A gathering that honors and remembers the true heroes
of organ and tissue transplantation-our donors!

Reverend George Blackwell begins the ceremony with the lighting of the remembrance candle.

On October 14th, over 300 donor family members joined the staff of NJ Sharing Network for our Donor Family Memorial Program. Families who have donated came together to meet with other families who share a common bond. For 15 years, NJ Sharing Network has hosted this moving ceremony which commemorates a time to remember, to comfort and to heal.

Heartfelt thanks were expressed by organ and tissue recipients to the donor families that were present as they shared stories of how transplantation saved or enhanced their lives. Reverend George Blackwell led the group in prayer and commenced the candle lighting ceremony. Many families came forward and contributed beautiful and meaningful squares which will be sewn together creating a new “Quilt of Love”.

The afternoon included the presentation of a Gift of Life donor medal and a rose, to each family. Concluding the program was a very moving photo tribute set to harp and violin. Many thanks to Mary Ellen McGlynn from NJ Sharing Network for all her hard work and dedication to making this year's program exceptional.

View this year's tributes:

VIEW ALL TRIBUTES

Comments from families who attended the program

“Thank you for all your efforts! This was a truly beautiful memorial. It brought great comfort to see so many families whose loved ones gave the gift of life.”

“I brought a friend- she said she'd like to know how to designate herself as an organ donor, now that driver's licenses are digitized.”

“I went away with a good feeling knowing that this was a day to remember our loved ones, whose untimely death brought to each and everyone of us great sorrow, and at the same brought hope and life to a donor recipient and their family. Thank you for the day.”

“We had a wonderful first experience at the ceremony. We were touched and honored to receive gifts. We feel proud to be a donor family to help others. We look forward to attending other events and to be a part of the network. Thank you for honoring us and our loved one.”

“If I could describe the family memorial ceremony in the terms of flowers, you would not possess a bouquet but rather the whole world would be your garden. I thank you all so very much for what you did for me that day.”