At this year’s Night for Sight event, Eversight’s Shared Vision Award will honor the late Vivian Lefferts for her tremendous partnership and commitment to Eversight's mission.
Vivian and her husband, Larry, lost their son, John, in his early twenties to an aneurism. Since then, they have made eye, organ and tissue donation their mission and passion. The two of them reached out to donor families after the deaths of their loved ones and every year on the loved one's birthday, they would take them to lunch or call them on the phone because they knew all too well what they were feeling and going through.
For eight years, Vivian and Larry coordinated the transportation for the Donate Life Rose Parade float and traveled the U.S. speaking on behalf of donation, including many times for Eversight. Vivian worked tirelessly to promote donation through Eversight, Gift of Hope, the Illinois Secretary of State and the Donate Life Rose Parade Float Committee.
“I attended Vivian’s service, and the place was packed with friends and family but also so many donor families that Larry and Vivian had helped through their grief over the years,” said Diane Hollingsworth, President/CEO, Eversight. “Although her death was unexpected at a young age of 66, her legacy lives on with all that she did for the donation community, and I am happy to have known her.”
Since 2009, the Eversight Shared Vision Awards have recognized individuals, groups and organizations for extraordinary support of Eversight’s mission to restore sight and prevent blindness through donation, transplantation and research. Recipients are selected based on their impact in:
- Engaging in multiple programs to raise awareness about the gift of sight, and increase the number of registered eye, organ and tissue donors
- Engaging new community partners and advocates
- Raising philanthropic support
- Significantly advancing Eversight’s mission in the healthcare and allied workplaces involved with the donation process, including hospitals, hospice agencies, medical examiners’ offices and funeral homes
“The Shared Vision Awards are one way we get to thank the people, groups and organizations that tremendously support Eversight’s mission,” said Marta Garczarczyk, Philanthropy Director, Eversight. “We are looking forward to celebrating Vivian and the powerhouse that she was in advocating for donation at this year’s Night for Sight.”
Thanks to our generous sponsors, Night for Sight takes place at the beautiful Epiphany Farms Estates and is held to raise support for Eversight’s Dr. John E. Randolph Memorial Fund, which provides financial assistance for central Illinois patients unable to afford sight-restoring transplants.
RSVP by Friday, July 14 to attend this magical evening and to help honor and celebrate Vivian.
