New England Donor Services (NEDS) partnered with the Veronica Robles Cultural Center for a Day of the Dead (“Día de los Muertos”) Remembrance Program on Saturday, October 31st at the ICA Watershed in East Boston. The event featured a display of traditional ofrendas (altars) honoring deceased loved ones. As part of a special remembrance ceremony, NEDS presented an ofrenda with photos and stories of organ donors to pay tribute to those who have given the gift of life through organ donation, while also raising awareness about the vital need for organ donors.
Speakers included Ingrid Palacios, Senior Multicultural Program Manager at New England Donor Services and Done Vida New England; representatives from the Veronica Robles Cultural Center; and donor families and transplant recipients. Local artists and performers, including musician Memo Morales, took the stage during the event.
About New England Donor Services (NEDS)
New England Donor Services is a leading nonprofit organization that coordinates organ and tissue donation in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, the eastern counties of Vermont, and Bermuda. Co-founded in 1968 by Nobel Laureate Dr. Joseph Murray, who performed the world’s first successful organ transplant, today NEDS works with thousands of donors and donor families who have generously made the decision to give the gift of life. The organization’s highly skilled staff medically screen referrals for potential donations from more than 200 hospitals across the region and lead all donor authorization discussions with families. NEDS also allocates organs according to the national transplant waiting list and coordinates their transport to ensure the right organs get to the right patients at the right time. As part of its Aftercare Services, NEDS provides ongoing support and resources to donor families by offering opportunities for communication to transplant recipients, and occasions to honor, remember, and celebrate their loved ones who gave the gift of life. Learn more at https://neds.org/ or follow us on LinkedIn or on X at @NEDonorServices.
