Donor Alliance will be joining our partners at Chris Klug Foundation at this wonderful event in Aspen, CO!
Summit for Life (S4L) is a nighttime uphill race up Aspen Mountain on Saturday, December 7, and the biggest awareness and fundraising event of the year for the Chris Klug Foundation. Join hundreds of racers as they skin, snowshoe, run, or hike the 3,267 feet from Gondola Plaza to the Sundeck. (View course map HERE.) Then join the party with a dinner catered by The Little Nell, live music, and the awards ceremony. Afterwards, ride the Silver Queen gondola back to the base, and enjoy breathtaking views of Aspen at night.
Each year we recognize the recipient or recipient family of the Michael Wells Inspirational Award. This award is named for our good friend, and honors someone local for their support, advocacy, or representation of CKF, as well as the donation and transplantation communities.
For those who wish to skip the uphill race portion, we also offer Ride for Life on the gondola! Registration for both sells out, so sign up early and help us fundraise for this great cause. Each race participant who raises the $100 minimum will receive a long-sleeve t-shirt and other swag items. Racers who go above and beyond the minimum will be eligible for additional prizes!
Our mission is to raise awareness of the lifesaving gift of organ, eye, and tissue donation. By participating in S4L, you are helping us to spread this message and make a difference for the 103,000+ children and adults awaiting a transplant in the United States today.
For more information, or to register, visit http://www.summitforlife.org/.
Honoring Organ and Tissue Donors During Hispanic Heritage Month
Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month 2024: Hispanic Heritage Month is a national celebration that recognizes the contributions of all Hispanic and Latinx Americans throughout history and today. It’s celebrated from September 15 – October 15 annually with different events at all types of institutions, organizations, and businesses. You can find a list of how to participate locally in Colorado or Wyoming.
The need for lifesaving organ transplants affects all communities regardless of race, ethnicity, age, or sex; however, when it comes to race, there is an even greater need for organ transplants among diverse communities. Transplants rely on the generosity of organ and tissue donors and there is a need for more people of color to sign up as organ, eye, and tissue donors in our region and in our country.
In 2024, the theme for Hispanic Heritage Month is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together”. The theme aims to capture the Hispanic experience’s spirit of unity, innovation, and resilience.
The History and Significance of Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month, established in the United States in 1988, coincides with the independence anniversaries of Latin American countries. It honors the contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities, from civil rights leaders like Cesar Chavez to cultural icons like Selena Quintanilla. This celebration aims to foster awareness, appreciation, and unity by educating the public about the rich diversity of Hispanic and Latinx cultures, promoting inclusivity, and acknowledging their significant impact on American society.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Importance and Meaning
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month holds profound importance as it allows us to acknowledge and honor the invaluable contributions and diverse cultures of Hispanic and Latino Americans. It serves as a powerful platform for promoting inclusivity and diversity in our society, fostering a sense of unity among all communities. This observance raises awareness about the rich heritage and remarkable achievements of Hispanics, encouraging mutual understanding and appreciation, ultimately contributing to a more vibrant and inclusive American tapestry.
The Importance of Organ Donation within the Hispanic Community
The importance of organ donation within the Hispanic community cannot be overstated. It is crucial to educate the community about the urgent need for organ and tissue donation, as Hispanics are disproportionately affected by the scarcity of available organs for transplant. In Colorado and Wyoming, the demand for organ transplants among Hispanic individuals is on the rise, with a growing number of people waiting for lifesaving organ transplants. Nearly 100,000 people across the United States are on the waitlist for a lifesaving organ transplant. More than 23,000 of those people are from Hispanic communities.
Advocating for increased donor registration among Hispanics is essential to address this disparity to save and heal more lives. Organizations like Donor Alliance, a nonprofit that saves and heals lives through organ and tissue donation for transplantation in Colorado and most of Wyoming, play a pivotal role in raising awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation. It highlights the significance of community engagement and support to meet the pressing needs of the Hispanic population and ensure access to lifesaving transplants.
Donor Alliance: Honoring Organ and Tissue Donors, Celebrating Lives Saved, and Recognizing Those Who Wait from Hispanic Communities.
As Donor Alliance honors Hispanic Heritage Month, we want to highlight a few local, national, and international stories about donation and transplantation. Recognizing the gifts of life these donors provided after they passed is just as important as recognizing achievements throughout history.
