11th year nonprofit organization recognized for purpose and values
DENVER—May 1, 2024 — Donor Alliance, the nonprofit organization that facilitates organ and tissue donation for transplantation in Colorado and most of Wyoming, has been recognized as a 2024 Colorado Top Workplace by The Denver Post. This is the 11th time Donor Alliance has been recognized as a Top Workplace.
“Recognizing our organization as one of the top workplaces in Colorado is an honor that truly reflects the dedication and passion of our entire team and acknowledges Donor Alliance’s commitment to creating a culture that fosters collaboration, innovation and growth,” 
said Jennifer Prinz, president and CEO, Donor Alliance. “Every day our staff and volunteers make a profound difference in the lives of people throughout our region. It is incredibly meaningful to know that our staff feels valued, supported, and empowered to do their best work, which ultimately helps us fulfill our mission to save and heal lives.”
Being a Top Workplace serves as a badge of honor, as feedback from employee engagement surveys determine which companies are recognized. The Denver Post works with Energage on identifying Top Workplaces across the state of Colorado. The survey uniquely measures the employee experience and its component themes, including employees feeling Respected & Supported, Enabled to Grow, and Empowered to Execute, to name a few.
As a recognized leader in organ and tissue donation, Donor Alliance fosters a mission-driven culture through its core values: Integrity, Leadership, Excellence, Accountability and People First. In addition to traditional health benefits and other offerings like a wellness program, bilingual program, tuition reimbursement, and student loan repayment, Donor Alliance also offers employees a much more meaningful mission – the opportunity to save and heal lives every day. For more information on Donor Alliance’s culture or careers, please visit DonorAlliance.org/Who-We-Are/Careers.
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 120 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. In addition, the organization manages the Donate Life Colorado and Donate Life Wyoming registries, which are symbols of the cause. When someone has the little heart with the Y on their driver license or state ID, it means they have joined the Donate Life registry. Through Donate Life, Donor Alliance educates residents on the lifesaving benefits of donation to inspire them to register. For more information, please visit DonorAlliance.org.
Transplantation Science Donor Alliance photos by Valeria Moonch Photography
Donor Alliance’s Transplantation Science will be on display at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science in partnership with the Mexican Cultural Denver. Donor Alliance joins Mexican Cultural Center celebration to honor of children. With the help of the Transplantation Science program, children and their families are introduced to the many ways sciences are enjoyable and educational.
Annual 5K run/walk honors, celebrates & recognizes those impacted by donation
CASPER, Wyo. – April 20, 2024 – Today, Donor Alliance, the nonprofit organization that facilitates organ and tissue donation for transplantation in most of Wyoming and Colorado, hosted its annual Wyoming Donor Dash with more than 330 Wyomingites at Tate Pumphouse. Supported by Banner Wyoming Medical Center and Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank, the annual 5K run/walk is held in April during National Donate Life Month to raise awareness about the importance of donation.
The 2024 Wyoming Donor Dash honored heroic organ and tissue donors and their families, celebrated the lives of transplant recipients, and recognized those who continue to wait for a lifesaving and healing transplant. Currently, nearly 150 Wyomingites are waiting for an organ transplant and thousands more are in need of a tissue transplant, which provides hope to those suffering from injury, disease, trauma or blindness.
“It’s remarkable to see the number of lives saved and healed in Wyoming through the gift of life,” said Jennifer Prinz, president and CEO, Donor Alliance. “Last year, the generosity of 307 heroic organ donors across Wyoming and Colorado provided 918 organ transplants. In addition, 1,703 tissue donors in the region provided more than 100-thousand tissue grafts to those in need. Wyomingites understand the importance of helping their neighbors and helping their community when they say, ‘yes’ to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at Driver Services.”
At the 2024 Wyoming Donor Dash, Donor Alliance was honored to host Casper residents Cary Galvin, donor sister, and heart recipient, Jason Wynia. Both Cary and Jason are Donor Alliance advocate for life volunteers who connect Wyomingites to the mission by sharing their stories to inspire residents to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor.
- Cary Galvin, donor sister: Cary’s younger brother, Michael, passed away in 2016 after suffering a brain aneurysm. His death was completely unexpected, and his family was left with sudden, overwhelming grief, but during the darkest time of their lives, there was one bright spot. Michael was able to save five lives with the donation of his lungs, heart and kidneys.
