ARCHIVES
FLAG SIGNING #2 in Springfield
Several team members got together on Sat. March 5, 2016, for a second flag signing at Gift of Hope in Springfield, Illinois.
Agnes Rapacz, recruitment chairperson, organized the event and was captured by the local news station along with Diane Schmitz and Lisa Dodson from Gift of Hope. Watch the interview here.
Dave Hearn from EverSight and new team member John Kachanuk shared their transplant experiences.
Thank you to all team members who attended, including Team Manager JP Marzano, Treasurer Colette Jordan, Lisa Givens, Kim VanEngelenburg, and Agnes Rapacz.
FLAG SIGNING #1 in Chicago
The official flag of the 2016 TGA arrived at Gift of Hope in Itasca on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, where more than 65 members and supporters of Team Illinois gathered to sign it. Much like the Olympic torch, the flag will continue on to signing ceremonies scheduled in more than 40 other participating states.
The flag signing marks the official start of fundraising and promotional efforts for the next TGA to be held June 10-15, 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio, where the flag will fly over opening ceremonies in the historic Public Hall. More than 6,000 people are expected to attend the five-day sports festival and celebration of the lifesaving gifts of transplantation.
Representatives from Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network, Eversight Illinois, and the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office attended the ceremony. They met with transplant recipients, living donors, hero donor families and supporters.
HOUSTON FLAG SIGNING
Members of Team Illinois braved frigid temperatures in December 2013 to attend the 2014 TGA flag signing at Gift of Hope. The afternoon was full of hope, gratitude and anticipation as transplant recipients, donor families and living donors shared their connection to the donation and transplantation community.
Secretary of State Jesse White gave his heartfelt well-wishes to Team Illinois and recounted his experience of once playing basketball against Team Illinois basketball team, Spare Parts, noting that they were "quite the competition."
"Transplantation does indeed work and all of you are examples of that," said Secretary White.