MEET DIANA, A DONOR FROM DENVER, CO
Diana was a quiet teenager who cared about others. She loved cats and playing with Legos with her little brother. When she grew up, she hoped to have her own show on the Food Network. Diana was also known for her brutal honesty and sassy personality. Sadly, Diana tragically passed away in a car crash at the age of 16. As the family’s primary communicator, her sister, Gaby, helped her Spanish-speaking parents understand the importance of donation. At only 21 years old, Gaby navigated her close-knit family through the organ donation process. In honor of Diana’s caring nature, her family decided she should give the gift of life. Diana’s kidneys saved the lives of a man and a woman, while her liver was safely delivered to Missouri to save a baby girl. Diana’s family has remained in contact with the baby’s family, and according to Gaby, the little girl is doing well.
MEET JOE, A DONOR FROM UVALDE, TX (STORY USED WITH PERMISSION FROM SAN ANTONIO EYE BANK)
After an unthinkable tragedy, the decision to help others was honored. Joe’s wife, Irma, was one of the teachers who died at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX. Joe tragically died a few days later, and as a registered donor, he was able to give the gift of sight to two individuals. Read more about Joe’s love for his family, his community, and his donation legacy here.
MEET GUADALUPE, A RECIPIENT FROM CASPER, WY
Guadalupe was born in Lima, Peru; in 2010, she moved to Casper, Wyoming. Guadalupe went for a routine examination when her medical team discovered her kidney function was abnormal. Guadalupe learned she had stage three chronic kidney disease due to genetics and would need a kidney transplant to save her life. Read more about Guadalupe’s transplant journey here.
MEET JOSÉ, A DONOR WHO IMMIGRATED FROM MEXICO (STORY USED WITH PERMISSION FROM SOUTH TEXAS BLOOD AND TISSUE)
Jose was known for his generosity. He was always willing to help anyone in need. In 2017, two months after a heart attack, Jose passed away, and his family made the decision to donate his tissue. “We later found out that some of his tissue went into dental grafts, which was kind of beautiful because he was a dentist in Mexico.” Jose was proud of his Mexican heritage, and his legacy lives on through the lives of his family, including his three grandsons, his wife of 40 years, and countless other children and grandchildren he treated as his own. “It’s so important for there to be more representation in donors—minority donors—and it’s really cool to think that my dad was part of that.” donor’s son, Emmanuel.
MEET SHIRLEY, A RECIPIENT ORIGINALLY FROM COSTA RICA
Shirley Aviles, originally from Costa Rica, was 18 years old when she was first diagnosed with lupus, just two years after her mother passed away from it at the young age of 38. Lupus is a disease that occurs when your immune system attacks your own healthy tissues and organs. Shirley understood the severity of her illness and underwent various treatments through the years to manage it so that she could continue living her life as normal. She was determined to fight lupus with everything she had in honor of her mother.
On January 11, 2023, after undergoing dialysis for more than a year, Shirley received the call that changed her life forever—a kidney was available and was a match. Thanks to a heroic deceased organ donor, Shirley was given a second chance at life. “I wish I could have met the person who donated their kidney to me. I don’t know who they were, but I am so appreciative of my donor. God bless them and their family,” Shirley said.
If you’re a registered donor, you’ll have a little heart with a Y on your driver license or state ID. That little heart has a big impact. One person can save up to eight lives through organ donation and save and heal up to 75 lives through tissue donation. If you’re already registered, please take some time to discuss your decision with your loved ones. For those not registered to be an organ and tissue donor, say “yes” and check the box the next time you’re at the DMV to obtain your license or ID. You can also register today at DonateLifeColorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org.
Cool Science Carnival Day at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs is geared toward students interested in STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Donor Alliance Transplantation Science educators and Advocate volunteers will host a booth at the carnival to engage with students about the science behind donation and transplantation.
What is National DMV Appreciation Month?
National DMV Appreciation Month occurs in September each year and is a time for Organ Procurement Organizations and Donate Life America to show their appreciation for DMV partners across the country.
In Colorado and Wyoming, about 99% of organ and tissue donor registrations come through DMV and Driver Services offices. Donor Alliance, the nonprofit organization that facilitates organ and tissue donation and manages the Donate Life Colorado and Donate Life Wyoming registries, will be showing its appreciation for the DMV and Driver Services staff throughout the month of September for this important step in the donation process.
