Throughout the year we host and collaborate on events: Grief Workshops, Donor Hero Memorial Tributes, Meet and Greets, Community Run/Walks and more. Take a moment to view our upcoming events below.
March 11th - Stride for Sight 5K
We are ecstatic to again co-hosting the Stride for Sight 5K at Comanche County Park, alongside Lions Sight Research Foundation. Together the organizations are focused on Saving Sight, Changing Lives.
Participants will enjoy Mariachi Performances, free breakfast tacos, free kid's fun run, Zumba dance warm-up, memorial tribute, and more. Everyone is welcome - runners, walkers, donor families, Lions club members, hospital partners, funeral home partners, allied vision healthcare staff, we mean everyone. We encourage donor families participating as teams to use our discount code: SAEB1965 when registering. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Special thanks to all of our sponsors, especially Title Sponsor - San Antonio Founder Lions Club
National Eye Donation Month
The month is a special opportunity to honor cornea donor heroes and donor families, celebrate restored sight with cornea transplant recipients, recognize the important work of community eye banks and collaborate with healthcare professionals and community supporters on the Gift of Sight.
The theme of the 2022 observance announced by the Eye Bank Association of America is "A New View" - the theme celebrates the new perspective on life that corneal transplant recipients experience after having their sight restored, and the change in viewpoint donor families express when the pain of a loved one’s death is at least partially mitigated by the opportunity to share the gift of sight with someone in need of a transplant.
There are several ways you can participate in the observance - Consider printing the Celebrate the Views 30 Day Calendar filled with activities you can complete from home - Join in the fun during our Celebrate the Views EDM Virtual Trivia Contest, Print our EDM flyer featuring Yolanda - Cornea Transplant recipient and post on a neighborhood community board/staff breakroom/local coffee shop community board - Follow us on social media to reshare and like our EDM posts throughout the month.
National Minority Donor Awareness Month
The observance is a collaborative effort, led by the National Minority Action Group on Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation, that aims to save and improve the quality of life, of diverse communities, by creating a positive culture for organ, eye/cornea and tissue donation. Join us this month in helping to educate, inspire, share testimonies, and celebrate sight and legacy.
We have collaborated with our friends at South Texas Blood & Tissue, Texas Organ Sharing Alliance and Donate Life Texas to host a fun Kahoot! trivia game in celebration of National Minority Donor Awareness Month. Please view the event flyer for the game code and play for a chance to win gift cards to minority owned restaurants.
We are supporting Walgreens, a national Donate Life America partner, in celebrating the observance. On Saturday, August 27th from 12noon to 4pm, we will host Donate Life, Gift of Sight donor registry tables at select stores in San Antonio and Rio Grande Valley. We welcome donor families, transplant recipients, and allied supporters to stop by the tables to meet our staff, ask any donation questions and snag a fun swag item. Locations: Walgreens Store #12716 - 12020 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78253 / Walgreens Store #3562 - 9080 Marbach Road, San Antonio, TX 78245 / Walgreens Store # 11211 - 1810 West Tyler Avenue, Harlingen, TX 78550
National Donate Life Month
Throughout the month Eye, Organ and Tissue Donation Organizations, hospitals, transplant surgeons, and allied supporters encourage their communities to register as donors, honor donor heroes and celebrate recipients that have had their sight restored, increased mobility and lives saved through the gift of donation.
The theme of 2022 National Donate Life Month centers around bees. Donate Life America, the national entity that leads the observance, was inspired by the vital role bees play in sustaining life. Bees are a small but powerful force, working together with dedication, collaboration and a strong sense of community. Join us in saving and healing lives by registering to #BeeADonor
San Antonio Eye Bank is hosting a Donate Life Chalk It Up! event in San Antonio in celebration of the observance during Blue and Green Sprit Week, on Thursday, April 21st. Follow us on our social media sites for updates of new activities and events throughout the month.
March 19th - Stride for Sight 5K
For the 6th year, we are co-hosting the Stride for Sight 5K at Comanche County Park alongside our partners from Lions Sight Research Foundation and Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc.
The event organizing committee, along with Soler's Sport race management consultation, will continue to monitor COVID case rates leading up to the event date to determine of additional precautions will be needed for the in-person aspect of the event. Participants are welcomed to join in-person or virtually.
