Donate Life Tennessee

06/04/2026

Make each mile a symbol of lifesaving hope with the Donate Life Tennessee License Plate! 🚗💙💚

We are closer than ever to reaching the 1,000 plate goal needed to make this specialty license plate a reality — only 300 more pre-orders to go by June 30th!

Together, we can bring this powerful message of generosity and hope to roads across Tennessee and encourage others to register as organ, eye and tissue donors.

Pre-order your plate today at https://tennesseedonor.org/get-involved/donate-life-tn-license-plate/

06/04/2026

Want to spread the word about organ and tissue donation but don't know where to start? Become a Donate Life Ambassador!

Our inspiring group of Ambassadors includes families of donor heroes, individuals waiting for lifesaving transplants, transplant recipients, living donors and others who are passionate about saving lives through organ, eye and tissue donation.

Anyone can be a volunteer Ambassador—join us today by signing up at https://www.tfaforms.com/5093484.

06/03/2026

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: Cheryl Jeffers

"Momma left us in June 2025. She was a wonderful mom and nana, and we were very privileged to have her for the time we did. Having been a family on the receiving end of organ donation twice, I knew Momma would be more than willing to donate to help other people live. By doing so, she saved four other people. Mom, I miss you more than you could imagine and hate not having you here with us. We miss you daily."

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

06/02/2026

"When I was about a year and a half old, I fell into my family's Christmas tree and one of the needles punctured my right eye, leaving a fragment. I had the needle surgically removed a few days later, but my eye did not heal the way they anticipated. My eye was inflamed and constantly infected, which majorly affected my vision — this lasted four years, and no one could seem to find a lasting treatment or solution for these chronic problems. My family and I travelled all over Minnesota seeking answers for my very unhealthy right eye that caused me so much pain in my early years of life.

Finally, Dr. Elizabeth Davis at Minnesota Eye Consultants made the decision to place me on the corneal transplant list in July of 2007. On October 23rd, 2007, at the age of six, I underwent a corneal transplant. My life has been changed forever since my transplant. Not only was my sight restored and I was able to enjoy a now pain-free childhood, but my transplant provided me with a lifelong dream and mission of becoming an eye doctor as an attempt to give back the greatest gift that was given to me.

Now, 18 years post-transplant, I am in my first year of optometry school, living out my dream – a dream that would never have been possible without my donor's generous gift of sight. I am grateful each and every day for my donor and the beauty of organ donation!" ~Kailee, cornea recipient

Thank you, Kailee, for sharing your story with us! Sign up to give the gift of sight at DonateLifeTN.org.

06/01/2026

We were honored to bring the lifesaving impact of donation to the First Annual Nolichuckey Makers Market in Chuckey, TN, last Saturday!

One of our Donate Life Ambassadors, a donor mom who works for the Nolichuckey Volunteer Fire Department, invited us to share swag and information about organ, eye and tissue donation with attendees. 💙💚

We can't wait to return next year!

Make the lifesaving decision today. Sign up to be a donor at DonateLifeTN.org

06/01/2026

Wishing our community a Happy Pride Month! 💙💚🏳️‍🌈

Join us as we celebrate love, unity and the power we all have to save lives through donation!

Remember: You can save lives regardless of who you are or who you love!

Leave a legacy of love and hope. Sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at DonateLifeTN.org.

05/29/2026

Angela Culp, RN, wears many hats: She is a mother, competitive dance champion, kidney transplant recipient and Vanderbilt Health nurse.

At age 30, she was diagnosed with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), a genetically inherited condition. By 43, she faced end-stage renal failure and needed a transplant.

After four years of waiting, she received her transplant at Vanderbilt Health. To this day, she continues working and encouraging patients as a nurse and honoring her donor hero through dance.

Read the full story at https://www.tennessean.com/story/sponsor-story/vanderbilt-university-medical-center/2026/05/19/lived-experience-elevated-care-a-nurses-journey-with-kidney-disease/90145794007/

When a nurse becomes the patient—and thrives.

05/28/2026

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: Debra Rodarte

"My mother was always friendly and thoughtful of others. I miss her everyday. Her passing on March 3, 2025, was a little bit of a shock to us as we just lost our father 18 months prior. She wanted to be able to help others and would be thrilled to know her donation helped many lives."

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

05/27/2026

In 1970, Winnie Bender's life was changed forever when she became sick with autoimmune hepatitis, a disease where her own body repeatedly attacked her liver.

Twenty years later, she received the gift of a liver transplant that's given her 36 more years and counting — all thanks to the kindness and love of one organ donor and their family.

Read Winnie's full op-ed at https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/organ-donor-saved-life-consider-120000694.html

05/26/2026

Donate Life Ambassador Mickey Rose was recently invited to share her connection to donation with students at the Richard Hardy Memorial School in South Pittsburg, TN.

As a donor mother, Mickey has been sharing the story of her daughter, Justine Avendt, for over 20 years. Justine was only 9 years old when she became a donor hero and saved the lives of four others in 1998.

Several years ago, Mickey even had the opportunity to witness Justine's legacy firsthand by visiting two of her recipients in Ohio and Louisiana.

Donation is one decision that leaves a lasting impact. Sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at DonateLifeTN.org.