- Jason Wynia, heart recipient: Jason received a heart transplant in 2010 after having an unusual strain of pneumonia that led to congestive heart failure. Following his transplant, Jason was on the road to a full recovery within a matter of weeks. He’s thankful every day and works to honor his donor by keeping their memory alive, lending a helping hand whenever he can.
“At Banner Health, we’ve seen firsthand the incredible impact organ, eye and tissue donation can have on the lives of those in our community like Cary and Jason. Because of that impact, Wyoming Donor Dash is much more than just a race; it serves as a powerful symbol of hope and a celebration of life.” said Lance Porter, CEO, Banner Wyoming Medical Center. “As we come together to honor the generosity of heroic donors and their families, we are also reminded of the many patients still waiting on a transplant. Raising awareness of the importance of donation and the critical need for more donors is a community effort, and together, we can make a profound difference.”
Throughout April, Wyomingites have been coming together to share the importance of Donor Alliance’s mission of saving and healing lives. Cities and towns have been proclaiming April as “Donate Life Month”. Famous local spots including the iconic oil derrick and the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center on the University of Wyoming campus have been illuminated in blue and green, the colors of Donate Life. Many hospitals and organizations across the region have also been raising Donate Life flags to honor the gift of life. For more information, please visit DonorAlliance.org/ndlm.
About Donor Alliance
Donor Alliance is a nonprofit 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 120 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.
In addition, the organization maintains partnerships with hospitals and manages the Donate Life Colorado and Donate Life Wyoming donor registries, which are symbols of the cause. Through Donate Life, Donor Alliance educates residents on the lifesaving benefits of donation, inspiring them to register. For more information, please visit DonorAlliance.org.
Celebrating National Volunteer Week: Embracing the Power of Service
As National Volunteer Week unfolds, Donor Alliance is reminded of the profound impact of volunteering through its Advocates for Life volunteer program. Donor Alliance advocate volunteers are the heart and soul of its efforts to inspire people about the importance of registering as organ and tissue donors in Colorado and Wyoming. Let’s delve deeper into the essence of volunteering and honor those who selflessly serve their communities.
Defining Volunteering: A Commitment to Service
Volunteering encapsulates many acts, both simple and profound, that embody the spirit of service. From lending a hand to a colleague on a project to devoting hours each week to support children’s education, volunteering spans a spectrum of generosity. At its core, volunteering means offering oneself for the betterment of others—a sentiment beautifully captured by the dictionary definition of the term.
Reflecting on our own volunteerism prompts introspection. How do we contribute to the welfare of others? It could be as monumental as making the decision to register as an organ and tissue donor, which impacts all communities. One person can save up to eight lives through organ donation and save and heal up to 75 lives through tissue donation. This leaves an enduring legacy of compassion and generosity after you pass.
Advocating for Change: The Power of Volunteerism
Within the realm of volunteering lies advocacy—a potent force for driving societal change. Donor Alliance’s Advocates for Life volunteer program embodies this, uniting individuals with diverse backgrounds and shared passion for promoting organ, eye, and tissue donation. Through the program, those impacted by donation and transplantation volunteer to connect people to the mission by sharing their stories. The Advocates for Life program includes donor families, transplant recipients, waitlist candidates, and supporters of the cause to exemplify the transformative power of collective action.
Each year, Donor Alliance Advocates for Life devote thousands of volunteer hours to champion the mission of saving and healing lives through organ and tissue donation for transplantation. From grassroots events to public speaking engagements, their tireless efforts amplify the message and inspire people to register as an organ and tissue donor.
Join the Movement: Become an Advocate for Life
Are you drawn to the noble cause of donation and transplantation? Do you believe in the power of volunteerism to effect change? Donor Alliance invites you to join its Advocates for Life Program and become part of a community dedicated to saving and healing lives. Your support is invaluable, and together, we can provide hope to the nearly 100,000 people across the United States waiting for a lifesaving and healing organ transplant today. There are also tens of thousands of more people in our community who could benefit from a healing tissue gift. Each year, tissue transplants help those suffering from injury, disease, trauma or blindness.