Free breakfast tacos, free kid's fun run, Zumba dance warm-up, memorial tribute, music are more will be enjoyed by all participants. We encourage donor families participating as teams to use our discount code: SAEB1965 when registering online.
Special thanks to all of our sponsors, especially Title Sponsor - San Antonio Founder Lions Club and Hero Sponsors - San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind, San Antonio Northside Lions Club, and Parkhurst Nuvision www.sanantonio-lasik.com
National Donor Day
We are partnering with South Texas Blood and Tissue, Texas Organ Sharing Alliance and Donate Life Texas in encouraging the community to "Share The Love" in celebrating February 14th as National Donor Day. You can celebrate the observance and snag a free car wash voucher by completing two steps:
(1) Donate blood on February 14th at one of many blood donor locations through South Texas Blood and Tissue
(2) Show your heart on your driver's license indicating you are a registered organ, eye and tissue donor OR register online as an organ, eye and
tissue donor
If you want to celebrate the observance, but are unable to donate blood due to age or health/medical condition, consider sharing the love by performing an act of service - such as donating to an animal shelter or food bank. We'll send Starbucks e-gift cards to the first 5 people who post on social media and tag us @saeyebank completing an act of service on February 14th.
Eye Donation Month
Consider joining in our Kahoot! Trivia Night Contest, Community of Compassion Art Contest, viewing donor heroes patches in our Quilt Libraries for Life program and more to celebrate November - Eye Donation Month. The Eye Bank Association of America announced that the theme of the observance "Community of Compassion" focuses on the passion element of compassion - not only the passion to restore sight, but the passions and stories of donor heroes, and the passions recipients are able to fully explore and pursue thanks to the Gift of Sight.
Dia de los Muertos - Bridging Lives, Gift of Sight Altars
We invite donor families to visit our Bridging Lives - Gift of Sight Altars in celebration of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). The holiday originated in Mexico and is celebrated in cities and countries all over the world. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to remember and celebrate loved ones who have died.
For more than 8 years , we've invited families and supporters to celebrate Dia de los Muertos, as apart of our special partnership at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center in San Antonio. We are happy to announce that this year we also have an altar in the Rio Grande Valley at the Museum of South Texas History.
August 7th - Stride for Sight 5K
Join us on Saturday, August 7th at Comanche County Park. The family and pet friendly event is hosted by three partnering community non-profits: Lions Sight Research Foundation, San Antonio Eye Bank, and Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc. Our mission in hosting the event is to educate and inspire
the community about the Gift of Sight, healthy vision and build awareness for the resources that our partners offer.
June 19th - Virtual Grief Workshop: Healthy Coping Rituals Following Loss
During the virtual workshop, grievers will delve into learning healthy coping rituals to help in the healing journey. In addition to the workshop,
a special message of support for grievers who have been impacted and experienced loss during COVID-19 restricted hospital visitation policies, will be given by Jeremy Roy, Director of Pastoral Care for Resolute Health. Register to attend this free event by June 14th
Registration link: https://0619grief.eventbrite.com
National Donate Life Donation Month
Each April, Donate Life America (DLA) leads National Donate Life Month, an observance to focus on the need and importance of organ, eye and tissue donation. This year we are hosting special hospital partner focused activities and 2 community contests, from April 1st through April 23rd.
Prizes of the contests are Donate Life swag bags and tickets to the San Antonio Zoo (option of Gladys Porter Zoo for RGV residents) or San Antonio Botanical Garden for the lucky winners! We hope that you, your coworkers, your family and friends will join in the Garden of Life Art Contest and Garden of Life Photo Contest.
Eye Donation Month
November - Eye Donation Month (EDM) is a special opportunity to honor cornea donor heroes and donor families, celebrate restored
sight with cornea transplant recipients, recognize the important work of community eye banks and collaborate with healthcare
organizations/professionals and community supporters on the Gift of Sight.
Join in virtual celebrating the observance - consider printing the 30 Days of Kindness Calendar filled with activities you can complete from home, get creative with blue and green colors and submit a photo in our Bridging Lives EDM Photo Contest and join in the game during our Bridging Lives EDM Virtual Trivia Contest.
