17th Annual Night of Light Friday at Old National Events Plaza
November 18, 2024
Tree-lighting ceremony honors area residents whose lives have been affected by organ donation, transplantation
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – When Evansville resident Thomas Wells tragically died at age 20, he was an organ donor and saved the lives of six people.
Friday, on what would have been Wells’ 37th birthday, his mother will join dozens of other area families whose lives have been affected by organ donation and transplantation at a time-honored holiday tree-lighting ceremony in downtown Evansville.
Lee Ann Shafer is a 15-year advocate for organ donation who will share her family’s connection to donation at the 17th annual Night of Light hosted by Indiana Donor Network. The event, at Old National Events Plaza, will start at 4:30 pm inside the plaza’s Locust Conference Room with light refreshments, opportunities for families to take photographs with Santa and other holiday activities.
Indiana Donor Network will provide a snow globe to families of local organ donors that they may decorate in memory of their loved ones and take home as a keepsake.
The event will then move outside on Locust Street at 5:30 pm to honor the legacies of area residents who selflessly chose to save lives by being organ donors. Shafer will share her family’s story followed by remarks by Linda White, vice president and chief administration officer at Deaconess Henderson Hospital, and Alex Chang, southern region president of Ascension St. Vincent.
The program will conclude with the lighting of a holiday tree. Attendees are encouraged to bring a holiday ornament to place on the tree before the ceremony to honor their loved one as an organ donor hero or a transplant recipient.
Night of Light is a free community event at Old National Events Plaza, located at 715 Locust St. Free parking is available near 9th and Locust streets. Attendees should enter the plaza through the Locust 2 entrance at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Locust Street.
Despite age or medical history, anyone can sign up to be a donor at DonateLifeIndiana.org. Learn more about Indiana Donor Network.
The mission of Indiana Donor Network is to save and enhance the quality of life through organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Its vision is to be a leader in organ and tissue recovery. Founded in 1987, the organization coordinates donation in 85 of the state’s 92 counties and serves transplant hospitals throughout the U.S.
About Indiana Donor Network
The decision to become an organ, tissue and cornea donor is a decision to give the gift of life. Indiana Donor Network serves as the vital link between donors and patients waiting for lifesaving organ transplants, healing tissue and corneas to restore sight. The organization is a federally designated organ recovery organization and accredited tissue bank serving 85 of Indiana’s 92 counties. Its team of nearly 400 dedicated professionals is committed to saving and healing lives through donation and transplantation, championing the cause through education and outreach and supporting donor families in their time of need. For more or to sign up as a donor, visit Indiana Donor Network online.
About Indiana Donor Network Foundation
As a subsidiary of Indiana Donor Network, Indiana Donor Network Foundation enhances the lives of those touched by donation through education, innovation, caring and support. The Foundation raises funds through individual contributions, special events and sponsorships to support transplant recipients and the families of donor heroes. For more, visit Indiana Donor Network Foundation online.
Indiana Donor Network® and the Indiana Donor Network Foundation® are federally registered trademarks.
About Donate Life Indiana
Since 1998, Donate Life Indiana has been the state-authorized nonprofit organization responsible for managing the Indiana donor registry. Its mission is to save lives by creating opportunities for all Indiana citizens to sign up on the organization’s official state registry while striving to raise awareness for organ, tissue and cornea donation and transplantation through public education. For more, visit Donate Life Indiana online.
