Programs
National Donate Life Month Awareness Programs
April is National Donate Life Month. During this past April, the American Transplant Foundation was the proud recipient of a tribute from the Colorado General Assembly for our leadership role in promoting organ and tissue transplants.
Transplant Advisory Mar. 13, 2006 (WORD DOC)
Additionally, the American Transplant Foundation organized a series of donor registration drives during the month of April. The purpose of the drives was to educate and raise awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation. Three drives were held in partnership with the Donor Alliance, the federally designated organ procurement organization for Colorado.
The first drive was held in Denver’s Larimer Square on Monday, April 10, 2006, with both Congresswoman Diana DeGette (Denver) and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper speaking at two separate press conferences. At the State Capital the following Monday, April 17th, Governor Owens spoke to the press about the need to support organ and tissue donation. The next week, Senator Ken Salazar was our keynote speaker at a press conference at the Blair Caldwell African American Research Library in Five Points in Denver. Each of these registration drives and press conferences was aired on major news networks and can be viewed on our media page.
Latino Community Education and Outreach Program
The American Transplant Foundation has initiated coordinated partnerships with local groups to promote targeted education and awareness of organ and tissue transplants in the Latino community. With our partners, the Donor Alliance, the American Diabetes Association of Colorado and the Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, we have implemented the first joint community outreach effort during Hispanic Heritage Month (mid-September to mid-October).
Our community outreach efforts are showcased at the Fiesta de las Patrias, the Mexican Independence Day festival, held at Civic Center Park in downtown Denver. At this festival, which draws an estimated 50,000 participants, together we provide Spanish and English educational materials and giveaways, while the American Diabetes Association provides free diabetes screenings.
African American Educational Program
Through a newly formed African American Strategic Outreach Committee (AASOC), the American Transplant Foundation is in the process of developing targeted and strategic outreach efforts to promote education and awareness on organ and tissue transplants in the African American community.