June - Virtual Grief Workshop: How Grief Impacts Relationships
Grief is not limited to feelings of sadness. It can also involve anger, guilt, yearning and regret. During the virtual workshop, grievers
will delve into supportive resources to help family relationships in the healing journey. Register for the workshop by June 15th at https://grief0621.eventbrite.com/
*Movies and Mending Grief Workshops - Cancelled due to COVID 19 pandemic precautions* Please consider attending the virtual
grief workshop.
March - Stride for Sight 5K
*Update due to declaration from Mayor Nirenberg on March 13th of a public health emergency for the city of San Antonio,
the 5K in-person gathering was cancelled. Registrants invited to join us virtually from their neighborhood, treadmill or backyard *
The 2020 Stride for Sight Run/Walk on Saturday, March 21st at Comanche County Park. The family and pet friendly
event is hosted by three partnering community non-profits. Our mission in hosting the event is to educate and inspire
the community about the Gift of Sight, healthy vision and build awareness for the resources that our partners offer.
The Giving Tree
Donor families are invited to join in a special ornament decorating and placement ceremony in the Rio Grande Valley
and in San Antonio through The Giving Tree program.
2019 RGV The Giving Tree - Invitation
2019 SA The Giving Tree - Invitation
Celebrate November: Eye Donation Month!
Join us in honoring donor heroes, celebrating restored vision with transplant recipients, and recognizing the support
of hospital partners, surgeons and other community supporters that contribute to making the Gift of Sight occur
through cornea donation and transplantation.
2019 Libraries for Life - Flyer
2019 Community and Hospital Partners - Flyer
Hope for the Holidays
Consider joining us in one of our Fall grief workshops to help in your grief journey. The Fall holidays can be especially
difficult for grievers, we are here to support you.
2019 Hope for the Holidays - Flyer
Rio Grande Valley: Donor Family Meet, Greet & Eat
A special Meet and Greet will be held on September 28th in the Rio Grande Valley
2019 RGV Meet and Greet - Flyer
Navigating Through Loss, Grief Workshops
While there is no right or wrong way to grieve, there are healthy ways to cope with the pain. Our grief workshops
are open to anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one.
2019 Spring and Summer Grief Workshop - Flyer
Join us at the 2019 Stride for Sight 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, March 23rd at Comanche County Park.
The family and pet friendly event features FREE breakfast tacos, FREE kid's fun run and so much more!
2019 Stride for Sight - Postcard
In December of 2017, the Eye Bank Association of America announced the change of Eye Donation Month observance (formerly named National Eye Donor Month) moving from March to November, to connect with the season of being thankful and National Donor Sabbath observance. Join us as we celebrate alongside donor families, cornea transplant recipients, allied healthcare professionals, allied organizations and eye banks across the globe.
Consider participating in one of our Fall grief workshops to help you and your family in your grief journey
Rio Grande Valley: Donor Family Meet, Greet & Eat
A special Meet and Greet will be held on September 22nd in the Rio Grande Valley.
This event is a casual opportunity for donor families to gather and share memories of their loved ones who have given the Gift of Sight.
Coping with the loss of a loved one may be one of the hardest challenges that many of us face. While there is no right or wrong way to grieve, there are healthy ways to cope with the pain.
These grief workshops were designed for cornea/eye donor families and are open to anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one.
2018 Spring and Summer Grief Workshop Postcard, Side 1
2018 Spring and Summer Grief Workshop Postcard, Side 2
Join us at the 2018 Stride for Sight Run/Walk on Saturday, March 24th. The event features FREE breakfast tacos, FREE kid’s fun run, FREE Zumba dance warmup and much more! Donor family members are encourage to participate as individuals or teams to give tribute to cornea/eye donors. The fee for teams is only $10 per person. View the flyers below to learn more about this family friendly event.
2018 Stride for Sight — Donor Family Postcard, Side 1
2018 Stride for Sight — Donor Family Postcard, Side 2
Individual and Team Fundraising Flyer
Team Award Categories Flyer
San Antonio Eye Bank is pleased to aid grief support efforts in the city of Laredo by donating refreshments and workbooks for the 2018 GriefShare series occurring in Laredo, Texas.
For more information or to RSVP to participate in the series, please contact the facilitator listed on the program flyer.
Rio Grande Valley: Donor Family, Meet and Greet
A special Meet and Greet will be held on September 17th in the Rio Grande Valley.
