Annual flag raising ceremony for Donate Life Month

Riverside, Calif. —  Riverside Community Hospital hosted a special flag raising ceremony today, in partnership with OneLegacy, the largest organ, eye and tissue procurement organization in the United States, to honor those who have given the ultimate gift of life by being organ and tissue donors. 

103,223 people are currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant. Thirteen people die each day waiting for an organ transplant and, every eight minutes, another person is added to the transplant waiting list. One organ donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance the lives of over 75 people through tissue donation.

“Today, we come together to honor the extraordinary individuals who gave the gift of life and the families who made that generosity possible,” said Peter Hemstead, chief executive officer at Riverside Community Hospital. “The raising of the Donate Life flag is a powerful symbol of hope and unity, reminding our community that donation saves lives and inspiring others to consider registering as donors.”

Speakers at the ceremony included Aaron Cheng, chief administrative officer and general counsel at OneLegacy, and John Whalen, OneLegacy ambassador and organ donor recipient. Cheng thanked hospital care teams for their role in making organ donation possible and noted that Riverside Community Hospital has the highest-performing Level I Trauma organ donation program in Southern California. In 2025, the hospital’s 30 donors provided 74 organs to help save lives across the country.

Whalen shared his journey of receiving a lifesaving liver transplant and the meaningful connection he has built with his donor’s family. Thirteen years after his transplant, they continue to stay in touch through letters, phone calls and photos.

Local Emergency Medical Services partners, including AMR, Primary Ambulance and the City of Riverside Fire Department, joined the ceremony in support of organ donation.

The ceremony concluded with the Riverside Fire Department raising the Donate Life flag during a moment of silence. The flag will remain raised throughout the month of April in honor of organ donors and their families.