In the Rocky Mountain region, we are no strangers to formidable terrain. The peaks that define our horizon are symbols of both immense challenge and breathtaking possibility. In 2025, that sentiment perfectly captures the grit, resilience, and unwavering commitment required to navigate the complexities of the past year.

The national landscape for Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) has never been clearer. Nationally, there is a need for increased transparency and standardized donation protocols across the US. OPOs have faced significant external pressure, intense media scrutiny, legislative shifts, and new federal regulations. While these conversations are important and necessary for the evolution of our field, they often overshadow the successful work of the majority of OPOs and frontline donation teams, as well as the profound generosity of the donor and donor families served across the US.

In 2020, Donor Alliance chose to remain focused on performance excellence and our organization’s vision to maximize all donation opportunities throughout Colorado and Wyoming. In doing so, we set an outcome goal to maximize the gift of life by increasing organ transplantation by 65% by 2025. I am proud to say that we achieved that remarkable milestone. In 2025, we facilitated 1,036 organ transplants, made possible by honoring 314 organ donors and 1,880 tissue donors who said YES to the gift of life.

Donor Alliance has remained steadfast in our commitment to excellence. We have proactively taken the lead, working collaboratively with the nation’s regulators and legislators to help shape a more effective and accountable system. We are leading the way in innovation, using technologies such as Normothermic Regional Perfusion (NRP) to maximize the viability of donated organs and improve transplant outcomes. Our partnership with Ossium Health has also allowed us to recover bone marrow from deceased donors, expanding access to this critical form of treatment for blood cancers and other diseases in ways previously thought impossible. These advancements, alongside our support for 10 active research and NIH-funded projects, are contributing to national efforts to improve transplantation outcomes and save and heal more lives.

In our communities, we participated in more than 150 events, with the continued support of our 158 passionate volunteer advocates. We gathered for the 26th annual Donor Dash, where 5,000 participants honored donors, celebrated recipients, and strengthened our shared purpose.

As we move into 2026, the mountains ahead remain steep, and we will continue to ensure that Donor Alliance remains at the forefront of a more equitable, transparent, and efficient system. For Donor Alliance, trust, safety, transparency, and performance are not just words; they are our promise to the more than 1,300 neighbors in Colorado and Wyoming currently waiting for a second chance at life. Donor Alliance is committed to leading innovation that makes saving more lives a reality while maintaining the highest standards of safety and ethical practices.

To our partners and advocates: your dedication enables us to continue climbing. Together, we are proving that no challenge is too great when we move with purpose, integrity, and a shared commitment to the gift of life.

To our donor families: your courage is the compass that guides us. Honoring your loved one’s gift of life is of the utmost importance to me personally and to our entire Donor Alliance team.

Thank you for standing with us as we continue moving mountains.