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In the Community

Running Strong

Donor Dash 2023

For 24 years in Colorado and three years in Wyoming, Donor Alliance has managed the Donor Dash 5K to honor the gifts from organ and tissue donors and their families, celebrate alongside recipients who received a second chance at life, and recognize those in our community who continue to wait for a lifesaving organ transplant.

Colorado

Colorado’s annual Donor Dash event drew more than 4,200 participants from 46 states with one-third of them first-time dashers. New to the program in 2023 was an outdoor video board called the “Dashboard”. Attendees were encouraged to submit photos to share their gratitude and continue the legacy of a donor’s gift of life. The event also featured an inaugural ribbon ceremony to recognize the supporters, living donors, donor families, recipients and those still waiting on a transplant list.

Wyoming

The Wyoming Donor Dash drew 320 participants to the Tate Pump House in Casper. The program was very impactful with local ER nurse, Lori Gutierrez, sharing her kidney transplant story. Donor Alliance’s Advocate for Life, Pattei Schutte, also connected people to the mission through her granddaughter’s journey as a double lung recipient and tissue donor.

Licensed to Inspire

Wyoming Unveils Donate Life WY License Plates

Young heart transplant recipient Bryson Quinney and his father, Eric Quinney, led the grassroots efforts with the support of Donor Alliance  to launch a new Donate Life Wyoming license plate in 2023. The bill was sponsored by Senator(s) Wendy Schuler, Fred Baldwin, and Dan Furphy, and Representative(s) Dalton Banks and Sandy Newsome. With his powerful testimony to the Transportation Committee, Bryson played a pivotal role in passing the legislation.  Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon confirmed his commitment to the importance of donation by signing the bill on March 2, 2023.  

Communities Get Behind Donation

Donate Life Community Program Grows

2023 was a monumental year for Donor Alliance’s Donate Life Community Program. Donate Life America created the program in 2022 to save and heal lives and create a culture where donation is embraced. The Donate Life Community initiative aims to inspire select localities to work with Donor Alliance to raise awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation with their community’s residents through education and donor registration opportunities.

City of Aurora Deepens Commitment to Raising Awareness of Donation

The City of Aurora became the first Donate Life Community in Colorado and the second in the nation. Aurora is the most diverse city in Colorado and one of the state’s largest, offering an opportunity to provide resources and education. In 2023, with the help of the enthusiastic support of Aurora’s Mayor Mike Coffman, city council, and city employees, Donor Alliance engaged with residents to educate them about the importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation at several events:

  • A Donate Life Gift Box was prominently displayed at the Aurora Holiday Tree Lighting. Staff engaged with more than ten thousand residents.
  • Donor Alliance partnered with Aurora Library and Cultural Services and the International Affairs and Immigrant Services Department. to reach multicultural residents.
  • A grassroots effort is underway with partnerships including The Village Exchange Center, Amigos de México, and Aurora Public School that support the Hispanic community.

Colorado Becomes the First “Donate Life Community” State

In a strong display of commitment, the Colorado State Government declared its support for organ, eye, and tissue donation by becoming the nation’s first Donate Life Community state. The state's leadership in becoming a Donate Life Community underscores the government's recognition of the profound impact organ, eye, and tissue donation can have on those in need, fostering a sense of community and collective responsibility towards healthier communities.

The state’s official proclamation was announced during National Donate Life Month in April where Colorado Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera participated in a lighting ceremony at the Denver City and County Building in recognition of the cause.

“Colorado has an incredible legacy of success in donation and transplantation, and we lead the nation with more people signing up to become potential donors than any other state,” said Dianne Primavera, Lieutenant Governor of Colorado. “Today we are recommitting to this mission by spreading greater awareness about the importance of donation and making it a statewide priority for years to come.”

Wyoming Declares Itself a ‘Donate Life Community’ State

Shortly following Colorado’s proclamation, Wyoming also said “yes” to becoming a Donate Life Community. In September 2023, Governor Mark Gordon signed an official proclamation to state Wyoming’s support for promoting awareness around organ, eye, and tissue donation.

Donor Family Tribute

Donor Alliance hosted its annual Donor Family Tribute in April 2023. This invite-only event brought together nearly 800 attendees, including 180 donor families, to honor the lives and legacies of their loved ones. The event featured inspiring speakers and a photo tribute to recognize each donor.

Celebrating DMV Partners Making a Difference

In fall 2023, to support National DMV Appreciation Month, Donor Alliance recognized our driver license partners across Colorado and Wyoming through local events, outreach, and award presentations to celebrate the work of remarkable DMV team members. The dedication of the staff at the DMV play a crucial role in fostering the level of registration seen in the Rocky Mountain region.

In Colorado, Electra Bustle, Senior Director for the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles, Department of Revenue, leads the dedicated staff including Heather Moncy. Moncy  was one of multiple employees Donor Alliance recognized in 2023 for the DMV Appreciation Award due to her outstanding work and dedication to raising awareness of organ, eye, and tissue donation at the Grand Junction Driver License Office. Heather's connection to the cause is deeply personal. Following the passing of her husband in a car crash, she made the courageous decision to donate his lifesaving and healing gifts. Heather understands firsthand the power behind the question, “Do you want to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor?” With a heart on their license, she encourages people to make their decisions known.

In Wyoming, Driver Services Deputy Program Manager(s) Misty Zimmerman and Renee Kocina lead the effort. Their employees go above and beyond every day, including Laura Steege at the Cheyenne office who Donor Alliance recognized in 2023. Laura connects customers to the mission of organ and tissue donation through “Cayde’s Corner”. Cayde was a double lung recipient from Cheyenne who passed away in 2018 and was able to enjoy an additional five years with her family, thanks to her donor’s lifesaving and healing gifts.