History of the LifeNet Health Foundation

In 1990, the original LifeNet Memorial Fund was created out of a need by LifeNet's hospital affairs, public education and donor family services departments for funding for special programs that were outside of LifeNet's operating budget. As the Fund became more active and more necessary to provide philanthropic support for education and bereavement programming, it was evident that a more formal entity was needed to manage its activities. Thus the LifeNet Foundation was created in April 2001 and held its first Board of Directors meeting in October 2001.

Throughout the years, organ and tissue transplant recipients and donor families have shown their appreciation for the role LifeNet Health plays in their lives by contributing to the Foundation.  It served to further the awareness of organ and tissue donation, support LifeNet Health's donor family activities and support community bereavement programs.

During 2007, 25 years after its founding, LifeNet added Health to its name to reflect both sides of its critical mission - Saving Lives and Restoring Health. Today, the LifeNet Health Foundation has expended its funding priorities.  It supports the vital programming of the donor family services departments so all donor families can be helped through the grief of losing their loved one. The Foundation also supports the need to create awareness of the shortage of organ and tissue donors and encourages people to register as donors on Save7Lives.org. Finally, it provides the critical funds to continue our life changing research and development efforts, which continue to transform lives.