Lifeline of Ohio strived to create a special place to honor the gifts shared and lives touched by the heroes of organ, eye and tissue donation, as well as heroes in spirit.

The design of our memorial was strongly influenced by a committee of donor families and recipients who provided feedback on how to best honor and remember our donors with a physical memorial. The “Ripple Effect” became the clear inspiration for the design – how one donor’s gift has impacted many lives for countless generations. It’s a place which encourages visitors to pause for a moment of reflection.

Central to the memorial design is recognition of the “ripple effect” of donation: how the gift of one selfless donor touches recipients as well as their family, friends, co-workers and even future generations. This symbolism was extremely important to stakeholders and is reflected in a number of ways throughout the memorial.

Central Fountain – The Central Fountain is located on axis with the main entrance. A ripple of water emanates from the geyser in the central fountain, and extends across the plaza in the form of granite paver “ripple rings.” As the ripple rings meet the building, they influence the shape of the curved glass walls leading to the Conference Center and the main entrance.  In the pattern of the carpet and in the custom lighting fixtures in the ceiling, the ripple rings extend into the Lifeline of Ohio main lobby and into the Conference Center.

When the water is turned off for the winter, the ripples will still be present in the form of concentric rings of polished, thermal finish granite on the top of the fountain.

Remembrance Room –Designed as an “embrace,” the Remembrance Room is an outdoor space for one, or for many, to gather within. Currently, the room features 700 donor names (up to 1,800 names can be placed) cut into stainless steel panels mounted in front of eight refined concrete panels. The eight panels in the Remembrance Room represent the eight lives that can be saved by the gifts of one organ donor.

As you approach these stainless steel panels, you will experience the reflection of your presence as you view the names.  As you reach out to touch the names, you will realize that the letters are the holes in the stainless steel panels through which the light passes. The names, made of light, are the brightest elements in the Donor Memorial.

The Remembrance Room is a spiritual place where all are invited to pause and remember those that gave the Gift of Life and Healing.  One of the illuminated blue glass panels at the gateway of the Remembrance Room states “The ripple starts with one generous act that changes countless lives and creates endless possibilities.”

As the trees grow, the amount of shade will grow and the canopy of branches overhead will help to create a sense that this is an “outdoor room” in a spiritual garden.  In the center of this outdoor room is another fountain, the Remembrance Room Fountain.

Remembrance Room Fountain – At the center of the Remembrance Room is the Remembrance Room Fountain from which granite ripples emanate. As the water flows from this fountain, and splashes into the rock garden below, the sound of the water provides a soothing, comforting sound signature. But the rocks in the rock garden have another purpose. The previous Donor Memorial included a rock garden (created in memory of Billy Frederick, a hero of donation in 2004).  A new version of the rock garden now surrounds the Remembrance Room Fountain where visitors are invited to “Place a Stone in memory of your Hero of Donation.”  Following an old world tradition, visitors will be encouraged to place a rock at the fountain as a memory and legacy of their loved one.

 

What is the Lifeline of Ohio Donor Memorial?  This now historic Memorial is a permanent outdoor monument that honors and gives thanks to our donors, as well as heroes in spirit, for their gifts of life, sight and healing.

Who is honored on the Donor Memorial? Lifeline of Ohio’s Donor Memorial includes deceased donors and heroes in spirit from the Lifeline of Ohio service area whose families have requested their names be added to the memorial from April 2017 – June 2026.

Can you tell me if my loved one is on the Donor Memorial? You can search for your loved one’s name here to see if their name is engraved on our wall.

My loved one was a donor, why don’t I see their name? Donation is a confidential process. To maintain confidentiality and to protect our donors, Lifeline of Ohio’s process is that the legal next-of-kin must request in writing that their loved one’s name be added to the Memorial.

Is the Donor Memorial still adding new names? The Lifeline of Ohio’s Donor Memorial reached full capacity in June 2026 and we are no longer able to engrave additional names.

Why can’t additional names be engraved? Lifeline of Ohio’s Donor Memorial has a finite number of panels and spaces. While the physical memorial remains a meaningful tribute, it was not sustainable to indefinitely honor our donors and heroes in spirit. To ensure that every legacy can be honored, Lifeline of Ohio has created an online memorial – Tributes of Hope. This website is a space where each donor and hero in spirit can have their own dedicated page for memories, photos and tributes.

If my loved one’s name isn’t engraved, can they still be honored in other ways? Yes. While new names can no longer be engraved on the Memorial, Lifeline of Ohio offers other meaningful ways to honor and remember donors and heroes in spirit, including:

• Shadowboxes

• Tribute Site (coming soon)

Where is the Donor Memorial located and what are the hours of operation? The Donor Memorial is located at 770 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH 43212 and is an outdoor space open to visitors at all times.