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GIVE FROM THE HEART THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
DENVER—December 13, 2006—The holidays are often referred to as the “season of giving.” Whether it be giving to family and friends as a way to show appreciation or giving to those who are less fortunate to make the world a better place, the focus is on others. But there is one gift that transcends all seasons – the gift of life which is made possible through organ and tissue donation.
“Registering to become an organ and tissue donor is a decision to give the ultimate gift,” explained Sue Dunn, president and CEO of Donor Alliance, the non-profit organ procurement organization serving Colorado and most of Wyoming. “Eight lives can be saved by a single organ donor, nearly 100 lives can be saved or enhanced by a single tissue donor and three lives can be touched through a single blood donation.”
“Organs that can be donated include the heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, pancreas and small intestine,” Dunn went on to explain.
According to Donor Alliance, more than 93,000 Americans currently await life-saving organ transplants, with 17 people dying each day due to the shortage of donated organs.
This year, Donor Alliance will recognize the thousands of individuals and families from Colorado, Wyoming and across the country who have given the ultimate gift by sponsoring the 2007 Donate Life float, themed Giving from the Heart. The organization will sponsor one of the 23 float riders in the 118th Tournament of Roses Parade on Monday, January 1, 2007 in Pasadena, California. The theme of this year’s parade is Our Good Nature.
Donate Life’s Giving from the Heart float honors donors and donor family members from 11 states and Canada. The organization is especially proud to sponsor float rider Kelli Jantz of Centennial, CO, a donation advocate who has spent nearly 20 years of her professional career helping potential organ recipients as a transplant coordinator at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver. Kelli became a donor mother in 2004 when her 14-year-old son, Jake Snakenberg, collapsed during a high school football game.
“For our family, donation means that a part of Jake’s life is being carried on, adding purpose to what happened. Jake’s gift allows us to keep a part of his spirit with us, which is very fitting for a boy who is now our angel,” explained Jantz.
“Since Jake was such an avid football fan, being in the Rose Parade with its connection to football makes this even more meaningful for us,” said Jantz. “It is our hope that others will look at our experience and say ‘yes’ to organ and tissue donation the way we did. This gift enables other people to have a second chance at life.”
For more information on organ and tissue donation, please visit DonorAlliance.org. To register to be an organ and tissue donor, please visit ColoradoDonorRegistry.org or WyomingDonorRegistry.org or call 303.329.4747 or toll-free at 1.888.256.4386.
About Donor Alliance
Donor Alliance is the federally designated non-profit organ procurement organization serving Colorado and most of Wyoming. As a recognized leader in facilitating the donation and recovery of transplantable organs and tissues, Donor Alliance’s primary objectives are to save and enhance the lives of others. To achieve these objectives, Donor Alliance employs effective family approach and recovery programs in over 100 hospitals and increases the awareness of the need for organ and tissue donation through public awareness and education campaigns in its service area. For more information, visit DonorAlliance.org. Visit ColoradoDonorRegistry.org or WyomingDonorRegistry.org to register to be an organ and tissue donor.
We are pleased to announce the creation of Colorado’s new specialty Donate Life license plate. CLICK HERE.
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