Virginia Beach, Va. (Nov. 16, 2023) — LifeNet Health has been selected as the 2023 Darden Award corporate honoree. This recognition highlights the company’s focus on giving healing every advantage through organ transplantation, allograft tissue implants, and cell-based research.

The award, issued by the Civic Leadership Institute, recognizes community-minded service by executive leadership to address challenges and improve life for the citizens of Hampton Roads, a region of Virginia with a population of over 1.7 million. LifeNet Health was honored along with Robert W. Cross, recipient of the Individual Darden Award, at a special event in Norfolk on Nov. 15.

“This achievement is a milestone that inspires us to continue doing everything possible to honor each donor gift as we push the boundaries of regenerative medicine,” LifeNet Health President and CEO Rony Thomas said. “The Hampton Roads community is a key part of all we have accomplished, and by facing the future together, we can do even more. Our vision is to offer hope and healing for patients here at home and around the world who need a transplant, a new cellular therapy, or a safer, more effective pharmaceutical intervention.”

Founded in Hampton Roads as a regional tissue bank in 1982, LifeNet Health has grown into a global biomedical company focused on regenerative medicine and life sciences. The organization’s pioneering solutions have touched millions of patients in more than 40 countries – including 13,000 lives saved through organ transplantation, and many more helped through the distribution of 10 million-plus allograft biologic implants.

Over its history LifeNet Health has revolutionized the industry by making transplantation safer and more effective. Today the organization holds 180-plus patents.

“Our team works every day to provide a healing advantage for as many people as possible – while honoring donors as heroes, and supporting their families with empathy,” Thomas said.

The Darden Awards for Regional Leadership were established in 2005. The recognition is named for the late Joshua P. Darden Jr., who founded The Civic Leadership Institute. Past winners include Sentara Healthcare and Newport News Shipbuilding.

Hampton Roads is a Virginia region that encompasses the seven cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News, Chesapeake, Hampton, Virginia Beach, and Suffolk.