Celebration of Hope & Renewal
The 2025 Iowa Lions Eye Bank Celebration of Hope & Renewal took place on Thursday, May 29, 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 2025 event we heard from multiple speakers, including Esther Baker, MA, MBA, executive director of ILEB; Dr. Denise Jamieson, MD, MPH, and Vice President for Medical Affairs and the Tyrone D. Artz Dean, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine; Dr. Keith Carter, MD, FACS, Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Professor of Otolaryngology, Chairman and Head, Department of Ophthalmology, Lillian C. O'Brien and Dr. C.S. O'Brien Chair in Ophthalmology; Dr. Mark Greiner, M.D., medical director of ILEB; gift of sight recipient Larry Busch; and Marilyn Adams, mother of gift of sight donor Keith Algreen, and Kailynn Gilbert, ILEB recovery services manager. Original music was provided by Mike and Sue Blair, parents of Ben Blair, Gift of Sight and Life Donor.