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Since 2007, hospitals across the country have hosted Donate Life Rose Ceremonies to honor their organ, eye, and/or tissue donors. Following are best practices pioneered by several of them.

St. Francis Medical Center, Lynwood, CA
St. Francis Medical Center in Los Angeles dedicated Donate Life Roses to all 22 of their donors from 2006. They hosted their Donate Life Rose Ceremony in April to celebrate National Donate Life Month at the hospital. The local OPO, OneLegacy, mailed an invitation in early April to the St. Francis donor families and followed up with phone calls. Of the 22 families invited, more than 100 people attended in memory of 12 donors.

  • Held ceremony in April for Donate Life Month
  • Ceremony staged in the hospital’s auditorium and decorated with soft light and roses
  • A sister from the Catholic hospital said a prayer in memory of the donors
  • A representative from each family lit a candle in memory of their loved one
  • Donate Life Rose vials were filled with fresh red roses
  • Hospital CEO presented personalized certificates to the families and an OPO representative handed the families their roses
  • A photograph was taken of each family holding their certificate and rose, standing with the hospital CEO
  • Ceremony was held at 5pm; hot appetizers, desserts and punch were served
  • Hospital staff, especially from the ICU and ER, were encouraged to attend

Huntington Hospital, Pasadena, CA
Each December since 2006, Huntington Hospital has dedicated roses in honor of all of that year’s donors as well as all hospital staff personally touched by donation. The hospital plans the program, contacts their families, and invites the OPO and media.

  • Ceremony is held within two weeks of Christmas
  • Ceremony is held at the hospital at 4pm
  • Replica vials are filled with fresh roses
  • CEOs of both the hospital and the OPO speak at the beginning of the program and hand the roses to the families
  • Hospital photographer chronicles event for newsletter
  • Hospital staff are invited to attend
  • The region’s largest Spanish-language daily newspaper published a photo from the event

Freeman Health System and
St. Johns Medical Center, Joplin, Mo.
Since 2007, competing hospitals Freeman Health System and St. Johns Medical Center of Joplin, Mo. have collaborated to honor their organ, eye and tissue donors. The hospitals work closely with their OPO, Midwest Transplant Network, and Heartland Lions Eye Bank to coordinate the event.

  • Ceremony is held in early December
  • Each hospital honors all organ, eye and tissue donors from the previous year
  • Mailed invitations are followed up with phone calls to explain that their loved ones are being honored
  • Leadership of all involved parties were challenged to share responsibility for refreshments and roses
  • Hospitals alternate hosting the ceremony
  • CEOs from both hospitals, Midwest Transplant Network and Heartland Lions Eye Bank welcome those in attendance and thank them for their generosity
  • Director of Clinical Operations for Freeman and Director of Clinical Care Services for St. John’s hand out roses and certificates
  • Participation of local float riders and floragraph families as applicable
  • In 2008, media coverage of ceremony on two television stations and an extensive article in the Joplin Globe

Freeman Health Systems held two separate fundraisers to raise money for their participation in the Donate Life Family Circle program. Both fundraisers provided excellent means to engage everyone throughout the hospital to honor their donor families in this meaningful way. From Maintenance to General Surgery, staff participated and felt fully engaged and proud to participate.

Donate Life Rose Tree

Freeman Health Systems set up a Christmas tree in their lobby and gave staff and visitors the opportunity to dedicate a silk rose on the tree.

  • Rose tree was located in the lobby right outside the gift shop
  • Staff and visitors could go into gift shop and dedicate a rose on the tree. $50 for a silk rose and $25 for a rose bud
  • Those dedicating silk roses placed them on the Christmas tree
  • Tree was decorated with silk roses, ribbons and Family Circle ornaments
  • Mounted poster explaining the fundraiser and featuring the 2009 Donate Life float rendering was displayed on an easel next to the tree

Chili Cook Off

Freeman Health System held a Chili Cook Off outside their cafeteria, with all units invited to submit entries.

  • Cook Off held outside cafeteria
  • Small crock pot of chili required for judging
  • Chili judged and small prizes awarded
  • Critical Care Unit made large quantity of chili and desserts for sale outside the cafeteria with support from Food Services
  • Several hundred dollars raised towards the rose dedications and ceremony