Organ Donation News - Sierra Donor Services

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Events

2025 Sierra Donor Dash Breaks Records with Heart, Hope, and...

April 16, 2025

The 2025 Sierra Donor Services Donor Dash 5K Run and Walk – also known as the Sierra Donor Dash – was an unforgettable morning filled with energy, emotion,...

Sierra Donor Services: April is National Donate Life...

April 8, 2025

Michael Coleman, Director of External Affairs, Sierra Donor Services who says April is National Donate Life Month, but our life-saving work occurs every day...

Sierra Donor Services Illuminates Mount Vernon Memorial Park and Mortuary to Honor Donate Life...

April 7, 2025

Sierra Donor Services hosted its 6th annual “Light Up Sacramento” event at Mount Vernon Memorial Park and Mortuary on April 3, 2025. The event...

Organ Donation is of Vital Importance to the Black...

March 27, 2025

The need for life-saving organ transplants is high in this nation’s Black communities. When compared to communities of other ethnicities and races, Blacks...

California faces organ donor shortage, Latino community in high...

March 17, 2025

Nearly 20,000 people in California are waiting for an organ transplant, according to Sierra Donor Services. The nonprofit began its work back in 1985 helping...

“No hay suficientes latinos”: aumenta necesidad de donantes de órganos en...

March 13, 2025

La necesidad de donantes de órganos ha aumentado y los más afectados son los hispanos, de acuerdo con Sierra Donor...

Sierra Donor Services Saves Lives by the Numbers in...

February 5, 2025

Sierra Donor Services (SDS) served 170 organ donor heroes whose gifts resulted in 425 lifesaving organ transplants in 2024. Every transplant, and the second...

Sierra Donor Services Engages Sacramento’s Asian American Community for Lunar New Year at Arden Fair...

February 4, 2025

In partnership with the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, Sierra Donor Services (SDS) participated in the vibrant Lunar New Year celebration at...

Sierra Donor Services promueve la donación de tejidos en “Que Sucede” // Sierra Donor Services Promotes Tissue Donation on “Que...

January 31, 2025

Para los que hablan español: Coordinador Senior de Asuntos Externos, Cristian Morales, estará en el aire el domingo a las 8am en “Que Sucede” con la...

Sierra Donor Services Joins Ms. Wanda’s Full Circle 97.5 for Black History...

January 31, 2025

Sierra Donor Services (SDS) is excited to kick off Black History Month with Ms. Wanda on Full Circle 97.5! In this segment, SDS Surgical Director Dr. Beau...

Scot Pollard’s heart was failing — and a new one wasn’t easy to...

January 28, 2025

A few weeks shy of both his 50th birthday and the one-year anniversary of the surgery that saved his life, Scot Pollard acknowledged he was never going to work...

Rest In Peace, Mother...

January 27, 2025

Late last year, a light went out in Sacramento’s African American community. Georgia Rose Peat West, affectionately known as “Mother Rose” by friends,...

Lunar New Year: A Time for Giving, a Time to Consider Supporting Organ & Tissue...

January 23, 2025

Lunar New Year is a time for celebration, family, and giving. It's also a time to reflect on the past and set future goals, embodying generosity through...

Sierra Donor Services Joins West Sacramento Kwanzaa Celebration to Encourage Organ, Eye and Tissue...

January 3, 2025

Sierra Donor Services recently brought the lifesaving impact of organ, eye and tissue donation to the 22nd Annual Kwanzaa Vendor Fair at the Center for...

West Sacramento Kwanzaa celebrations focus on helping...

January 2, 2025

The 22nd annual Kwanzaa vendor fair focused on helping people by highlighting local businesses and nonprofits. One nonprofit, Sierra Donor Services, promotes...

The Life-Saving Organ...

December 17, 2024

It was the type of heart transplant that might have been impossible a few years ago. A registered donor in her 20s was declared brain dead at UC Davis Medical...

Sierra Donor Services Spreads Holiday Cheer at Sacramento Ronald McDonald...

