Giving Grieving Growing Program

Donor Families

Donor Families (families whose loved ones donated organs and/or tissues after death) attending the Games will be able to participate in a number of programs and activities planned just for them. Families will have an opportunity to view the Games and witness first-hand how donation has saved and enhanced the lives of so many transplant recipients. In addition, everyone can participate in special events and take part in the opening and closing ceremonies and parties. Here is a brief look at what the National Donor Family Council and the National Kidney Foundation have planned for you. Volunteers will be available to assist you with questions and help you find your way.

Housing

The Galt House hotel is the headquarter hotel for all Games attendees.

Program Journal Tributes

Donor families and family members of living donors are invited to submit a written tribute to their loved ones who gave the gift of life (both deceased and living donors). Tributes will be published in the 2006 U.S. Transplant Games Program Journal. Please note that only one tribute can be submitted per donor. Tributes must be 35 words or less and indicate the donor and family members' names clearly (names are not counted in the limit). Tributes exceeding 35 words will be edited.

Donor Recognition Video

The Donor Recognition Video is a video collage of donors who are being honored at the Donor Recognition Ceremony. If your family is attending the Donor Recognition Ceremony, and would like to include a photograph of your loved one in the video, please send a color or black & white photograph (at least 3” x 5”) to the National Kidney Foundation.

Please include your name, phone number and email address in case of questions, along with the donor’s full name (exactly as you’d like it to appear in the video), date of birth and date of death.

Photos must ARRIVE at the NKF office by the end of business on Friday, May 5, 2006 to be included in the video. Please send photos early, if possible. Photos received after May 5 cannot be included in the video. Photographs will not be returned, so please do not send an original photo.

Please send your photo to: National Kidney Foundation/Attn: Donor Recognition Ceremony Photos/30 East 33rd Street/New York, NY 10016 or email your photo (JPG format preferred) to donorfamily@kidney.org

You should receive a confirmation (by email or phone) that your photo was received. If you do not receive a confirmation, please contact the NKF at donorfamily@kidney.org or (800) 622-9010 (ask for donor family programs) to ensure that your photo was received.

Please note that the video is only for those who donated at the time of death. Living donors will be honored in a separate program.

Hospitality Suite

At the Games, a Hospitality Suite will be set up Friday through Tuesday, 8:00AM - 12:00 noon, in the Galt House hotel. This private room is open for donor families to meet and share with one another or take a break from the Games activities.

Donor Family Orientation

Saturday, June 17 3:00PM to 4:00PM

Galt House

The Donor Family Orientation will provide introductions and important information about what to expect throughout the program. Donor families who are new to the Games, or those who just want to re-connect with or meet other donor families, may find the Orientation particularly helpful.

Giving, Grieving, Growing™ Workshops

Monday, June 19 8:30 AM to 12:30PM

Galt House

For Donor Families Only - The Giving, Grieving, Growing™ Program will offer morning workshops focusing on bereavement and donation issues. Workshops will be presented for donor families by bereavement and donation professionals. They are safe places to share and help each other grow. Sessions are optional, and run at the same time as some athletic events.

If your loved one donated organs and/or tissue after death and you would like to attend the workshops and sharing session, click here to review the workshop descriptions.

Quilt Pinning Ceremony

Monday, June 19 8:00PM to 11:00PM

Galt House

You can bring a square to memorialize your loved one to be added to The National Donor Family Quilt, which commemorates the love and lives of those who have given the Gift of Life through organ and/or tissue donation. Since 1995, almost 2,100 families have created patches to remember and honor their loved ones. During this special ceremony, National Donor Family Council (NDFC) volunteers will help families pin their own “Patches of Love” to the newest Quilt panel.

For a detailed brochure on how to make a patch, please call the NKF at (800) 622-9010. Patches must be an 8” x 8” square, allowing for a ½” margin on all four sides (design should be within 7”). Patches that are larger or smaller than the designated size cannot be included, and will be returned. Please note: The Quilt is designed to memorialize those who have donated organs and/or tissues upon their deaths.