This event is a casual opportunity for donor families to gather and share memories of their loved ones who have given the Gift of Sight.
2017 RGV Meet and Greet - Flyer
Considering participating on one of our Fall grief workshops to help you and your family in your grief journey.
Join us as at a special ornament decorating workshop and ceremony, through The Giving Tree Program. Please view the invitation below and rsvp to attend.
2017 The Giving Tree, Ingram Park Mall - Invitation
SAEB is co-hosting the 2017 Stride for Sight community run/walk with our friends at Lions Sight Research Foundation on Saturday, March 18th, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. Register today! Fee for teams is only $10 per person. View the handouts below to learn more about this family friendly event.
2017 Stride for Sight - Donor Family Postcard, Side 1
2017 Stride for Sight - Donor Family Postcard, Side 2
Individual and Team Fundraising Flyer
Individual and Team Fundraiser Email Template
Healing With Creative Arts, Grief Workshops
Coping with the loss of a loved one may be one of the hardest challenges that many of us face. While there is no right or wrong way to grieve, there are healthy ways to cope with the pain.
These grief workshops were designed for cornea/eye donor families and are open to anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one.
SAEB is co-hosting the 2017 Stride for Sight community run/walk with our friends at Lions Sight Research Foundation on Saturday, March 18th, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. Register today! Fee for teams is only $10 per person. View the handouts below to learn more about this family friendly event.
2017 Stride for Sight - Donor Family Postcard, Side 1
2017 Stride for Sight - Donor Family Postcard, Side 2
Individual and Team Fundraising Flyer
Individual and Team Fundraiser Email Template
San Antonio Eye Bank is collaborating with area hospitals and community partners to help South Texans E.C.H.O. their opportunity to help restore sight to the blind during the Donate Life ECHO observance, which stands for Every Community Has Opportunity.
The nationwide observance, celebrated annually during two weeks in the month of July, aims to educate and empower multicultural communities on the need for organ, eye and tissue donors.
Press Release on Donate Life ECHO Celebrations
2016 Donate Life ECHO Celebration - Partnership with Lions Sight Restoration Foundation Flyer
Considering participating on one of our Fall grief workshops to help you in your grief journey.
Our celebration is part of a larger community celebration organized by The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. View the flyer below to read more about the event and Bridging Lives altar.
Join us as in a special ornament decoration workshop and ceremony, through The Giving Tree program. Please view the invitation below and rsvp to attend.
Healing Through The Heartbreak: Grief Workshops
Adapting to life without your loved one is a process for which there is no clear-cut map. These grief workshops were designed for cornea/eye donor families and are open to anyone who has experienced loss.
The Giving Tree is a commemorative display honoring South Texans who have given sight and life through organ, eye/cornea, and tissue donation.
In an special ceremony on December 9th, donor families will be invited to hang an ornament in honor of their loved one. Thereafter, the tree will stay on display at the Ingram Park Mall, throughout the holiday season during the month of December until after the first of the year.
Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead or All Souls Day) is a holiday celebrate November 1st -2nd,that originated in Mexico that is celebrated in cities and countries all over the world. The holiday focuses on remembering deceased loved one's.
Since 2011, San Antonio Eye Bank has partnered with the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center to offer a memorial celebration to the families of donors that have given the Gift of Sight through cornea donation.
Rio Grande Valley: Meet and Greet
On November 7th a special Meet and Greet will be held in the Rio Grande Valley. The event is a casual opportunity for donor families to gather and share memories of their loved ones who have given the Gift of Sight.
San Antonio Eye Bank has collaborated with local Donate Life partners to host a special Faith Leaders: Lunch and Learn Panel Presentation of The Wish on Wednesday, October 28th in commemoration of National Donor Sabbath.
It is our hope to empower and educate faith community leaders, clergy and professionals on donation and provide insight on how faith leaders can support families facing organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
Join us as we celebrate restored health and honor the legacies of organ, eye and tissue donors at a festive South Texas run/walk and community celebration on Saturday, September 26th, 2015
This event is FREE to walkers . Runners will be charged a $30 fee. This celebration includes a FREE kid's fun run, food, free health screenings, live entertainment and food in the Baseball Stadium throughout the afternoon.