December 16, 2024

Sierra Donor Services (SDS) embodied the spirit of giving by spreading holiday cheer to families staying at the Sacramento Ronald McDonald House. With a deep...

Former Sacramento Kings Player Scot Pollard Promotes Organ...

December 12, 2024

Former Sacramento Kings player, Scot Pollard, has teamed up with Sierra Donor Services to raise awareness about the importance of organ, eye and tissue...

Grammy Award-Winning Artist Kenny G Supports Organ and Tissue...

December 10, 2024

Celebrated saxophonist and composer Kenny G has partnered with Sierra Donor Services to raise awareness about the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation...

Sierra Donor Services Encourages Community to “Be The Gift” That Saves...

December 6, 2024

As the holiday season approaches, Sierra Donor Services is urging residents in the greater Sacramento area to consider the profound gift of organ, eye, and...

Sierra Donor Services Celebrates Eye Donation Month: Transforming Lives Through the Gift of...

November 15, 2024

Sierra Donor Services Eye Bank is proud to observe Eye Donation Month this November, raising awareness about the profound impact of corneal donation and...

Sierra Donor Services Honors Donor Heroes at Día de los Muertos...

November 5, 2024

Sierra Donor Services (SDS) proudly participated in Souls of the City, Sacramento's largest Día de los Muertos event hosted by Sol Collective on October 26....

Sierra Donor Services Looks Back on Community Engagement in...

October 29, 2024

October was a busy month for Sierra Donor Services! We had an incredible time engaging with the community about organ, eye and tissue donation at a variety of...

Sierra Donor Services Awards New Scholarship to Capitol City Black Nurses Association...

October 24, 2024

Sierra Donor Services was proud to announce the inaugural Sierra Donor Services Lifesaver Nursing Scholarship for the Capitol City Black Nurses Association...

Embracing a Lifesaving Decision: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and the Gift of...

September 25, 2024

Sierra Donor Services is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by featuring stories of Hispanic and Latino organ, eye and tissue donor heroes, recipients and...

Sierra Donor Services Celebrates Diversity at 12th Annual Elk Grove Multicultural...

September 19, 2024

Sierra Donor Services was excited to return to spread the message of organ, eye and tissue donation at the 12th Annual Elk Grove Multicultural Festival held at...

Sierra Donor Services Honors Donor Heroes at 2024 Locks of Legacy...

August 19, 2024

Sierra Donor Services held its annual Locks of Legacy event on August 10, 2024 to honor the legacies of organ, eye and tissue donor heroes in our region....

Sierra Donor Services Joins Empowered Health Academy for Inaugural Nursing...

August 7, 2024

Sierra Donor Services was honored to join Empower Health Academy for their inaugural "Back 2 School Brunch for Aspiring Nurses" on August 4,...

Celebrating Diversity in Donation: Multicultural Donor Awareness...

July 29, 2024

Sierra Donor Services (SDS) is featuring stories of Sacramento area organ donation advocates in honor of National Multicultural Donor Awareness...

Sierra Donor Services Shares Meals and Support at the Sacramento Ronald McDonald...

July 17, 2024

As part of our ongoing efforts to give back to our community, Sierra Donor Services participated in a Staff Volunteer Day with the Sacramento Ronald McDonald...

Disability Pride Month: Asserting Freedom of Choice Through Organ, Eye & Tissue...

July 1, 2024

Contributed by Kyla Aquino Irving, Sierra Donor Services Senior External Affairs Coordinator July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate the rich...

Sierra Donor Services at the Sacramento Juneteenth...

June 27, 2024

Sierra Donor Services joined several other health and wellness organizations to address healthcare inequities for Black Americans at the Sacramento Juneteenth...

Celebrate Father’s Day & Juneteenth with a Lifesaving...

June 18, 2024

I’m a product of a not-very religious African American family with roots in Detroit and the deep south of Mississippi. When I was growing up, neither of my...

Love, Hope, Pride: Sierra Donor Services Celebrates Pride...

