Shining a Light on Donation: Colorado & 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 #ShowYourHeart in support of organ, eye and tissue donation

#ShowYourHeart light at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs

Photo courtesy UCHealth Memorial Hospital – Colorado Springs

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 and tissue 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’s 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 at 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 https://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.

Photo courtesy Penrose Hospital

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

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