What: April is National Donate Life Month. Gift of Hope and Springfield Memorial Hospital will hold a flag-raising ceremony to honor organ donors and recipients as well as their families.

When: 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 20. RSVP requested. Call Michael Leathers, 217-725-8370.

Where: Springfield Memorial Hospital, 701 N. First St., Springfield. Event will be held at the flagpole near the main entrance of the hospital.

In case of bad weather, event will be moved less than one block west in the Memorial Learning Center, 228 W. Miller St.

Who: Chuck Callahan, president Memorial Health Hospital Group, and president and CEO, Springfield Memorial Hospital

Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State

Ed Curtis, president and CEO, Memorial Health

Polly A. Hohenbery, registered nurse and director of adult critical care services, HSHS St. John’s Hospital

Dr. Harry Wilkins, Gift of Hope CEO

Tiffany Mathis, tissue recipient

Jim Langfelder, mayor of Springfield

Julie Jones, chaplain, Springfield Memorial Hospital

Background: Springfield Memorial Hospital performs about 25 kidney transplant procedures each year through the Alan G. Birtch. MD, Center for Transplant Services at Memorial. The transplant program is a partnership with Springfield Memorial Hospital and SIU School of Medicine and Springfield Clinic.

The transplant services program was established at Springfield Memorial Hospital 50 years ago in 1972.