June 13, 2024

Sierra Donor Services (SDS) is celebrating Pride Month by featuring stories from our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus (LGBTQ+) community who...

Fathers for Life: Celebrating Father’s...

June 5, 2024

In honor of Father's Day, Sierra Donor Services is sharing stories of fathers whose lives have been touched by organ, eye and tissue...

Honoring Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage...

May 29, 2024

At Sierra Donor Services, AAPI Heritage Month is a time to raise awareness about the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation and the health disparities...

Studio40 Live – Sierra Donor Services...

May 14, 2024

Sierra Donor Services joined Gary Gelfand on Studio40 Live to talk about the need for AAPI donors during AAPI Heritage...

Celebrating Donate Life Month Across the...

May 3, 2024

Every year, Sierra Donor Services observes National Donate Life Month as a time to honor organ and tissue donor heroes, celebrate lifesaving transplants,...

April is National Donate Life...

April 26, 2024

April is National Donate Life Month, when organ donor families, transplant recipients, and the entire organ donation community celebrate organ donors and call...

Council Recognizes Donors, Names Planning...

April 26, 2024

The Elk Grove City Council recognized April as Donate Life Month, encouraging all residents to sign up to be an organ...

Fallen Sacramento police officer saves four lives with organ...

April 22, 2024

Encouraging organ donation has become a mission for Sacramento father Jess Chairez. It started with his son Joseph, a Sacramento police officer, back in...

Light Up...

April 10, 2024

Sierra Donor Services joined together with donor families, recipients and ambassadors to honor local donor heroes....

Roseville Donate Life...

April 8, 2024

Sierra Donor Services (SDS) received a proclamation from the City of Roseville last week in recognition of National Donate Life Month. It’s the first...

The White House issues Proclamation for National Donate Life...

April 8, 2024

I often say that we are a good Nation because we are a good people, and during National Donate Life Month, we are reminded of why that is true as we celebrate...

Man living with polycystic kidney disease describes his wait for a kidney...

March 20, 2024

Some people diagnosed with kidney disease can potentially have to wait for many years before being matched with a kidney donor. For more information or to...

Remembering Mollie...

March 18, 2024

Sierra Donor Services is saddened to hear that our beloved Donate Life Ambassador, Mollie Murphy, passed away. Mollie received a heart transplant at the age of...

Celebrating National Kidney...

March 12, 2024

March is National Kidney Month and to celebrate, we're highlighting influential individuals who were kidney patients, transplant recipients and donors....

Happy International Women’s...

March 8, 2024

To all the trailblazing women who have paved the way for progress, and to those who continue to champion equality and justice, Happy Women's Day! Your efforts...

Former NBA Center Celebrates Leaving Hospital 13 Days After Heart...

March 4, 2024

Two weeks after receiving a heart transplant, former NBA center Scot Pollard is going home....

Sierra Donor Services celebrates the Lunar New...

February 29, 2024

Sierra Donor Services joined the Sacramento Kings and fans to celebrate and honor the Chinese Lunar New Year during the game against the Denver Nuggets on...

Northern California Organ Donor Service Reaches Record Transplants in...

February 28, 2024

Over 20,000 patients are currently waiting for an organ transplant in California, but when it comes to the Sacramento region, transplant procedures just hit a...

A Message for Scot...

February 23, 2024

Five Sacramento area heart transplant recipients have created a social media video congratulating former NBA player, Scot Pollard, who just received a heart...

‘Ordinary Angels,’ Hilary Swank’s new movie celebrates the gift of...

February 21, 2024

“Ordinary Angels,” which hits theaters Feb. 23, tells the story of a determined hairdresser who rallies her community in Louisville, Kentucky, to save the...

AAPI Sacramento...

February 20, 2024

Sierra Donor Services (SDS) joined the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI Sacramento) at their 2nd Annual Gala in Sacramento on...

Kings Game: Black History Month...

February 19, 2024

During a recent Sacramento Kings game, Sierra Donor Services made a notable appearance to shine a spotlight on Black History Month. Their booth drew in a...

