The Gift of Life Donor Program celebrated its 35th anniversary on Sunday by launching a new project.

Officials broke ground for a family house to provide lodging for the families of transplant patients.

The event felt a bit like a family reunion -- lots of hugging and catching up.

Music was provided by the duo Special K, which features a kidney donor and the woman who received his kidney.

There were dozens of recipients, donors and families of donors among the several hundred guests. Sonia Santa joined that club six years ago when her father was beaten and on the verge of death:

"We all had a meeting and said, 'okay, we're either going to bury the organs or donate them somebody.' And it was just so awesome to say yes to organ donation because a month after he passed away, I met the guy who got his heart."
 
Gift of Life president Howard Nathan says the Philadelphia region is the largest transplant center in the world but the families of recipients are sometimes forgotten:

"They get great care in the hospital, but the families have no place to stay."

Nathan says the family house to be built at 4th and Callowhill will be used by all eight of the area's transplant hospitals.

Find more info at giftoflifefamilyhouse.org.