The 2024 Iowa Lions Eye Bank Celebration of Hope & Renewal took place on Thursday, May 16, in the Iowa Lions Donor Memorial & Healing Garden. The Iowa Lions Donor Memorial & Healing Garden honors and celebrates the gifts given by Iowa families and the work of all who facilitate and support the donation and transplantation process.
The theme of the memorial is Hope, Renewal, and Transformation, and commemorates those who have transformed lives through their generosity and courage, as well as Iowa Lions and others who have supported the work of donation.
At the 2024 event we heard from multiple speakers, including Esther Baker, MA, MBA, executive director of ILEB, Bradley Haws, CEO of UI Health Care, Dr. Mark Greiner, M.D., medical director of ILEB, gift of sight recipient Geri Owen, and George Rickey, husband of donor Sally Rickey. Alma Drake, herself the recipient of two corneas, provided original music.
Watch the 2024 Celebration of Hope and Renewal
Note: Due to technical difficulties, this recording cuts out before the end of the reading of names for the honor roll. We deeply apologize for this occurrence. These names will be included in the honor roll at our next ceremony. The following names are omitted from the recording but were read at the ceremony.
TJ Schaefer
Mark Schwarck
Jerry Scott
Douglas E. See, Jr.
Kenneth Scott
David Shirley
Ronald Simmons
Curtis Dwayne Sisul
Donald Snyder
Beth Stock
Mary J. Vannoy
Larry Voss
James "Jim" Wagner
Greg Thomas Weidauer
Elli Wiemers
Mary "Sue" Wilson
Chad Young
Gregory Zabel