On April 30th, the donation community comes together for Donor Remembrance Day, a national day of tribute to those who gave the gift of life through organ, eye, and tissue donation. Organized by the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO), this day invites families of donors, donor recipients, and supporters to pause, honor, and share the stories of those they’ve lost.
Grief and remembrance are deeply personal and can take many forms. For many donor family members, a loved one’s legacy means keeping a piece of them close. That could be a necklace worn everyday, a tattoo with a meaningful message, or a bench in their loved one’s favorite spot. These tangible reminders are more than mementos. They’re declarations: You were here. You mattered. You still do.
This Donor Remembrance Day, we want to share the stories of three families from our community who have found beautiful, deeply personal ways to carry their loved ones forward.
A Thumbprint Close to Her Heart: Anna & Mike
Anna of Littleton, Colorado, lost her husband Mike unexpectedly in 2022. Mike’s world revolved around his family and his faith. He loved playing softball with his son, getting to watch his daughter graduate, and soaking up every moment with the people he loved most.
Through this decision to be a donor, Mike’s tissue gifts reached people around the world, including his corneas, which traveled as far as Ireland to restore someone’s sight.
Today, Anna wears a necklace pendant engraved with Mike’s thumbprint.
“I sometimes think, ‘There’s someone out there who was given a gift because of him. His eyes are out there somewhere.’ It’s a really comforting thought.”
She hopes sharing his story will inspire others to talk with their loved ones about donation. “It’s one of the best gifts you can give to your family as well as to the recipients,” she said. “I know he’s smiling down on us. He’s beaming with pride.” Watch Anna’s full story on our Stories of Hope page.
A Sea Turtle for Tanner: Allison’s Story
When Tanner Vogel got his driver’s permit, he made the decision to register as an organ, eye, and tissue donor. That decision would go on to save and heal more than 120 lives.
Tanner loved baseball. He played Little League, college ball, and eventually coached, carrying that love of the game all the way through his life.
His mother, Allison, has found her own way to carry him with her.
Before Tanner passed away, the two had a running joke: he always wanted Allison to get a tattoo, and she always said, ‘absolutely not.’ On a trip to Hawaii, Tanner had planned to get a sea turtle tattooed on the top of his foot, but a bad sunburn kept that from happening.
After he passed, Allison made good on what he never got to do. She got the sea turtle tattoo, for Tanner, and alongside it, a Celtic symbol of mother and child.
“Tanner used to make fun of me because he always wanted me to get a tattoo, and I always told him, ‘absolutely not, I’m not getting a tattoo,'” Allison recalled. “So, I decided after he passed away, I would get a sea turtle tattoo in his memory.”
In May of 2025, Allison took the pitcher’s mound at Coors Field in a tribute to her son. “I know he would be proud of me,” she said. Watch Allison’s full story on our Stories of Hope page.
A Place to Rest: Laurie & Sam’s Memorial Bench
On Easter Sunday in 2018, Laurie Weaver of Casper, Wyoming, lost her husband Sam suddenly.
Sam was a teacher. He taught Environmental Science and Biology with a passion his students felt every day. He’d spent 50 years volunteering with the National Ski Patrol, served as president of the Casper Mountain Fire Department Board, and was the driving force behind Wyoming’s first Firewise defensible space program. He loved Casper Mountain deeply, and the mountain carries his memory in a plaque at the Hogadon Ski Area lodge.
Sam had renewed his driver’s license just a month before he passed and he’d checked yes to organ, eye, and tissue donation.
In his honor, a memorial bench now stands as a place where others can sit, breathe, and remember.
“I felt so proud to know Sam had given such an amazing gift,” Laurie has shared. “Knowing this brought us so much peace and comfort that day.” Read more about Laurie’s story on our Stories of Hope page.
Donor Remembrance Day falls on April 30th, closing out National Donate Life Month with a moment of collective gratitude and tribute.
How to Honor a Donor Hero This April 30th
AOPO’s virtual Donor Hero Garden allows anyone to “plant” a forget-me-not flower in honor of a loved one who became a donor. It’s a symbol that their courage and generosity will never be forgotten. You can participate from anywhere and share your tribute using #DonorRemembranceDay on social media.
