In the Community

There’s a moment at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that holds more power than most people realize. Between updating an address and snapping a new photo, you’re asked a simple question: Do you want to join the Donate Life Colorado registry to be an organ, eye and tissue donor? For the more than 1,300 people in our region waiting for a lifesaving transplant, that small box means hope, healing, and a second chance at life. Through this campaign, Donor Alliance strives to inspire and educate the community, ensuring everyone understands the profound meaning behind that decision.

“Checking the Box” is not just a formality; it’s a powerful, legally recognized decision to help others after your life. It’s a commitment that can save up to eight lives and heal or enhance the lives of 75 more.

In November 2025, Donor Alliance launched its ‘Check the Box’ campaign, a community-wide effort to inspire more Coloradans to say YES to organ, eye and tissue donation at the DMV. The campaign brings together prominent voices from across the state, including former Denver Broncos player and NFL Super Bowl champion Ryan Harris alongside local college athletes. The message is simple but powerful: for every box checked YES, 8 neighbors’ lives could be saved and 75 more could have a chance to heal.

The “Check the Box” campaign is a testament to the generosity and compassion of Coloradans and Wyomingites and a compelling reminder that moving mountains doesn’t always require a grand gesture. Sometimes, it starts with a single checkmark.

Tanner Vogel loved baseball from the moment he could swing a bat. From T-ball at age 2, to Little League, college ball, and eventually coaching, the game was woven into the fabric of who he was. His first Colorado Rockies game at just 5 years old—where he chased the team’s mascot, Dinger, all the way to an elevator just to get his autograph—is a memory his mother, Allison, still recalls with a smile. But it was another moment, a decade later, that would define Tanner’s legacy forever. At just 15 years old, upon receiving his driver’s permit, Tanner made the quiet and courageous decision to register as an organ and tissue donor, a small heart on his license that would go on to save and heal the lives of more than 120 people.

In May, Donor Alliance partnered with the Colorado Rockies to host “Donate Life Night” at Coors Field, a special evening that brought together community spirit and a powerful message, raising awareness about the lifesaving impact of organ and tissue donation. It was at this event that Allison stood on that same pitcher's mound where her son had dreamed of playing and threw out the first pitch to honor Tanner and every life he’d touched through organ and tissue donation.

Donor Alliance, a proud sponsor of the Colorado Rockies, helped make the moment possible and used it to shine a spotlight on the Coloradans still waiting for a lifesaving transplant.

The 2025 Wyoming Donor Dash, an annual 5K run/walk hosted by Donor Alliance and supported by Banner Wyoming Medical Center and Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank, shattered previous attendance records with more than 600 participants. Held each year during National Donate Life Month in April, the event raises awareness about the life-changing impact of organ and tissue donation and the strength of a community united behind it.

Among those sharing their stories at the event was Ashlee Ferre of Casper, whose powerful testimony reminded every attendee why showing up matters. Ashlee spoke about her son, Jace, who became an organ and tissue donor at just 7 years old. Her words moved the crowd and reinforced what the Wyoming Donor Dash is truly about: honoring those we’ve lost, celebrating those who’ve been given a second chance, and inspiring those who have the power to make a difference with one simple, yet profound decision.

Saving lives is a mission that knows no boundaries, and in 2025, Donor Alliance worked tirelessly to ensure that the life-changing message of organ, eye and tissue donation reached every corner of Colorado’s vibrant multicultural communities. Through more than 30 activities, including community presentations, sponsorships, collaborations, and information tables, Donor Alliance strengthened relationships and maintained a consistent, trusted presence in multicultural communities across the region.

Central to that effort has been a growing network of consulate partnerships. Building on established relationships with the Guatemalan and Mexican consulates in Denver and Aurora, Donor Alliance expanded its reach in 2025 by establishing a new connection with the Salvadoran Consulate and opening conversations with the Peruvian and Honduran consulates. Some of the year’s most powerful moments came through events like Aurora Back to School, Día del Niño, Global Fest, and Día de Muertos altar celebrations, as well as flag-raising ceremonies during National Donate Life Month at the Mexican and Guatemalan consulates.

Spanish-language media coverage throughout the year—combined with fully translated Spanish materials as part of the “Check the Box” campaign—helped ensure that the message of donation reached Latino families in a meaningful and culturally resonant way. For the hundreds of Latino Coloradans currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant, these connections aren’t just community outreach: they are symbols of hope and support.

In 2025, the University of Wyoming’s Student Organ Donation Advocates (SODA) chapter made a meaningful impact through their commitment to educating and inspiring their peers about the lifesaving importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation. Led by medical students Toran G. and Lexi K., the chapter hosted on‑campus tabling events that sparked thoughtful conversations and encouraged students to “Check the Box.” Their enthusiasm extended beyond campus as well. The group volunteered at the University of Wyoming Donate Life Night football game, helping elevate donation awareness to a much larger audience. Through their advocacy, compassion, and leadership, the SODA chapter strengthened the Donate Life mission across the University of Wyoming and the broader Wyoming community.

In 2025, Donor Alliance reimagined its Transplantation Science curriculum from the ground up, transforming a paper-based program into a dynamic, iPad-based learning experience for middle and high school students across Colorado and Wyoming. The updated curriculum now includes Spanish-language translation, video testimonials from donors and recipients, and authentic learning materials like cornea samples and bone grafts, making the science of donation tangible and real for young people.

In its first full year, the updated program reached more than 13,000 students. Before completing the curriculum, 42% of students held misconceptions about donor eligibility. Afterward, that number dropped to 17%, proof that education has the power to save lives.

Each July, thousands of Coloradans—donors, recipients, donor families, advocates, and supporters—lace up their shoes and come together for one shared purpose: to honor the lifesaving gift of organ, eye and tissue donation.

The 26th annual Donor Dash was made even more meaningful by our inaugural flag bearers—two advocates whose stories of courage and gratitude embody the spirit of the event.

Amy Connell, a tissue recipient and registered nurse, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and received tissue during her reconstructive surgery. Now more than 10 years cancer-free, Amy credits that gift with helping her heal, and dashed to honor her donor.

Doug French, a liver recipient, lived with hepatitis C for decades before his illness ultimately led to him needing a transplant. In 2015, a heroic donor gave Doug a second chance at life.

Together, Amy and Doug carried the flag as a testament to the power of donation.