4th Annual Dress Giveaway
Our names are Michelle Lester and Laura Reff; we are the members of the Donor Family Network Inc. as well as a donor moms. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides support to the unique group of families who gave the gift of life through organ, eye, and tissue donation. Whether it was a choice their loved one made before their death by signing the Donor Registry or a choice the family made, their decision enhanced and saved lives of many.
We are also part of our local Transplant Games of America, Team Finger Lakes. The Transplant Games of America are held every 2 years when thousands of transplant recipients, living donors, donor families, individuals on the waiting list, caregivers, transplant professionals, supporters, and spectators join for a celebration of life! During this time, 42 state teams and several international teams compete in over twenty athletic and recreational competitions. In the past 22 years we have assisted sending 35-40 local families.
In March of 2023 we held our first annual Dress Giveaway event to benefit Team Finger Lakes and promote organ donation. Laura’s daughter, Lucy Reff, purchased her wedding dress days before suffering a sudden illness that took her life. Lucy was able to donate saving the lives of four recipients. The owner of the bridal shop where Lucy purchased her dress offered her mom stock from the bridal shop, all still brand new, to use to raise money for our group, in Lucy ‘s memory. It was a huge success allowing anyone to pick out their wedding, prom, bridesmaid, mother of bride/groom, military ball, or pageant dress for “free” with whatever donation they chose to make to us. We held it again in 2024 and 2025 they have all been very successful for not only our fundraising but several hundred women have been able to find the perfect dress.
We are continuing this year for our 4th annual Dress Giveaway. We have hundreds of prom, ball gowns, wedding, Mother of the bride/groom, flower girl, cocktail length, and bridesmaids’ dresses among other. We have changing areas for the ladies to try on as many dresses as they want as well as many accessories such as brand-new dress shoes, jewelry, head wear, wedding shower and wedding supplies and many more. All of this is included in the donation they make for the dress/dresses.
We hope you can join us for a wonderful event that we are continuing because we enjoy so much seeing the smiling faces of the woman that leave with that perfect dress.