Other ways to get involved:
· Share your loved one’s story with someone who hasn’t heard it
· Register as an organ, eye, and tissue donor
· Contribute a quilt square to our Donor Family Quilt Project. Each square honors a loved one and becomes part of a larger tapestry representing the lives given and the legacies that live on
Grief doesn’t ask us to forget. It asks us to find new ways to remember. A necklace. A tattoo. A bench. A tree. A quilt square. A forget-me-not planted in a virtual garden.
However you choose to honor the donor heroes in your life this April 30th, we hope you know: the community is carrying them with you.
Join Donor Alliance staff and advocates as we proudly return for our second year sponsoring the Junior College World Series (JUCO) in Grand Junction, Colorado. Stop by our table to pick up Donor Alliance swag and learn more about the life-saving and healing impact of organ, eye, and tissue donation. Our team will be available on the first day of the tournament through the afternoon.
Be sure to watch the jumbo screen for Stories of Hope that highlight members of our community who have been touched by donation.
CASPER, Wyoming – Donor Alliance, the federally designated organ procurement organization serving Colorado and Wyoming, today announced the expansion of its “Check the Box” campaign into Wyoming. The campaign features University of Wyoming athletes encouraging residents to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors.
The comprehensive campaign will reach Wyomingites through digital advertising, social media, and community partnerships, all bringing to life the organization’s refreshed Rocky Mountain Strong brand concept. Residents will also see refreshed materials at WYDOT Driver Services locations, which is where over 90% of registered donors have made the lifesaving decision to become organ and tissue donors.
“The updated look and feel for our new campaign embodies the spirit of our community—the people of Wyoming truly are Rocky Mountain strong,” said Jennifer Prinz, president and CEO, Donor Alliance. “That strength, compassion, and willingness to show up for a neighbor, that’s exactly what checking the box ‘yes’ represents. Right now, nearly 100 Wyomingites are waiting for a lifesaving transplant. One simple decision can give them hope.”
To celebrate the rollout of the new campaign, throughout the month of April, which is also National Donate Life Month, Donor Alliance will host in-person events and ribbon cuttings at WYDOT Driver Services offices across the state to unveil the new campaign and honor the Driver Services employees who play a vital role in saving lives through donation every day.
“Organ donation is a selfless act that can give a family something priceless: more precious time with their loved one,” said WYDOT Director Darin Westby. “WYDOT is proud to support this cause, and we hope Wyoming drivers consider registering as donors next time they visit with us at Driver Services.”
The “Check the Box” campaign emphasizes that everyone can register to be an organ, eye and tissue donor, and when you check the box YES, one day you may save someone’s life. The campaign’s tagline, “Think Inside the Box,” underscores how one simple decision at Driver Services can create a ripple effect of hope. For every YES box checked, there are 75 neighbors who have a chance to heal. Someone who rides down the same streets. Roots for the same team. It’s simple for you, but life-changing for them.
Kelsi was 23 when doctors diagnosed her with adult idiopathic scoliosis and told her she’d eventually lose the ability to walk. Surgery was her only chance to live a normal life and a tissue donor was her best chance at a successful surgery.
Her pain was already debilitating, but with a curve that was increasing a degree each year, Kelsi was expected to have severe breathing problems by age 30. When she went in for surgery in November of 2011, her back was at a 45 degree curve in both the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.
Although the surgery came with no guarantees, Kelsi knew she had a good shot at an effective procedure and speedy recovery because of the gift she would receive from a donor, a gift from someone she would never meet. The surgery changed everything. Today, Kelsi is a mom to 2 kids, she was able to carry and chase them through their toddler years, and she now lives the kind of life she once worried might not be possible. That experience never left her. It shaped the way she sees the world and the way she gives back. Through her work with In Memoriam, a funeral home in Broomfield, Kelsi now helps families honor the lives of the people they love, telling stories that preserve memories and celebrate legacies. Saying yes to donation reaches further than we can see. Sometimes it helps someone stand taller. Sometimes it helps them build a life
“Going through with the surgery was the best thing I could have ever done,” she shared. “I think it’s safe to say that if I didn’t receive donor bone, I would be living a completely different life.”
April is National Donate Life Month, a national observance highlighting the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation. Flag-raising ceremonies bring awareness of what it means to be an organ donor and highlights the partnership between Donor Alliance and the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum.
