Join us this April 2023 as we #ShineALight for National Donate Life Month!
This April is the 20th Anniversary of National Donate Life Month. Established by Donate Life America and its partnering organizations in 2003, Coloradans and Wyomingites join the national effort to honor the generosity of our heroic donors and their families, celebrate with the recipients, and acknowledge the nearly 1,500 of our neighbors who await lifesaving transplants.
Tony Young pictured with his donor’s mother.
This year the campaign of #ShineALight returns. #ShineALight was inspired by one of Donor Alliance’s Advocate for Life volunteers, Tony, a heart and kidney recipient. Tony received his lifesaving gifts in March of 2020. For more than two years, Tony, lit two candles for his “Angel Donor” in honor of their gift of life. In those two years, Tony did not know his donor’s identity. After posting his sign on a social media, Tony received a message that he had been waiting for since his transplants. In 2022, Tony was able to meet his Donor’s mom, Robin. With that, he got to learn about his heroic angel donor, Sicily, and has developed a relationship with his new extended family. The tradition continues, but now the candles burn every evening in honor of Sicily. Without the generosity of heroic donors and their families, people like Tony would not have a second chance at life.
We are proud that Colorado and Wyoming are two of the most supportive states in the country when it comes to signing up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor. Yet there are still nearly 1,500 people in our area waiting for a lifesaving transplant. That’s why we are asking all Coloradoans and Wyomingites to shine a light on the importance of registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor when you obtain or renew your driver license. We have a plan to distribute more than 278 #ShineALight Kits in our community. Last year, because of the generosity of the 278 donors, Donor Alliance was able to provide 829 lifesaving transplants.
Free #ShineALight kits are available today! Learn more on DecidingOnDonation.org. The kit includes a battery-operated candle, a “I Shine A Light For…” sign, and instructions how to join us for the month of April.
If more than 1,500 of us shine a light in their window at home or on their desk at the office, it will inspire other to register. One donor can save up to 8 lives through organ donation and save and heal more than 75 lives through tissue donation. If we shine a light on the need to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor, thousands of our neighbors could be saved and healed by the gift of life. Join us and #ShineALight this April. Here’s how you can help:
#ShineALight Free Kit
Join all in the community who will be shining a light and showing support for organ, eye and tissue donation. Why did we choose 278? This number represents 278 organ donors in 2022.
- Request a FREE Lighting Kit for your home or office. (Includes candle and #ShineALight sign)
- Write in bold marker the name of the person you #ShineALight for this April.
- Place a battery-operated candle and your sign in your window or on your desk for the month of April.
National Blue & Green Spirit Week
Easy Ways YOU Can Show Your Support:
Blue & Green Spirit Week from April 8th to April 14th, supporters of organ, eye and tissue donation across our region will celebrate National Blue & Green Day as part of National Donate Life Month!
Join us at the 2nd Annual National Donate Life Lighting Event
At the City and County of Denver Building on April 13th at 6:45.
Wear your best blue & green Donate Life colors! From socks, to t-shirts, to bracelets and tutus – it’s time to get creative to show your support for organ, eye and tissue donation.
Be sure to post your photos on social to inspire others to #ShineALight on organ, eye and tissue donation too! Consider sharing your photo on your social media as well and tagging us @DonateLifeColorado or @DonateLifeWyoming using #ShineALight.
Check out activities to do with your family and enter the Lava Lamp Giveaway. National Blue & Green Spirit Week is a great opportunity to show your support for organ, eye and tissue donation.
If you have questions about donation, you can read up on the facts. You can also sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor anytime online at Donate Life Colorado or Donate Life Wyoming.
