South Florida Donor Network Honors 52 Donor Heroes at Annual Donor Recognition Ceremony

Hundreds Of Family Members Gather To Celebrate The Lives And Lasting Legacies Made Possible Through Organ, Eye And Tissue Donation

MIAMI, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- South Florida Donor Network (SFDN), the federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) serving six counties across South Florida and The Bahamas, honored 52 donor heroes during its annual Donor Recognition Ceremony on Saturday, August 29, at The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood.

Approximately 300 family members and loved ones gathered from across South Florida, and as far away as Virginia and New Hampshire, to remember those they lost, honor the extraordinary gift their loved ones gave, and celebrate the lives saved because they said "yes" to organ donation.

Among the ceremony's most poignant moments was a performance by the 16-year-old daughter of a courageous donor family whose father passed away when she was just four months old. Now a teenager, she took the stage to sing "Hero" in his memory, offering an emotional reminder of the enduring impact of donation and the legacies donor families carry forward.

"Behind every donation is a person, a family and a story that deserves to be remembered," said Joe Ferreira, president and CEO of South Florida Donor Network, who served as master of ceremonies. "This ceremony gives us the privilege of honoring our donor heroes while surrounding their families with a community that understands both the profound loss they have experienced and the extraordinary legacy their loved ones created."

For donor families, that legacy can extend far beyond the moment of loss. Their loved ones' gifts give transplant recipients more time — more birthdays, holidays, milestones and everyday moments with the people they love.

The Donor Recognition Ceremony also creates a space for families to connect with others who have experienced similar loss. The distances some families traveled to attend this year's gathering underscored the lasting bonds within the donor community and the importance of ensuring families know their loved ones and their gifts continue to be remembered.

South Florida Donor Network began serving the South Florida donation service area on March 27, 2026. In addition to facilitating organ donation and transplantation, SFDN works with donor families, hospitals, transplant centers and community partners throughout the region to increase awareness of donation and support families throughout and beyond the donation process.

About South Florida Donor Network

The South Florida Donor Network (SFDN) is the federally designated organ procurement organization serving South Florida and The Bahamas. One of 55 federally designated organ procurement organizations in the United States, SFDN is certified and regulated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

In partnership with Nevada Donor Network, founded in 1987, SFDN is dedicated to saving and healing lives through organ and tissue donation, working collaboratively with hospitals, donor families, and communities to deliver compassionate, high-quality care and advance medical science. For more information, visit SFLDonor.org.

Michelle Ayala | vdV Consulting

786-208-6072 | [email protected] 

SOURCE South Florida Donor Network