Over 300 Gather in Seattle to Honor Organ, Eye and Tissue Donors at LifeCenter Northwest Donation Celebration

Nearly 350 organ donor families, transplant recipients, and community advocates gathered at the University of Washington’s Husky Union Building for LifeCenter Northwest’s annual Seattle Donation Celebration. Co-sponsored by Lions World Vision Institute, the event on Aug. 15 honored the selfless gifts of organ, eye and tissue donors while celebrating the extraordinary community of organ donor families and transplant recipients.

The ceremony featured testimonies from keynote speakers, including kidney recipient Lara Macklin and cornea recipient Carol Bernthal, who shared her deep gratitude for the gift of sight made possible by two generous donors.

“Your loved ones are heroes,” said Macklin. “Their decision to give the gift of donation created a legacy that continues to move outward in ways that can’t always be seen but are always felt. It strengthens entire communities. And it saves lives – again and again.”

LifeCenter Northwest also previewed an upcoming video tribute honoring Mozae “Mo” Allenbach, a 15-year-old donor from Seattle. The film highlights the enduring legacy of her gifts and the connection between Mo’s mother, Jeannie Allenbach, and her daughter’s lung recipient, Marcella, both of whom attended the event together.

Through this annual event, LifeCenter Northwest has created a tight-knit community where stories of hope and gratitude provide support and healing. Among those in attendance was organ donor mom, Traci Splane, whose son, Connor Jones, saved four lives and healed many more through organ and tissue donation.

“Each year, LifeCenter Northwest provides a beautiful opportunity for family members like myself the opportunity to connect with those who have endured similar experiences,” said Splane. “From the first day I lost Connor, LifeCenter was there. They check in, they send resources, they have so much investment in us as a family. It means the world to me that they’ve continued to support us over so many years.”

The program was led by speakers from both co-sponsoring organizations, including LifeCenter Northwest President and CEO Santokh Gill, as well as Lions World Vision Institute COO Julie Caldro.