It’s April, which means it’s National Donate Life month, a celebration dedicated to help raise awareness about donation, encourage Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to honor those that have saved lives through the gift of donation. Thoma Thoma is celebrating National Donate Life Month with our client ARORA, Arkansas’ largest organ and tissue recovery organization.
The theme of NDLM 2022 is “Bee A Donor,” and was inspired by the vital role that bees play in sustaining life. Bees are a small but powerful life force, working together with dedication, collaboration and a strong sense of community, just like how registered donors make a positive impact in the community. This month, we’re excited to share some of ARORA’s NDLM projects, events, and more!
Art Installation Honoring the 107 Donors in 2021
In honor of Donate Life Month, Thoma Thoma, in collaboration with ARORA, commissioned a public art display that will be exhibited in spaces throughout the state during the month of April.The display comprises 107 bees in honor of the 107 donors of life-saving organs and the 557 donors of life-restoring tissues in Arkansas. Each “swarm” exhibit will include a QR code linked to ARORA’s website, where unregistered Arkansans can easily register online.
Pieces in the art installation were created by award-winning Arkansas-based artist Virmarie DePoyster. Her work is currently displayed in private and public collections, along with numerous group and solo exhibitions throughout the United States and internationally. The displays installations can be viewed at the following locations:
- The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, Pine Bluff
- Fort Smith Regional Art Museum, Fort Smith
- Pinnacle Hills Promenade, Rogers
- Pleasant Ridge Town Center, Little Rock
- Razorback Greenway Trailhead, Springdale
- South Arkansas Arts Center, El Dorado
- Springdale Public Library, Springdale
- UALR Windgate Center of Art + Design, Little Rock
- Wildwood Park for the Arts, Little Rock
Transplant Recipient LIFE Billboards
Thoma facilitated several photoshoots with ARORA organ recipients to create billboards for Donate Life Month. The creative features each recipient as the “i” in “LIFE,” emphasizing the life restoring gift of donation. These billboards will be showcased around the state through the month of April with the goal of raising awareness of the importance of donation registration!
WorkPlace Partner Collaborations
ARORA works with a network of employers that offer their employees information, support, and opportunities to help restore lives through organ and tissue donor registration. For Donate Life Month, Thoma facilitated several collaborations with ARORA’s Workplace Partners to spread awareness – like Guillermo’s who created 2 special drinks for the month and Ciao Baci who will be using napkins with registration QR-codes on them for the month of April. Thoma’s creative also designed window clings from the commissioned bee artwork to be distributed to all of ARORA’s workplace partners.
To learn more about ARORA’s mission to restore lives and find out how you can get involve with Donate Life Month, visit www.arora.org/dlm!