News
Sierra Donor Services Illuminates Mount Vernon Memorial Park and Mortuary to Honor Donate Life Month
April 7, 2025
Sierra Donor Services hosted its 6th annual “Light Up Sacramento” event at Mount Vernon Memorial Park and Mortuary on April 3, 2025. The event commemorated National Donate Life Month, honoring organ donors and celebrating the lives they have saved through transplantation.
The evening featured moving speeches from donor families, transplant recipients, and community partners, including Donate Life California. Attendees were also treated to a musical performance by Elika Bernard and an invocation by Reverend Rick Harrell, Senior Minister of the Center for Spiritual Awareness. A candle lighting ceremony provided a moment of reflection for all those touched by organ donation.
The event concluded with the lighting of the grand Mount Vernon building and facilities in blue and green, the official colors of Donate Life Month. The illuminated building stood as a beacon of hope and a tribute to the generosity of organ donors.
We’d like to extend a special thank you to all of our speakers and performers who made this night possible, including…
- Carol Rybolt, Mount Vernon Memorial Park and Mortuary General Manager
- Scott Serface, Living Donor and Funeral Professional
- Elika Bernard, Interfaith Music Practitioner
- Sean Van Slyck, Sierra Donor Services Executive Director
- Winnie Bender, Liver Recipient
- Jim Martin, Donate Life California CEO
- Debi Chanco, Donor Mother
- Michele Rosdahl, Sierra Donor Services Aftercare Manager
- Rev. Rick Harrell, Center for Spiritual Awareness Senior Minister
“Light Up Sacramento serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of organ donation and the incredible impact it has on countless lives. We are deeply grateful to our community partners, donor families, and healthcare professionals for their unwavering support in making this event possible.” ~Sean Van Slyck, Executive Director of Sierra Donor Services.
Sierra Donor Services encourages everyone to register as an organ, eye, and tissue donor and to spread the word about the importance of donation.
To learn more and register, visit DonateLifeCalifornia.org.
About Sierra Donor Services
Sierra Donor Services (SDS) serves nearly three million people in Northern California and Northern Nevada. We are an exceptional team of professionals dedicated to saving and improving lives by connecting organ and tissue donation to the patients who need them. We strive to extend the reach of each generous donor’s gift to those who are always profoundly grateful for them.