FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Jennifer Bailey 303-329-4747, Donor Alliance contact
Erich Kirshner 303-320-7790, Media contact
Heidi Heltzel 303-475-0127, American Transplant Foundation contact
GOVERNOR, SENATOR, AND MAYOR JOIN FORCES TO SAVE LIVES
Officials advocate organ and tissue donation during National Donate Life Month
Denver—April 3, 2006—More than 1,600 people in Colorado and Wyoming are currently waiting
for a life-saving organ transplant.
To help communicate this need and encourage people to sign-up to be donors, Donor Alliance
and the American Transplant Foundation have enlisted the support of Colorado Governor Bill
Owens, United States Senator Ken Salazar and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper throughout the
month of April, National Donate Life Month.
To celebrate National Donate Life Month, donor registry drives will be held at three Denver
landmarks; Larimer Square, the State Capitol and the Blair Caldwell Library in the Five Points
neighborhood. In addition to registering to be a donor, the public is invited to attend these drives
to learn more about organ and tissue donation, blood donation, bone marrow donation, and living
donation.
Special appearances by Mayor Hickenlooper, Governor Owens, and Senator Salazar will be on
the following dates/times:
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Monday, April 10th at 11:30 a.m. -- Mayor Hickenlooper in Larimer Square
Monday, April 17th at 10 a.m. -- Governor Owens in the Capitol’s West wing
Monday, April 24th at 9 a.m. -- Senator Ken Salazar at the Blair Caldwell Library
“We’re delighted that Governor Owens, Mayor Hickenlooper and Senator Salazar have agreed to
join us this month and reach out to the community to stress the importance of signing-up to be an
organ and tissue donor,” said Sue Dunn, Donor Alliance president and CEO. “When someone
makes the decision to become an organ and tissue donor, their gift has the potential to save and
enhance the lives of as many as 100 people.”
Heidi Heltzel, executive director of the American Transplant Foundation said, “There is nothing
more heroic than saving someone’s life, and all you need to do is sign-up. It’s that simple. We’re
eager for the public to join our state’s political leaders to give the gift of life and, at the same time,
learn more about organ and tissue donation.”
You don’t have to wait to attend the drives to sign-up to be an organ and tissue donor!
You can register by:
 Visiting ColoradoDonorRegistry.org or WyomingDonorRegistry.org;
 Saying ‘yes’ to donation when you obtain or renew your driver’s license;
 Contacting Donor Alliance at (303) 329-4747;
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About Donor Alliance
Donor Alliance is the federally designated non-profit organ procurement organization serving Colorado and
Wyoming. As a recognized leader in facilitating the donation and recovery of transplantable organs and
tissues, Donor Alliance’s primary objectives are to save and enhance the lives of others. To achieve these
objectives, Donor Alliance employs an effective family approach and recovery programs in over 100
hospitals, and increases the awareness of the need for organ and tissue donation through public awareness
and education campaigns in its service area. For more information, please visit www.DonorAlliance.org.
About American Transplant Foundation
The American Transplant Foundation is a national 501©3 non-profit organization that strives to eliminate our
country’s shortage of human transplant organs. Based in Denver, Colorado, the American Transplant
Foundation is participating in coordinated collaborative efforts to promote the advancement of organ
transplants. By promoting awareness, developing better publicly supported legislation and increasing
funding for research and science, the Foundation’s efforts will facilitate elimination of the gap between the
critical demand for organs and their supply, thus saving lives every day. For more information please visit
www.AmericanTransplantFoundation.org.