Celebrating Black History...

February 1, 2024

Sierra Donor Services celebrates Black History Month by sharing the personal stories of recipients, and donation champions and highlighting the importance of...

Sierra Donor Services reflects on their lifesaving achievements in...

January 19, 2024

In 2023, Sierra Donor Services reached incredible heights in organ and tissue donation and transplantation....

‘Waiting for a donor’: Former Kings center Scot Pollard reveals he needs heart...

January 12, 2024

Our thoughts extend to former Sacramento Kings player Scot Pollard, who recently shared that he is among over 3,000 individuals waiting for a lifesaving heart...

2024 OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade...

January 4, 2024

We rang in the New Year with a celebration of life, remembering our donor heroes Dakota Sams and Frederick Jones and their selfless...

Celebrating our Donate Life Ambassadors with a Holiday...

December 18, 2023

We had a fun and heartwarming event last night with the Donate Life...

Creating Holiday Magic at the Ronald McDonald...

December 14, 2023

Families gathered together at the Ronald McDonald House on Wednesday, December 13,...

Celebrating Our Partners for Filipino Community...

December 13, 2023

The Philippine Nurses Association of America California Capital City (PNAC3) Chapter aims to elevate the image, professionalism, unity and welfare of...

Taco Night at Ronald McDonald House : Meals from the...

December 7, 2023

We had an incredible evening at the Ronald McDonald House in Sacramento last night. The Ronald McDonald House is a ‘home away from home’ for families who...

Native American Heritage...

December 1, 2023

Sierra Donor Services honored organ, eye and tissue donors at the Sacramento Kings vs the LA Clippers game on Wednesday, November 29 to celebrate Native...

Native American Heritage...

November 16, 2023

Native American Heritage Month is celebrated each year in November. It is a time to celebrate the traditions, languages and stories of Indigenous people and...

Renown Birth Tissue...

November 8, 2023

Sierra Donor Services recently celebrated four years and over 1000 birth tissue donations with Renown Regional Medical Center. The birth tissue program focuses...

National Donor...

November 7, 2023

Donor Sabbath is an annual nationwide observance, celebrated on November 10-12 this year, which aims at increasing awareness about the lifesaving gift of...

Sierra Donor Services honors Día de Los Muertos at Sacramento Kings...

October 31, 2023

Sierra Donor Services honored organ, eye and tissue donors at the Sacramento Kings vs Los Angeles Lakers game on Sunday, October 29. The theme for the evening...

#BeTheGift Donor Dash 5K...

October 24, 2023

With their capes flowing, more than 315 super participants answered the call of the 3rd Annual #BeTheGift: Donor Dash 5K Run/Walk! Thanks to our runners,...

Sierra #BeTheGift Donor Dash...

October 17, 2023

Sierra Donor Services is proud to host its 3rd Annual #BetheGift: Donor Dash, celebrating organ, eye, and tissue donation by recognizing donors, transplant...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness...

October 16, 2023

No matter who you are or where you live, breast cancer has impacted your life in some way. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which aims to promote...

Guest Blog: Rhonda Smith on National Multicultural Donor Awareness...

August 25, 2023

Contributed by Rhonda Smith, Executive Director of the California Black Health Network Background August is National Minority Donor Awareness Month (NMDAM),...

Happy Multicultural Donor Awareness...

August 9, 2023

Join us as we highlight stories from a variety of diverse communities and individuals whose lives have been saved and improved by donation and transplantation!...

Disability Pride & Organ...

July 20, 2023

For generations, those with disabilities have been misunderstood and marginalized. Disability Pride Month serves to celebrate the disabled community and the...

#BeTheGift Connections: Supporting Burn...

June 22, 2023

In this month’s edition of #BeTheGift Connections, we highlighted the efforts of the Firefighters Burn Institute. This Sacramento-based nonprofit...

More Life Academy: A Tuition-Free Private School Making a...

June 21, 2023

More Life Academy is a tuition-free, private K-12 school accredited through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Founded in 2015 by Pastor Richard...

