Donor Family Quilt Ceremony
In 1997, the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance decided to create a Donor Family Quilt to honor the memory of South and Central Texans who had given the “Gift of Life.” Donor family members were asked to create a special quilt square in honor of their loved one. The response was overwhelming. Within a couple of months, TOSA had received enough quilt squares to put together the first donor quilt panel.
The first Donor Family Quilt Ceremony was held during the National Donor Sabbath Weekend in San Antonio on November 15, 1997. Since then, TOSA has received more than 250 donor squares paying tribute to South and Central Texas donors. The squares have been sewn into several quilt panels bringing the number of quilts to nine. The donor quilt panels have been displayed throughout the TOSA region during special donor ceremonies and donor awareness community events.
Every year new squares are added by donor family members participating in the Donor Family Quilt Ceremonies. Ceremonies are held yearly in Austin, San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley—thus making it easier for our donor families to attend.
Donor Family Quilt Square
We invite all the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance donor families to submit a special quilt square. Every quilt square will be different in that it is made especially for that special someone—the donor. In addition, family members should include a picture of the donor and a short narrative explaining the meaning of the quilt square’s design or describing the donor along with the quilt square. These stories and pictures are compiled into a book and will be displayed alongside the quilt.
If you would like to create a square for the quilt and short narrative, but cannot attend any of the ceremonies, send it to the TOSA office in San Antonio at the following address:
Texas Organ Sharing Alliance
Attn: Donor Family and Volunteer Services
8122 Datapoint, Suite 200
San Antonio, Texas 78229
Donor Family Quilt Square Instructions:
The Texas Organ Sharing Alliance Donor Family Services invites donor family members to participate in making a special quilt square as a tribute to their loved one for giving the “Gift of Life.” A new quilt panel is unveiled each year at each of the Donor Family Quilt Ceremonies held in Austin, San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley.
Quilt panels are available for display to any organization or group wishing to raise awareness about the need for organ and tissue donation.
Download a PDF of the Design Criteria here.
Design Criteria
- IMPORTANT: The actual design, including pictures, writing or embroidery, and trim may be no larger than 7"×7". Anything outside the dotted line will not show.
- IMPORTANT: The entire piece of fabric must measure 8"×8" to allow for trimming and seam allowance.
- All materials, decorations and ink must be permanent and dry-cleanable.
- Do not include batting or backing when creating quilt square.
- Include your name, address, phone number, and email with the quilt square submission.
A scrapbook accompanies each quilt. Quilt square submitters may include:
- A brief description of the square.
- Full name of the person the square honors/remembers.
- A 250 word or less personal history of the individual being honored or remembered.
- Photograph of honoree.
Quilt squares may be submitted at anytime. To view existing quilt panels, visit www.txorgansharing.org.
Mail Quilt Squares to:
Texas Organ Sharing Alliance
Attn: Donor Family and Volunteer Services Coordinator
8122 Datapoint, Suite 200 • San Antonio, Texas 78229
Stories may be emailed to: .
For questions or more information, call (210) 614-7030 or (866) 685-0277.