HonorBridge celebrated the opening of its headquarters in Chapel Hill on April 29th, 2023. Located at 7000 Millhouse Road, the nonprofit showcased the new 56,000 sq ft facility within Chapel Hill’s 60-acre area Enterprise Zone. The land zoning designation was made possible by the Town Council in 2017, which allows for the pre-zoning of light industrial use development. This classification is intended to diversify the types of businesses operating in Chapel Hill, bringing more local employment opportunities and increasing tax revenue. Its proximity to other development areas like Carraway Village further supports the initiative for “work, live, shop, and play in Chapel Hill.” The opening of this center and the groundbreaking of Merritt Properties’ North Chapel Hill Business Center is a signal that this zoning effort is making a positive impact on bringing in new business types. 

HonorBridge, previously known as Carolina Donor Services, is the largest organ donation provider in the state. They serve over 100 hospitals and four transplant centers, reaching over 7.2 million people in 77 North Carolina and Virginia counties. The facility has been operational and saving lives since late March, and this event served to gather stakeholders and community members that made this achievement possible. HonorBridge describes its work as bridging “donors and their families who make the heroic decisions to give the gift of life and the recipients whose lives are forever changed as a result”.

This facility is one of the country’s few organ and tissue recovery centers and the first and only one in North Carolina. The headquarters has innovative and intentional features including a simulation lab, a family care center, and a memorial garden. The garden space will feature an art installation by local artists to honor the memories of those who have saved lives through donations. In 2022, HonorBridge’s operations helped to save 750 lives and made significant strides in research. The organization also serves the community through advocacy and outreach alongside its affiliates like Donate Life America. They were also named a North Carolina Best Employer by Business North Carolina in 2021 and 2022.