Donor Alliance is supporting the Mexican Cultural Center as we celebrate the Day of the Child with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and the Mexican Cultural Center on Sunday, Apr. 28! Our staff, Transplantation Science educators and volunteers will have a booth with fun educational activities!
In addition to FREE general admission for all visitors, the celebration will include special performances, music, and activities for the entire family. Día del Niño guests can also enjoy 50% off admission to the temporary exhibition “Orcas: Our Shared Future” and 50% off admission to Infinity Theater and Gates Planetarium showings throughout the day.
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The Proclamation project for National Donate Life Month started again in 2022 with a goal of raising awareness about the importance of registering as an organ, eye, and tissue donor in as many localities throughout the Donor Alliance service area as possible. What is a Proclamation? It is a formal public statement typically issued by a mayor, city official, or governor to recognize the importance of a community for an event or major national observance. Some proclamations are often read during regular meetings or sessions. Please join the Donate Life State team member, Chris Klug Foundation as Snowmass Village proclaims April As National Donate Life Month.
The Proclamation project for National Donate Life Month started again in 2022 with a goal of raising awareness about the importance of registering as an organ, eye, and tissue donor in as many localities throughout the Donor Alliance service area as possible. What is a Proclamation? It is a formal public statement typically issued by a mayor or governor to recognize the importance of a community for an event or major national observance. Some proclamations are often read during regular meetings or sessions. Please join us in Fort Collins Mayor Jeni Arndt proclaims April as National Donate Life Month. In addition, Fort Collins will light up city buildings in blue and green in honor of the event.
Organ Procurement Organizations are there to Walk Alongside Those who have Made the Decision to Give the Gift of Life
Organ Procurement Organizations, or OPOs, are not-for-profit organizations the federal government designates to recover organs for transplantation from those who have passed away.
As one of 56 federally designated organ procurement organizations in the United States, Donor Alliance manages the third largest region in the country – Colorado and most of Wyoming. Within that region, there is a lot of ground to cover. Donor Alliance serves more than 6.3 million residents and more than 100 hospitals. Given Donor Alliance serves such a large geographical area, it’s crucial the organization continues to find ways to increase opportunities for donation.
History of Organ Procurement
In 1968, the Southeast Organ Procurement Foundation (SEOPF) was formed as a membership and scientific organization for transplant professionals. As a result of the group forming, SEOPF implemented the first-ever computer-based organ matching system in 1977, which they called the “United Network for Organ Sharing.” Creating an organ matching system had the potential to dramatically increase the number of lives saved. Additionally, SEOPF established the Kidney Center in 1982 to provide round-the-clock support for placing donated organs. This later became the UNOS Organ Center.
In 1984, U.S. Congress passed the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA). Congress passed NOTA to address the organ donation shortage and improve the organ matching process. The act established the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) to maintain a national system to match organs and individuals. The act also called for the network to be operated by a private nonprofit under federal contract. The United Network for Organ Sharing currently operates the OPTN for HRSA.
Today, the U.S. system for organ donation and recovery is among the best in the world. As a result of innovation and continuous improvement, more patients in need of an organ transplant than ever have received the gift of life.
What Donor Alliance does as an Organ Procurement Organization.
During a difficult time, when a person has a life ending injury and is connected to ventilated support, Colorado and Wyoming hospitals contact Donor Alliance to evaluate if donation is possible. Donor Alliance talks with the family about donation, giving the gift of life, and/or honoring their loved one’s decision. A nationwide database then quickly identifies the best match for an organ recipient for transplantation. 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.
Always People First
The work of Organ Procurement Organizations is crucial and includes many other support services. These include providing assistance to donor families and educating hospital staff about the importance of donation for transplantation. The waitlist does not wait. There are nearly 100,000 people in the U.S. currently waiting to receive a lifesaving transplant. Those on the waitlist depend on the work of OPOs across the country to facilitate donation and ensure these lifesaving gifts are safely provided to transplant centers in a timely manner..
How to Register as an Organ Donor
One person can save up to eight lives through organ donation, and it is easy to register to be an organ donor. Say Yes the next time you go to the DMV to obtain or renew your driver license/state ID. You can also register anytime at DonateLifeColorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org. When you register, you are providing hope to the nearly 1,300 people in our community waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant.
Donor Alliance Recognized as a 2024 Best Place to Work in Denver
6th year Denver Business Journal has recognized the organization
DENVER—March 20, 2024 — Donor Alliance, the nonprofit organization that facilitates organ and tissue donation in Colorado and most of Wyoming, has been recognized as a 2024 Best Place to Work by Denver Business Journal in the extra-large company (150-299 employees) category. This is the 6th time Donor Alliance has been recognized as a Best Place to Work.
“The Denver business community recognizing our organization as one of the best places to work 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.”
The Denver Business Journal works with Quantum Workplace to identify the region’s Best Places to Work. Results were then determined through an online survey of employees by Quantum Workplace. The survey measured each organization’s culture, from benefits to trust in leadership. Responses were compiled, evaluated, and ranked by Quantum based on the composite score. The 2024 list includes 65 companies from across the Denver metropolitan area. The full rankings will be revealed on April 26 at an awards celebration.
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, 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 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. In addition, the organization maintains partnerships with hospitals and manages the donor registries in the region, Donate Life Colorado and Donate Life Wyoming, 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.
2024 Top Workplace Culture Excellence Award Winner for Being People-First Organization
DENVER—March 20, 2024 — Donor Alliance, the nonprofit organization that facilitates organ and tissue donation for transplantation in Colorado and most of Wyoming, has been selected as a winner of the 2024 Top Workplaces USA national award. Energage is a technology company that determines the Top Workplace award and has a 17-year history of surveying and celebrating people-first organizations nationally and across 60 regional markets.
“We’ve always known our team at Donor Alliance is extraordinary. Our staff’s dedication to going above and beyond every day to save and heal lives in the Rocky Mountain region is truly inspiring,” said Jennifer Prinz, president and CEO of Donor Alliance. “Being recognized on a national level validates our commitment to fostering a supportive, rewarding, people-first culture. An engaged and empowered workforce is essential to fulfilling our critical mission to maximize the gift of life. It motivates us to maintain a culture where our team feels valued, respected, and heard.”
The Top Workplaces USA national award is open to U.S. organizations with150 or more employees. Participating companies are evaluated on employee feedback that Energage captures in a confidential, research-based engagement survey.
Donor Alliance is a recognized leader in its industry and fosters a mission-driven culture through its core values: Integrity, Leadership, Excellence, Accountability and People First. In addition to traditional employee benefits and other offerings like a wellness program, bilingual program, tuition reimbursement, and student loan repayment, Donor Alliance 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, 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 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. In addition, the organization maintains partnerships with hospitals and manages the donor registries in the region, Donate Life Colorado and Donate Life Wyoming, 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.
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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/Donate Life Colorado and Saint Mary’s Regional Hospital.
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/Donate Life Colorado and Denver Health Medical Center.