St. Lucie Mets and Legacy Donor Services Foundation raised awareness of National
Donate Life Month and honored donor families at the 5 th Annual Make the Save, Save a
Life, Mets’ home game on 4/11.

Port St. Lucie, FL- April 12, 2026: April is Donate Life Month, and Legacy Donor Services
collaborated with the St. Lucie Mets for a meaningful Make the Save, Save a Life home game on
April 11th, in honor of donor heroes and to raise awareness of organ, eye, and tissue donation.
This year’s game honored 41 donor hero families and celebrated the lives of 3 recipients; over
150 family members of donor heroes were in attendance.

Before the game, there was a Donate Life flag-raising, followed by family members of donor
heroes placing leaves with messages to their loved ones on an iron tree in honor of this year’s
Donate Life Month theme: Leave A Legacy. The St. Lucie Mets paid tribute to donor heroes on-
field and celebrated the success of transplantation with the opening pitch being thrown by tissue
recipient Demetrius Gollette. Demetrius survived a devastating house fire at age eight – one that
claimed the lives of his great-grandparents – and he has endured more than 45 surgeries.
Demetrius was all smiles when throwing his first pitch surrounded by the first responders –
retired firefighters Lt. Steve Burns and Rob Teale – that saved his life. Demetrius has turned his
hardship into advocacy and hope. The program opened with a beautiful rendition of the national
anthem sung by Lucia Bella Falla-Buenaño, whose father Julio Buenaño—became a donor after
a tragic accident, when Lucia was just four months old.

The event included activities for all ages. Legacy Donor Services Foundation had a booth with
giveaways, a t-shirt toss during the 7th inning stretch, and post-game fireworks.
A highlight of the game was the players wearing special jerseys designed to spotlight Donate
Life Month. The St. Lucie Mets, in collaboration with Legacy Donor Services Foundation, are
currently having a special auction for these exclusive jerseys, with all proceeds going to the
nonprofit Donor Heroes! Proceeds will go toward educational scholarships for young adults
whose loved ones are donor heroes and support the publication of activity books that educate
children about organ, eye, and tissue donation.

Facts:
Over 100,000 people waiting nationwide for a life-saving transplant; more than 6,000
reside in Florida . Each day approximately 13 people die waiting for a lifesaving transplant. One
donor can save 8 lives, restore sight to 2, and heal or save 75 more people through tissue
donation.

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