Donate Life Tennessee

10/23/2026

We were honored to welcome 39 healthcare team members from hospitals across Nashville and the surrounding area for another installment of our Journey of a Donor seminar! 💙💚

During this training, our staff provided specialized knowledge and education to attendees about their role in the organ and tissue referral and donation process. By aligning our teams around these guidelines and processes, we can better honor the decisions of donor heroes and their families while helping make the gift of life possible for even more patients waiting for a lifesaving transplant.

Thank you to the healthcare teams from Vanderbilt Health, TriStar Skyline Medical Center, Ascension Saint Thomas, West Tennessee Healthcare, Highpoint Health with Ascension Saint Thomas and TriStar Horizon Medical Center for joining us!

Through our combined collaboration and dedication, we continue to save the lives of countless Tennesseans each day.

10/23/2026

Organ, eye and tissue donation can seem like a complex process, but it's important to understand the facts when it comes to giving the gift of life.

💚 A living donor can also save lives by donating a kidney or a part of the liver, intestine, lung or pancreas.

Understanding the reality behind donation reminds us why it’s so important to give everyone waiting for a transplant the chance at a new beginning.

Make a lifesaving impact today. Sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at DonateLifeTN.org.

10/22/2026

We were honored to partner with Fisk University to kick off the first "Be Like Dre" game of Fisk's '26-'27 sports season at the Lady Bulldogs volleyball game on Tuesday!

"Be Like Dre" honors Fisk's late basketball player Andre Bell, a 20-year-old sophomore who was shot and killed while driving back from a school event in January. He later became a donor hero, saving several lives through organ donation. 💙💚

Thank you to Fisk University for helping us raise awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation while also sharing Andre's legacy of selflessness and generosity.

Stay tuned for our upcoming "Be Like Dre" partnership basketball games:
🏀 November 7th Homecoming Game
🏀 TBD January Game

Learn more about how you can save lives and "Be Like Dre" as an organ, eye and tissue donor at DonateLifeTN.org.

10/21/2026

National Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day brings awareness to post-mastectomy breast reconstruction and how tissue donation helps change the lives of breast cancer survivors across the country — survivors like Maria. 💗

One tissue donor can make breast reconstructive surgery possible for up to 5 mastectomy patients!

With one selfless decision, tissue donors offer a restorative and life-affirming procedure for breast cancer survivors.

Provide a sense of closure for survivors. Sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at DonateLifeTN.org.

📷: MTF Biologics

10/20/2026

It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of longtime Donate Life Ambassador George Geren at age 81.

In February 2005, George received a second chance at life through the gift of a heart transplant. Over the next 21 years, he cherished every day made possible thanks to his donor, Joshua Spivey, and Joshua's family, whose selfless decision gave George more time with his loved ones.

George and his wife, Sharon, were active, dedicated members of the Donate Life Tennessee family. To know George was to know a man full of kindness and the willingness to do whatever was needed. His story was a beautiful one that inspired countless others about the life-changing impact of donation throughout Chattanooga and the rest of Tennessee.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to George’s family and loved ones. We are deeply grateful for his dedication to our mission and the legacy of hope he leaves behind.

May his memory continue to highlight the lasting impact of donation. 💙💚

10/20/2026

Donor Heroes make the selfless decision to be a light of hope and healing to those waiting for lifesaving transplants every day.

We are honored to celebrate their heroic legacies.

Donor Tribute: Lilly Dimas

"My mother was my hero. She was a registered donor; however, she had a variety of illnesses and ultimately the only thing of value to donate was tissue. I’m proud that she was able to donate that to someone in need. I pray that when I die, someone will be able to use some of my organs as well."

Give the gift of life. Sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at DonateLifeTN.org.

Register as an organ and tissue donor in Tennessee. One donor can save 8 lives and improve 75 more. It only takes a minute — register today.

10/19/2026

It's been more than 35 years since Winnie Bender received her lifesaving liver transplant, and she could not be more grateful for the kindness, love and life her donor hero and their family have given her. 💙💚

Thanks to her donor's selflessness, Winnie continued to work as a teacher and lived to watch her two children start families of their own, welcoming four grandchildren and several great-grandchildren into the world.

Give others a second chance at life. Sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at DonateLifeTN.org.

10/17/2026

Organ, eye and tissue donation can seem like a complex process, but it's important to understand the facts when it comes to giving the gift of life.

💙 Anyone can register to be an organ, eye and tissue donor, regardless of age, race, or medical history.

Understanding the reality behind donation reminds us why it’s so important to give everyone waiting for a transplant the chance at a new beginning.

Make a lifesaving impact today. Sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at DonateLifeTN.org.

10/16/2026

Donor heroes make the selfless decision to save lives through organ, eye and tissue donation every day.

Each donor hero has a story to tell, and we would be honored to share their legacy on our Virtual Donor Memorial Wall.

Submit your loved one's story at https://tennesseedonor.org/family-and-donor-recipient-support/celebrations-and-memorials/donor-wall/

10/15/2026

For over 25 years, Donate Life Ambassadors Jess and Theresa Chairez have shared their son's legacy of service and generosity.

Officer Joseph "Joe" Chairez became an organ donor after experiencing a brain aneurysm while on duty in 2000, saving four lives by donating his heart, lungs, liver and pancreas. 💙💚

"I always hear recipients say that receiving a transplant has given them a second chance at life, but knowing that my son lives on as a donor hero gave me a second chance at life.” ~Jess Chairez

Be a hero like Joe. Sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at DonateLifeTN.org.