Registration as an organ and tissue donor is a crucial component to Donor Alliance’s mission of saving and healing lives in the region. Without this key partnership with the DMV and Driver Services, Donor Alliance would not be as successful at fulfilling its mission to save and heal lives through organ and tissue donation for transplantation.
Transplants rely on the generosity of organ and tissue donors, and it starts with saying “yes” and checking the box at the DMV or Driver Services. One person can save up to eight lives through organ donation and save and heal up to 75 lives through tissue donation.
Easy Ways YOU Can Get Involved:
- Reach out to your local Driver License office and thank them! To find the location nearest you, click here for Colorado and here for Wyoming.
- Show your appreciation on their social media pages: Facebook- @ColoradoRevenue or @WyomingDeptofTransportation (please mention Driver Services)
- Write a letter! To find the address for the location near you, click here for Colorado and here for Wyoming.
- Consider sharing your donation story with a local driver license office employee. Stories are what connect people to the mission of saving and healing lives in our community!
Remember to learn the facts around organ and tissue donation. Then say “yes” and check the box to register the next time you obtain or renew your driver license or state ID. You can also register today at Donate Life Colorado.org or Donate Life Wyoming.org.
Visionary leader and seasoned clinician brings 30 years of experience to the organization
DENVER – August 29, 2024 – Donor Alliance, the nonprofit organization that saves and heals lives through organ and tissue donation for transplantation in Colorado and most of Wyoming, announced today that Dan Lebovitz, M.D. has joined Donor Alliance as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Lebovitz will join the executive team to lead Donor Alliance in fostering its strong relationships with more than 100 hospitals, advancing innovations to continue to honor donors’ lifesaving gifts, as well as growing the organization’s physician services.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Lebovitz to our team. Donor Alliance empowers performance with passionate people, like Dr. Lebovitz, who will undoubtedly make a significant impact both within our organization and in the communities we serve,” said Jennifer Prinz, president and CEO, Donor Alliance. “Nearly 1,300 people in Colorado and Wyoming continue to wait for a lifesaving organ transplant and tens of thousands more need a tissue transplant. Dr. Lebovitz’s leadership and experienced clinical perspective will help give those needing a transplant hope for the future.”
With more than three decades of experience, Dr. Lebovitz brings an extensive background in organ donation, transplantation and pediatric critical care. Prior to joining Donor Alliance, he served as an Associate Medical Director of the Division of Critical Care at Akron Children’s Hospital in Ohio. He also served in a variety of director roles for organ procurement organizations across the nation, including Medical Director of the Oklahoma Organ Sharing Network (now Lifeshare Oklahoma); Medical Director, Board Chair, and Medical Advisory Board Chair of Lifebanc in Cleveland; and Associate/Consulting Medical Director of Mid-South Transplant.
Dr. Lebovitz is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the Network and Alliance of Transplant Coordinators, Donation and Transplantation Alliance, and American Society of Transplant Surgeons. He has also served on numerous committees and boards of United Network for Organ Sharing, Association of Organ Procurement Organizations, The Donation and Transplantation Alliance, and American Society of Transplant Surgeons. Additionally, he was a founding member of the Organ Donation Research Consortium.
Dr. Lebovitz earned his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) at Duke University School of Medicine. He completed his Residency and Fellowship training at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland. He is certified in general pediatrics and pediatric critical care medicine by the American Board of Pediatrics. Throughout his career his primary research, which has been published, has focused on organ donation.
About Donor Alliance
Donor Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and healing lives through organ and tissue donation for transplantation in Colorado and most of Wyoming. As a federally designated organ procurement organization – one of 56 in the U.S. – Donor Alliance serves more than 6.3 million residents and more than 100 hospitals. Donor Alliance walks alongside the family during the organ recovery process and ensures their loved one’s gifts are safely received at transplant centers in a timely manner. Donor Alliance also facilitates tissue donation to save and heal more lives across our community. The organization also manages the Donate Life Colorado and Donate Life Wyoming registries. Through Donate Life, the symbol of the cause, Donor Alliance educates residents on the lifesaving benefits of donation, inspiring them to register. For more information, please visit DonorAlliance.org.
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