Donor & Family Recognition Program
Sunday, April 14, 2024
Program 1:30 p.m. Followed by a reception.
Anderson Student Center - James B. Woulfe Alumni Hall
University of St. Thomas
Summit and Grand Avenues
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55105
Lions Gift of Sight feels very strongly about recognizing our eye donors and their families and loved ones for their support of sight restoration through corneal transplants, research, and education. On April 14, we honored our eye and cornea donors from 2023.
For more information, please access the program book.
LGS Donate Life Month Flag Raising Ceremony
Monday, April 1, 2024
Program 10 a.m.
University Enterprise Labs - South Patio
1000 Westgate Drive
Saint Paul, MN 55114
Lions Gift of Sight and friends and partners gathered to raise the Donate Life Flag at University Enterprise Laboratories, the eye bank's home since 2007.
Donate Life Month is a nationally-recognized time to celebrate and honor eye, organ, tissue, blood, and bone marrow donors, all of whom have saved or bettered the lives of other individuals, often strangers. By flying the Donate Life flag above our home, we raise awareness of these precious gifts that all of us have the potential to give. And we honor those who have already given.
Invitation PDF
Thanksgiving for Vision
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Earle Brown Heritage Center
Thanksgiving for Vision celebrates sight! The Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation annual symposium luncheon focuses on the work of Minnesota Lions in supporting the University of Minnesota’s Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Neurosciences eye programs that restore and preserve sight.
Symposium
The following speakers educated guests at the morning symposium:
Lion Joshua Hou, M.D., Associate Professor, OVNS, Medical Director, Lions Gift of Sight
"Automated Software for Analyzing Donor Cornea Tissue Quality Prior to Transplantation"
Lion Hossein Nazari, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, OVNS
"The Retina: A Window to Life"
Lion Harold Junge, Ph.D., Associate Professor, OVNS
"Towards Next Generation Medications for Retinal Vascular Diseases"
Lion Jill Anderson, M.D., Associate Professor, OVNS
"Making An Impact!"
Lion Patty Stockdale, Partner and Community Relations Manager, Lions Gift of Sight
"Lions Save Lives"
Luncheon Program
Kailee Vigen, a corneal transplant recipient, and Jodi Altenhofen, a donor family member generously shared their personal stories at the lunch. Kailee also wowed the audience with her beautiful rendition of Eva Cassidy's "Fields of Gold." The lunch concluded with powerhouse singer, Past District Governor Lion Gina Detviler singing the event theme song, "What a Wonderful World."
For more information, access the event program.