Access Sacramento & Sierra Donor Services Discuss Organ, Eye, and Tissue...

June 2, 2023

(Left) Sierra Donor Services External Affairs Director, Kyla Aquino-Irving (Right) Access Sacramento Host, Ray Tatar Access Sacramento, a nonprofit public...

Donate Life California Legislative...

May 30, 2023

Senator Irwin and Donate Life California staff pictured with Sierra Donor Services Staff and Ambassadors along with Staff and Ambassadors from Donor Network...

The HOPE Act: Organ Donation Equity & The LGBTQ+...

May 30, 2023

Did you know that being HIV positive doesn’t disqualify you from becoming an organ donor? The HIV Organ Policy Equity Act (HOPE Act) was signed into law...

Honoring Asian American Pacific Islander...

May 25, 2023

Kay Sakamoto Roseville Police Community Service Officer and Donor Hero Community Service Officer Kay Sakamoto lived a life of service as a community...

The Struggle is Renal: Understanding Kidney Health and...

March 21, 2023

Did you know that 88% of the people on the California organ waitlist are waiting for kidneys? Learn about disparities in kidney health from medical...

Sierra Donor Services Saves 301 Lives and Breaks Heart, Lung and Pancreas Transplant Records in...

March 2, 2023

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — Sierra Donor Services announces a record-breaking year for organ and tissue donation. Organ Procurement Organizations, including SDS,...

The gift of life: Heart, kidney recipients share transplant success, encourage organ...

February 14, 2023

February 14 marks Valentine's Day. However, many people may not know it is also National Organ Donor...

Sierra Donor Services Partners with MediGO and Trinity Medical Solutions to Support Safe and Timely Organ...

January 4, 2023

Sacramento organ recovery organization using top GPS technology and transportation service to ensure the timely arrival of far-traveled organs for...

Organ Donation And Transplantation Records Set For The Second Consecutive Year In Northern...

January 4, 2023

Sierra Donor Services Announces Helping Save More Lives Than Ever...

Organ donors and recipients discover life and community en route to New Year’s Day Rose...

January 4, 2023

Some donors never told their families they had registered to become an organ donor so the news came as a complete surprise to loved ones who spoke...

Sierra Donor Services Is Leveraging Telepathology For OPOs From Specialist Direct To Save...

January 4, 2023

Sierra Donor Services, a division of DCI Donor Services, is utilizing Specialist Direct’s Telepathology for Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) to...

Honoring Hispanic Organ...

January 4, 2023

Service hosted to honor the generosity of Hispanic organ, eye and tissue donors, for Hispanic Heritage...

A shortened life with a lasting...

January 4, 2023

Nancy and Steve Streeter with their son, Nathan, who died on March 31 at the age of 31 and saved two lives thanks to his decision to donate his organs and...

PD Editorial: Give the gift of life in the new...

December 30, 2022

If you want to help save lives, organ and blood donors always are in...

‘The best gift’: Family of Santa Rosa native who died after crash donates his...

December 22, 2022

Giving life to others “gave us something to hold on to — the feeling that something good could come out of this tragedy,” Mariah Brandt...

Bridging the Gap to Life: A Multicultural Donor Awareness Month...

August 11, 2022

Did you know in California and Nevada nearly 78% on the organ waiting list are people of color? Although waiting for a lifesaving organ is common among...

Sierra Donor Services

news & events

2025 Sierra Donor Dash Breaks Records with Heart, Hope, and...

Sierra Donor Services: April is National Donate Life...

Sierra Donor Services Illuminates Mount Vernon Memorial Park and Mortuary to Honor Donate Life...

Organ Donation is of Vital Importance to the Black...

California faces organ donor shortage, Latino community in high...

“No hay suficientes latinos”: aumenta necesidad de donantes de órganos en...

Sierra Donor Services Saves Lives by the Numbers in...

Sierra Donor Services Engages Sacramento’s Asian American Community for Lunar New Year at Arden Fair...