Register today at www.StridesForLifeTexas.org
All donor families are invited to the 2015 Memorial Tree Planting Ceremony at 9am on Saturday, April 18th, 2015 at Richard Cuellar Park. The park is located at 5626 San Fernando Street, San Antonio, TX 78237. Light refreshments will be provided. No rsvps are necessary. This event will occur rain or shine.
Many donor families are familiar with participating in events hosted by Vital Alliance. In 2013, the highly respected organization disbanded. Local donation organizations including San Antonio Eye Bank, collaborate annually to continue the tradition of hosting the community ceremony in honor of donors and donor families.
This year the San Antonio Eye Bank celebrates a half century of dedication to the cause of restoring sight to the blind and honoring the memory of cornea/eye donors.
Join us at our "50 years, 50 Toppings" Ice Cream Social celebration on Tuesday, March 3rd from noon-1:30pm at the Huebner Medical Center
November 2nd - Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead or All Souls Day) is a holiday that originated in Mexico that is celebrated in cities and countries all over the world. The holiday focuses on remembering deceased loved one's.
Since 2011, San Antonio Eye Bank has partnered with the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center to offer a memorial celebration to the families of donors that have given the Gift of Sight through cornea donation.
San Antonio Eye Bank has collaborated with local Donate Life partners to host a special Lunch and Learn Panel Presentation of the 5th Quarter on Monday, October 27th, in commemoration of the upcoming National Donor Sabbath.
It is our hope to empower and educate faith community leaders, clergy and professionals on organ, eye and tissue donation and provide insight on how faith leaders can support families facing organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
If you are unable to attend the workshop, we encourage you to review the Donor Sabbath introduction and response form documents, as well as the Donor Sabbath PowerPoint slide and bulletin insert, to learn how you can participate in this national endeavor at your House of Worship.
2014 Lunch and Learn Presentation of the 5th Quarter - Event Flyer
National Minority Donor Awareness Week, celebrated annually on August 1-7, is a nationwide observance to educate minorities of the desperate need for donation and transplantation within the multicultural community and empower individuals of all ethnic backgrounds to designate their decision to Donate Life.
2014 Multicultural Dessert Tasting & Donor Registry Drive - Event Flyer
Join San Antonio Eye Bank in celebrating March: National Eye Donor Month
Visit our Gift of Sight Booth at the 2014 Low Vision Expo.
2014 Gift of Sight Booth - Low Vision Expo - Event Flyer
Grief Journey: Using Creative Arts to Heal and Remember
Free Bereavement Workshops
March 11 - San Antonio
March 18 - Laredo
Leon Valley Public Library Celebrates Eye Donor Month
National Minority Donor Awareness Week, celebrated annually on August 1-7, is a nationwide observance to educate minorities of the desperate need for donation and transplantation within the multicultural community and empower individuals of all ethnic backgrounds to designate their decision to Donate Life.
2013 Multicultural Potluck & Donor Registry Drive - Event Flyer
Radio Interview/PSA - Featuring Donor Wife, Tina Marie Mireles - PART 1
Radio Interview/PSA - Featuring Donor Wife, Tina Marie Mireles - PART 2
Join San Antonio Eye Bank and Dr. Maverick of Focal Point Vision in the Donate Life: Flags Across America crusade. Ice cream and cookie social to follow.
Friday, March 15, 2013 1:30 pm Focal Point Vision 4775 Hamilton Wolfe Rd. San Antonio, TX
The San Antonio Eye Bank was one of the organizational members, key to hosting the 15th Annual Vital Alliance Donate Life Run/Walk. The 15th Celebration featured a Dove Release in honor of South Texas organ, cornea and tissue donors. Over 800 Donate Life professionals, donor families, transplant recipients, and advocates participated in the event.
The San Antonio Eye Bank recently celebrated the lives of those who gave the gift of sight, which included the display of our donor family quilt and cornea recipient testimonials. Donor families and cornea recipients joined together to memorialize their loved ones. See video here:
The San Antonio Eye Bank participated in the 12th Annual Vital Alliance 5K Run/Walk on October 24. Staff, supporters, donor families, and recipients joined together with other local transplant organizations to raise awareness of the importance of the gift of eye and tissue donation. See photos from the event here:
http://www.vitalalliancetexas.org/2009runwalkpics.html