to be a Donor
There's no better way to show your support for donation than to sign up to be a lifesaver today.

Request Materials to Distribute
Want to set up a table, put together goodie bags, or have another creative idea to spread the word? Request brochures and SWAG from us by filling out this form. 

Fly a Donate Life Flag
Order a flag to show your support-- ranging in size from ones to attach to your car, ones to hang at your house or in your garden, or flags for standard-size flag poles! For our hospital partners, please contact us as we do have a very limited supply of 3'x5' flags available.

Watch a Documentary
Get together with your friends, family, coworkers, classmates, or community group and watch the documentary, A Donation Conversation. Request a viewing link and self-led discussion questions by filling out the form here.

Share Donation Facts
Share this infographic about donation with your community. For hospitals or places of business with video screens, download our Facts About Donation Slide Set. 

Show Your Artistic Side
Print off a Donate Life Month coloring page in English or Spanish and show off your coloring skills!

Use a Donate Life Month Zoom Background
Show your spirit in all your Zoom, Meet, and Teams Meetings by changing your background to this one for National Donate Life Month.

With Donate Life Month, the sky is the limit! Have a creative idea to promote donation? We'd love to hear about it and help if we can! Reach out to us for supplies and guidance at info@donatelifenw.org.