Jennifer Moe
Director of Communications/PR
Donor Alliance
303-329-4747
DONOR ALLIANCE PARTNERS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT APRIL
Companies are urging employees to register their decision to Donate Life
DENVER—April 1, 2008—In 2003, President George W. Bush officially declared April National Donate Life Month, determined to educate Americans about the need for organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Throughout the month, Donor Alliance, the federally designated organ procurement organization and AATB accredited tissue bank serving Colorado and most of Wyoming, is urging local businesses to get involved with efforts to increase the number of people registering to be organ and tissue donors.
Today there are nearly 100,000 American men, women and children who are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Thousands more are in need of donated tissue. In order to support this national campaign and help end the wait for lifesaving organs and tissues in Colorado and Wyoming, Donor Alliance is asking local businesses to commit to being a workplace partner – a program designed to create a "donation friendly America” by equipping businesses to effectively educate their employees about organ and tissue transplantation.
The program provides an array of donation related tools to enable businesses to conduct donation related activities like hosting a registry drive, providing donation information in employee paychecks and designating company time for employees to register to be organ and tissue donors.
“There are a number of exciting ways businesses can encourage their employees to say “yes” to donation this month,” said Sue Dunn, president and CEO of Donor Alliance. “From having a transplant recipient or donor family come and speak to staff, to including donation brochures in insurance packets, the commitment doesn’t create a burden on businesses productivity and the results can be lifesaving.”
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), organs that can be donated include the heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, pancreas and small intestine. Tissues that can be donated include bones, tendons, ligaments, corneas, heart valves and skin.
“Just one organ and tissue donor can save the lives of more than 100 people,” explained Dunn. “With such a tremendous need for to transplant the more than 1,700 people in Colorado and Wyoming waiting for a transplant, we hope that businesses in the community will help end the wait for so many.”
American National Bank is among four businesses committed to educating their more than 500 employees and countless customers about the importance of organ and tissue donation during National Donate Life Month. American National Bank will provide their employees and customers information about donation through corporate e-mail blasts, placing articles in the company’s newsletter and disseminating promotional posters, brochures and registry kiosks to all 34 of their Colorado and Wyoming branches.
“At American National Bank, we are always looking for opportunities to connect with our local communities,” said Judy Zezula, senior vice president and marketing division manager of American National Bank. “This month, we’re excited to help promote the importance of organ and tissue donation to our employees and our customers. We hope our efforts to encourage people to register to become organ and tissue donors will help end the wait for lifesaving transplants for so many in Colorado and Wyoming.”
Other businesses committed to educating their employees and/or customers about organ and tissue donation in observance of National Donate Life Month:
• American National Bank
• Colorado Department of Corrections
• Denver Fire Department
• St. Anthony Central Hospital
Businesses large and small that wish to find out more about how they can help during National Donate Life Month and throughout the year are urged to contact Sunny Reif, community relations coordinator, at Donor Alliance by calling 303-329-4747.
To find out more about organ donation, visit www.donoralliance.org. To register your decision to be an organ and tissue donor visit www.ColoradoDonorRegistry.org or call 1-888-256-4386.
We are pleased to announce the creation of Colorado’s new specialty Donate Life license plate. CLICK HERE.
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