Shining A Light On Donation: Colorado And Wyoming Celebrate National Donate Life Month By Lighting Up Area Hospitals

Hospital lightings and other events throughout the month of April allow Colorado and Wyoming residents and organizations to "show their heart" in support of organ, eye and tissue donation

News provided by

Donor Alliance

Mar 28, 2019, 10:00 ET

DENVER, March 28, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- This April, in celebration of National Donate Life Month, Donor Alliance will join hospitals across Colorado and Wyoming for the #ShowYourHeart Project, which shines a spotlight on organ donation with new, engaging light displays and flag raising events throughout the month of April. Participating hospitals across Colorado, and Wyoming will be awash with blue and green lights throughout National Donate Life Month to raise awareness for organ and tissue donation.

Community members are encouraged to view the #ShowYourHeart Illumination Light Displays and attend a nearby flag raising event. The public is also invited to decorate hearts with personalized messages of inspiration to show appreciation for those who have signed up to become organ, eye and tissue donors and inspire others to consider such an act of generosity. The community can share pictures on social media of their decorated hearts and local hospital lightings with #ShowYourHeart, and share their stories of why organ, eye and tissue donation is important to them.

Decorated hearts can be saved and redeemed for free promotions. Participants can simply take their decorated heart, or show the heart on their driver license, to a participating restaurant or movie theater for special discounts. To find a list of participating partners, and more details on the #ShowYourHeart Project visit: DonorAlliance.org/National-Donate-Life-Month-Show-Heart-Project.

Flag raising ceremonies, occurring at hospitals across Colorado and Wyoming, are a special opportunity for a handful of residents directly impacted by donation to honor donors and raise awareness for donation. Former Denver Bronco and Super Bowl 50 champion Ryan Harris will participate in a flag raising event at UCHealth Transplant Center on Thursday, April 4 at 11:00 a.m. Harris' father is a kidney transplant recipient. For more information on the hospitals participating in flag raising ceremonies and lighting events, including a map showing the participating hospitals throughout Colorado and Wyoming, visit: http://bit.ly/NDLMMap

"This year's #ShowYourHeart Project is a celebration of the heroes in communities across Colorado and Wyoming who recognize and share the far-reaching impact of organ, eye and tissue donation," said Sue Dunn, president and CEO of Donor Alliance. "As roughly 2,000 people in our community await a lifesaving transplant, we know that raising awareness and encouraging more residents sign up to be donors is critical. National Donate Life Month is a time to pause and reflect that the gift of life is precious."

On National Blue and Green Day on April 12, Colorado and Wyoming residents are encouraged to illuminate their support, by switching a lightbulb in their home or office to blue or green in an effort to promote the success of organ, eye and tissue transplantation, honor those heroes who have given the gift of life and highlight the need for registered donors. Just change your normal outdoor lights with blue or green options to join in the fun. Share a picture on social media using #ShowYourHeart to help raise awareness and give hope to the 2,000 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant in Colorado and Wyoming.

Businesses are also invited to take part in supporting the cause by switching their lights, displaying educational materials like fliers, posters, PSAs and more. Interested organizations can access a toolkit of ready-to-produce materials at http://www.donoralliance.org/NDLM/.

Donor Alliance is the federally designated nonprofit that facilitates organ and tissue donation in Colorado and most of Wyoming. For more information about organ and tissue donation, please visit DonorAlliance.org. To sign up to become an organ, eye and tissue donor, please visit DonateLifeColorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org.

The full list of hospitals participating in this year's #ShowYourHeart Illumination Light Displays is:

About Donor Alliance
Donor Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation. As the organ and tissue procurement agency for Colorado and most of Wyoming, Donor Alliance serves more than 5.8 million residents and more than 100 hospitals.

Donor Alliance adheres to the highest medical, regulatory and ethical standards, and meets every performance standard. By respectfully working with the families of organ and tissue donors, maintaining partnerships with hospitals, educating residents on the life-saving benefits of donation and inspiring them to sign up on the state's donor registry, Donor Alliance is able to save lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Colorado and Wyoming boast some of the highest rates of donor registration in the country, which directly translates to more lives saved and healed through organ and tissue transplantation. Donor Alliance is one of 58 federally designated organizations of its kind in the United States. For more information visit DonorAlliance.org or the Donate Life Colorado or Donate Life Wyoming Facebook pages.