Celebrate National Eye Donor Month

Approximately 48,000 corneas will be transplanted in the U.S. this year. With their vision renewed, the cornea recipients will be able to see their families and lead healthy, independent lives. March is National Eye Donor Month, a helpful reminder that it is important to sign up for the eye, organ, and tissue donor registry and to speak with your family about donation.

Donate Life and the Eye Bank Association of America offer several graphics for public display. Please consider downloading one of the images (or several!) and adding it to your social media profile(s) in March to help promote National Eye Donor Month in your community. With these images, you can encourage people to sign up for the donor registry at registerme.org or at their local motor vehicles office.

If you would like to host an eye, organ, and tissue donor designation drive in your community, we can send additional materials and instructions. C ontact us or call 800-753-2265 to request materials or find out more.

Donate Life

Eye Bank Association of America

Stories of Hope

Donor Family Finds Comfort through Volunteerism to Honor the Legacy of their Son

Image of John and blue and green balloons at Floragraph Ceremony in November. For Larry and Vivian, volunteering in support of the Donate Life message has brought great healing after their son John gave the gift of life as an eye and tissue donor.

John was a loving and protective big brother to his sister, Eleanor. Just 17 months apart, the siblings shared many friends and interests. They both loved sports and music. “John played the baritone saxophone on an award-winning jazz band in junior high and high school, earning a personal award at a jazz festival in high school,” said Vivian. He was also very involved in scouting, from Tiger Cubs to Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. John also loved politics and was involved in many political organizations, especially when he went to college. “Just 6 weeks before John passed away, he started school to become a massage therapist, which had long been a dream of his,” said Vivian.

A Father Continues Helping Others Through the Gift of Sight

James smiles in family photo. He was able to provide others the gift of sight as an eye donor. James enjoyed woodworking and watching NASCAR and NHRA drag races. “But above all, he was a man all about his family,” said his daughter Melissa. “He was the type of man that would give you the shirt off his back and do without so others didn’t have to.”

When James passed away suddenly at age 61, his family knew saying yes to eye donation was something he would have wanted. “The opportunity was presented to us just after my dad’s passing,” said Melissa. “Of course any decision in those moments is hard but, for us, it was a case of knowing my dad would have done it in a heartbeat because it was his way of helping someone.”

A Grandmother’s Legacy Shines on Through the Gift of Sight

Janice hugs her son Garrett. Throughout her life, Janice touched those around her with her sweet and caring nature. “My mother, Janice, was a very sweet and kind woman. She was a single mother who raised me and also enjoyed spending time with her grandson, Alijah as well. My son misses his grandmother every day,” said Garrett. Janice retired from Hallmark in Kansas City after a 35-year career as a secretary. In her retirement, she enjoyed planting flowers, knitting, doing online jigsaw puzzles, traveling and listening to music. Her most treasured moments were those spent with her son and grandson.