Sierra Donor Services promueve la donación de tejidos en “Que Sucede” // Sierra Donor Services Promotes Tissue Donation on “Que...

Sierra Donor Services Joins Ms. Wanda’s Full Circle 97.5 for Black History...

Scot Pollard’s heart was failing — and a new one wasn’t easy to...

Rest In Peace, Mother...

Lunar New Year: A Time for Giving, a Time to Consider Supporting Organ & Tissue...

Sierra Donor Services Joins West Sacramento Kwanzaa Celebration to Encourage Organ, Eye and Tissue...

West Sacramento Kwanzaa celebrations focus on helping...

The Life-Saving Organ...

Sierra Donor Services Spreads Holiday Cheer at Sacramento Ronald McDonald...

Former Sacramento Kings Player Scot Pollard Promotes Organ...

Grammy Award-Winning Artist Kenny G Supports Organ and Tissue...

Sierra Donor Services Encourages Community to “Be The Gift” That Saves...

Sierra Donor Services Celebrates Eye Donation Month: Transforming Lives Through the Gift of...

Sierra Donor Services Honors Donor Heroes at Día de los Muertos...

Sierra Donor Services Looks Back on Community Engagement in...

Sierra Donor Services Awards New Scholarship to Capitol City Black Nurses Association...

Embracing a Lifesaving Decision: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and the Gift of...

Sierra Donor Services Celebrates Diversity at 12th Annual Elk Grove Multicultural...

Sierra Donor Services Honors Donor Heroes at 2024 Locks of Legacy...

Sierra Donor Services Joins Empowered Health Academy for Inaugural Nursing...

Celebrating Diversity in Donation: Multicultural Donor Awareness...

Sierra Donor Services Shares Meals and Support at the Sacramento Ronald McDonald...

Disability Pride Month: Asserting Freedom of Choice Through Organ, Eye & Tissue...

Sierra Donor Services at the Sacramento Juneteenth...

Celebrate Father’s Day & Juneteenth with a Lifesaving...

Love, Hope, Pride: Sierra Donor Services Celebrates Pride...

Fathers for Life: Celebrating Father’s...

Honoring Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage...

Studio40 Live – Sierra Donor Services...

Celebrating Donate Life Month Across the...

April is National Donate Life...

Council Recognizes Donors, Names Planning...

Fallen Sacramento police officer saves four lives with organ...

Light Up...

Roseville Donate Life...

The White House issues Proclamation for National Donate Life...

Man living with polycystic kidney disease describes his wait for a kidney...

Remembering Mollie...

Celebrating National Kidney...

Happy International Women’s...

Former NBA Center Celebrates Leaving Hospital 13 Days After Heart...

Sierra Donor Services celebrates the Lunar New...

Northern California Organ Donor Service Reaches Record Transplants in...

A Message for Scot...

‘Ordinary Angels,’ Hilary Swank’s new movie celebrates the gift of...

AAPI Sacramento...

Kings Game: Black History Month...

Celebrating Black History...

Sierra Donor Services reflects on their lifesaving achievements in...

‘Waiting for a donor’: Former Kings center Scot Pollard reveals he needs heart...

2024 OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade...

Celebrating our Donate Life Ambassadors with a Holiday...

Creating Holiday Magic at the Ronald McDonald...

Celebrating Our Partners for Filipino Community...

Taco Night at Ronald McDonald House : Meals from the...

Native American Heritage...

Native American Heritage...

Renown Birth Tissue...

National Donor...

Sierra Donor Services honors Día de Los Muertos at Sacramento Kings...

#BeTheGift Donor Dash 5K...

Sierra #BeTheGift Donor Dash...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness...

Guest Blog: Rhonda Smith on National Multicultural Donor Awareness...

Happy Multicultural Donor Awareness...

Disability Pride & Organ...

#BeTheGift Connections: Supporting Burn...

More Life Academy: A Tuition-Free Private School Making a...

Access Sacramento & Sierra Donor Services Discuss Organ, Eye, and Tissue...

Donate Life California Legislative...