2026 HAP Donate Life PA Hospital Challenge Honorees Announced

August 25, 2026

The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) announced today the health care teams being honored this year for championing organ, eye, and issue donation within their hospitals and communities.

The annual HAP Donate Life Pennsylvania Hospital Challenge encourages Pennsylvania hospitals to increase donation awareness. HAP partnered with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the two organ procurement organizations serving Pennsylvania—the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) and Gift of Life Donor Program—to support the challenge.

During National Donate Life Month in April, participating hospitals supported donation through activities such as internal trainings and coordination meetings, campaigns to register new organ donors, community events, and public communications. Hospitals earned titanium, platinum, gold, silver, or bronze recognition for their efforts.

This year, 113 Pennsylvania hospitals participated in the challenge. HAP applauds its members’ commitment to supporting and raising awareness of organ, eye, and tissue donation. One donor can save up to eight lives and enhance up to 75 others.

"Each organ, eye, and tissue donor has the power to save lives and offer hope to patients and families facing some of their most difficult moments," said HAP President and CEO Nicole Stallings. "Pennsylvania hospitals and our partners continue to lead by raising awareness about the importance of donation and encouraging more people to register as donors. We applaud the hospital teams participating in this year's challenge for their commitment to strengthening the health of their communities."

The top performers of the 2026 HAP Donate Life Pennsylvania Hospital Challenge are:

CORE Top Performers (Western Pennsylvania)
Top Health Systems

• • First Place: Allegheny Health Network

• • Second Place: Independence Health System

• • Third Place: Conemaugh Health System

Top Hospitals

• • First Place: UPMC Presbyterian Hospital
• • Second Place: AHN Allegheny General Hospital
• • Third Place: UPMC Passavant

Gift of Life Donor Program Top Performers (Eastern Pennsylvania)
Top Health Systems

• • First Place: Temple Health 
• • Second Place: Penn Medicine
• • Third Place: Tower Health

Top Hospitals

• • First Place: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
• • Second Place: Temple University Hospital
• • Third Place: Penn Presbyterian Medical Center

A full list of hospital designations resulting from the challenge and more information about the scoring process are available online.

“Organ and tissue donation enriches and saves lives and leaves a deeply meaningful legacy,” said Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. “Registering to be a donor is quick and easy. Please take one minute today to make this life-changing decision, knowing that you could save up to eight lives and enhance even more.”
"When hospitals and donation professionals work together, the gift of organ donation becomes possible, giving donor families comfort in knowing their loved one's legacy lives on and transplant recipients the priceless gift of more time. The HAP Donate Life Pennsylvania Hospital Challenge recognizes the importance of this partnership, celebrating hospitals that have made donation a priority by fostering a culture where it is understood, supported and embraced," said Deborah Maurer, RN, MBA, President and CEO of CORE. "Every day, together, we honor the generosity of donors and their families by ensuring every donation opportunity is recognized and every generous decision has the chance to save and heal lives, bringing hope to the more than 109,000 people waiting for a transplant nationwide, including more than 6,000 Pennsylvanians."

"Every organ donor is supported by a dedicated team of healthcare professionals who embrace the opportunity to help our team save lives and ensure every donor family is provided compassionate care and honored for their decision to donate, " said Richard D. Hasz, Jr., MFS, CPTC, President and CEO of Gift of Life Donor Program. "The HAP Donate Life Pennsylvania Hospital Challenge celebrates hospitals that are leading the way by building a strong culture of donation. We applaud their commitment, which helps save more lives today while setting a higher standard for tomorrow. Together, we will continue to work toward a future where every patient in need of a transplant receives a second chance at life."