More than 940 life-saving transplants in 2024 due to heroic organ donors & their families
For the tenth consecutive year, Donor Alliance has reached a life-changing milestone in its mission to save and heal lives through organ and tissue donation across Colorado and most of Wyoming. In 2024, the selfless generosity of 311 organ donors from the region led to 947 life-saving organ transplants, marking a 1.3% increase over the previous year.
"The Donor Alliance team remains deeply committed to honoring donors and their families while saving and healing lives through organ and tissue donation for transplantation across Colorado and Wyoming," said Jennifer Prinz, President and CEO of Donor Alliance. "These outstanding results reflect the strong collaboration and dedication between our staff, hospitals, transplant centers, and volunteers. We are profoundly grateful to those who make the heroic decision to give the gift of life through organ and tissue donation."
For Lori Pratt of Aurora, Colorado, Donor Alliance honoring her son’s heroic choice to become an organ and tissue donor has been a significant source of comfort and healing. After his passing, Jerico saved the lives of four people through organ donation, ensuring his legacy lives on.
“I've been fortunate to have contact with his heart recipient and learn how organ donation changed his life,” said Lori. “No matter how big or small your contributions are, they make a difference through organ and tissue donation. The impact you are making on a stranger's life is monumental.”
In addition to the lives saved through organ donation, there was a 9.2% increase in tissue recovered for transplantation in 2024. Donor Alliance honored the lives of 1,860 tissue donors and their families by recovering lifesaving and healing tissues, which provided more than 140,000 tissue grafts to those in need. Each year, tissue transplants provide hope to tens of thousands of people suffering from trauma, disease, or blindness.
Also in 2024, Donor Alliance’s on-site recovery center, a specialized organ and tissue recovery facility, freed up more than 3,000 hours – or 125 days – of hospital operating room space. Donor Alliance's recovery center is a pivotal part of the organ donation process, equipped with three operating rooms, a donor care unit, a family room, a donor resource center, and state-of-the-art equipment. Of the 55 organ procurement organizations in the United States, Donor Alliance was among the first to utilize the on-site recovery center model when it opened in 2011. This center ensures a compassionate environment while significantly improving efficiency throughout the organ donation process.
Nearly 1,300 people across Colorado and Wyoming continue to wait for a lifesaving organ transplant. One person can save up to eight lives through organ donation and save and heal up to 75 lives through tissue donation. For more information or to register as an organ and tissue donor, please visit DonorAlliance.org.
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 55 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 Donate Life Colorado and Donate Life Wyoming 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.
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Contacts
Media Contact:
Heather Burke, Donor Alliance
720-689-9379
hburke@donoralliance.org