How Lifebanc Supports Organ Donation and Transplants in Northeast Ohio
In its 40th year, Lifebanc continues to be a lifesaver in Northeast Ohio.
by Dillon Stewart | Aug. 6, 2026 | 5:00 AM
Courtesy Life Banc
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Twenty-four hours a day, Lifebanc is on call to make transplants happen in Northeast Ohio. No matter the need — heart, lung, kidney, liver, pancreas or intestine — the nonprofit organ procurement organization, which is celebrating its 40th year of lifesaving work, coordinates the most time-sensitive procedure in medicine with 80 hospitals across a 20-county region.
More than 1,300 people in Northeast Ohio are on the transplant waiting list. In 2026, as of this writing, Lifebanc had facilitated donations from 114 organ donors, resulting in 326 organs transplanted and 296 lives saved, in addition to hundreds of tissue and eye donors and thousands of tissue gifts. Beyond safely securing and placing organs for patients, Lifebanc’s mission includes promoting donor registration by educating the public on common misconceptions.
For example, there is no age limit for donors, and most people with medical conditions can still donate. Most religions are OK with donation, and the gift doesn’t prevent an open casket. Lifebanc’s calling doesn’t end when the organ is successfully placed, either.
Starting when a transplant is only a possibility, the organization works with donor families to provide them systems of support that can include bereavement resources and remembrance opportunities. That service is available 24/7, too.
“Behind every life saved is a family that made an extraordinary decision during one of the most difficult moments imaginable,” says Katie Payne, CEO of Lifebanc. “Their gift not only shows their compassion, but the incredible partnership between donor families, hospitals, transplant centers and the Lifebanc team.”
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Dillon Stewart
Dillon Stewart is the editor of Cleveland Magazine. He studied web and magazine writing at Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and got his start as a Cleveland Magazine intern. His mission is to bring the storytelling, voice, beauty and quality of legacy print magazines into the digital age. He's always hungry for a great story about life in Northeast Ohio and beyond.
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