Let’s celebrate National Volunteer Week! Get involved and help us continue our vital work. Click here to embark on your journey as an Advocate for Life volunteer. The waitlist does not wait. Together, let’s create a culture in our communities where donation is embraced.
Behind the Spotify Playlist
Music has a way of connecting us all. In April, Donor Alliance, the nonprofit that facilitates organ and tissue donation for transplantation in Colorado and most of Wyoming, created a Spotify playlist for National Donate Life Month.
The playlist gives people an opportunity to listen to songs those connected to organ and tissue donation hold near to their hearts. For some, it’s their loved one’s favorite song who was a donor. For others, the song connects them to their transplant journey.
For Kristen Adcock, the song “My Hero” by the Foo Fighters reminds her of her son, Connor, who was a tissue donor. She added the song to the Spotify playlist as a tribute to him.
“’My Hero’ was Connor’s favorite song by his favorite band. It’s a song about an ordinary person being a hero,” said Kristen. “To me, organ and tissue donors are just ordinary people who are heroes. Connor is my hero.”
Kristen now has a tattoo with part of the song’s lyrics on her arm. She displays it with pride, knowing Connor’s legacy has not been forgotten. His lifesaving and healing gifts helped more than 50 people. Each year, tissue transplants provide hope to people suffering from injury, disease, trauma or blindness.
After Connor passed, Kristen joined Donor Alliance as an advocate volunteer, connecting people to the mission through her story and inspiring Coloradans to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor. Given Kristen’s clinical background and her passion about Donor Alliance’s mission to save and heal lives, she was hired as a donation consultant for the organization. Through her role, Kristen maintains Donor Alliance’s partnerships with hospitals in the Denver-Metro area.
About National Donate Life Month
Since 2003, Donor Alliance and the nation have been observing April as National Donate Life Month to raise awareness about the importance of donation. It’s also a month to honor the heroic donors and their families, like Connor, who said “yes” to organ, eye, and tissue donation. Nearly 1,300 people in Colorado and Wyoming are currently waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant in our community, and thousands more are in need of a lifesaving and healing tissue transplant.
Raising a Donate Life flag is the cornerstone of National Donate Life Month. When a donation occurs in a hospital, a Donate Life flag is often flown to honor the gift of life. During April, this cornerstone event expands beyond the hospital to include the entire community to raise a flag in unity, remembrance, and support. Cities and towns have also proclaimed April “Donate Life Month” to highlight the importance of registration to save and heal more lives in our communities. Locations across Colorado and Wyoming are illuminated in blue and green, the colors of Donate Life, including the Denver City & County Building and the Colorado State Capitol.
Donor Alliance encourages people to shine their own light at home to help raise awareness this month. You can request a free #ShineALight kit at DonateLifeColorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org. The kit comes with a candle and sign to display in your window to highlight the need in our communities. This year, Donor Alliance is distributing 307 kits to honor the 307 heroic donors last year who provided more than 900 lifesaving organ transplants.
In 2023, there were also nearly 1,700 tissue donors who provided more than 100,000 tissue grafts to those in need.
How is Donor Alliance involved with National Donate Life Month?
Donor Alliance is a federally designated organ procurement organization – one of 56 in the United States. Donor Alliance honors a donor’s decision to give the gift of life and walks alongside the family during the organ recovery process to ensure their loved one’s gifts are safely received at transplant centers in a timely manner. Our organization also recovers tissue to save and heal more lives across our community. Additionally, Donor Alliance manages the Donate Life Colorado and Donate Life Wyoming registries. Through Donate Life, the symbol of the cause, Donor Alliance educates and inspires the community about the importance of registering to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor.
How can you provide support to those on the waiting list?
You can register to be an organ, eye and tissue donor by saying Yes, the next time you obtain or renew your driver license/state ID or register today at DonateLifeColorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org. The little heart with the Y on your driver license means you have joined the Donate Life registry. 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. So, it’s important to also discuss your decision with your family. During a difficult time, families have told Donor Alliance they found comfort knowing their loved one’s decision.
Donor Alliance and its advocate volunteer, Tony Young who is a heart and kidney recipient, appeared on 9NEWS in the 4pm newscast to raise awareness for National Donate Life Month. Donor Alliance encourages people to order a free #ShineALight kit this month to highlight the need at DonateLifeColorado.org.
