The

Living Bank

GIVE SOMEONE A TOMORROW

The Living Bank is a private, non-profit organization dedicated
to the enhancement of organ and tissue donation. Our mission
is to educate the community about the urgent need for donors
so no one dies or suffers for lack of donation; honor donors
and support organ recipients, living donors and their families.

2010 Gala

   Events

2009 Gala

"Celebrate Life"

features two dynamic families

The Living Bank's "Celebrate Life" gala October 16, 2009, at the Hotel ZaZa brought together two dynamic families and two illustrious medical professionals. Honored for their contributions to saving lives through support of organ transplantation were Juanita F. Romans and Dr. Charles T. Van Buren.

Romans is CEO of Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and Dr. Van Buren is director of immunology and organ transplantation at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and surgical director, Transplant Programs, Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital.

Rmans and Van Buren

The Living Bank's "Celebrate Life" gala honored Dr. Charles T. Van Buren, and Juanita R. Romans for their work in organ transplantation.

success is a family affair

The Bono and Flores families were front and center. The family patriarchs of both organ recipients. Rigo Flores received a kidney after complications from surgery precipitated renal failure, while Ben's liver transplant was a result of an autoimmune disorder.

Pat Bono and Sally Flores chaired the successful event with their committee of five daughters. From the Bono family were Gina Andrews, Lisa Dunwoody and Joanna Rose, and from the Flores family, Chay Taylor and Belinda Young.

Cheering from the sidelines was brother, Rigo, Jr.

Bono and Flores

Good friends, Pat Bono, left, and Sally Flores chaired the "Celebrate Life" gala to honor their spouses, Ben and Rigo who are both organ recipients. Their five daughters helped them raise $175,000.

silence is golden

 

A silent auction featured original art by children from the dialysis units at Texas Children's Hospital and Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital. In addition, three local artists and two unusual guest painters, created acrylic representations of the TREE OF LIFE, The Living Bank's logo. These unique pieces were snapped up by generous party goers.
Sky Sota

Talented Sky Sota (left) age 18, a dialysis patient at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, presented her Tree of Life to the honorees of the "Celebrate Life" gala.

Enjoy additional images from The Living Bank's "Celebrate Life" gala by selecting GALA PHOTOS.

success means progress

Proceeds from the event will support the services of The Living Donor Bank. The program seeks to increase kidney transplants through education and support of living donors, and toward travel and medication costs for donors and transplant recipients. The Living Donor Bank now has a list of 45 potential living donors who are working with the program coordinator/counselor to determine their suitability for donation.


The number of people on the national waiting list in need of organs has soared to 104,000, and 84,000 of those are waiting for kidneys.

For additional information, contact Cathy Shapley at 1-800-528-2971 or e-mail her at cshapley@livingbank.org.

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