SAN ANTONIO, TX — Dec. 6, 2018 — Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA), the organ procurement organization that provides organ donation and recovery services in Central and South Texas, broke ground Dec. 6 on a new San Antonio headquarters that will transform how Texans remember and honor those who gave others a second chance at life through organ donation.
TOSA's new 27,500-square-foot facility will feature a Donor Memorial Garden where donor families and transplant recipients can visit, meditate and reflect upon the thousands of life-saving organs that have been donated since TOSA's founding in 1975. Each donor will be memorialized on a metal name plate in the Donor Memorial Garden where eight flowering ornamental trees will be planted to represent the number of lives a single organ donor can save.
Located in the heart of the San Antonio Medical Center, TOSA's two-story headquarter facility will be built on a four-acre lot leased from the San Antonio Medical Foundation, and will include a 5,000-square-foot multi-purpose event center that will be available for use by area medical professionals and volunteers for training and for TOSA's donor appreciation ceremonies.
"This is a new era for Texas Organ Sharing Alliance," TOSA CEO Dr. Joseph Nespral said. "This space is designed for our organization's growth, but also focuses on our goals. Our motivation first and foremost is saving lives through the power of organ donation, but we also want to honor the individuals who make our work possible. It's important for us to celebrate the memory of our organ donors and their legacy as life-saving heroes."
The design of the Donor Memorial Garden will reflect the powerful and everlasting gift of organ donation. Once completed, visitors will be able to walk through the Donor Memorial Garden for respite and healing while also paying homage to TOSA's mission of saving lives through the power of organ donation.
The facility will be built to sustainability standards by utilizing recycled and low-emitting materials as well as natural light. Additionally, the majority of the building's views will face green spaces.
TOSA has satellite offices in Austin and McAllen and in 2018 was once again recognized as a Top Workplace by the San Antonio Express-News. For more information about organ donation and community initiatives, or to register online, visit www.TOSA1.org.