DonorConnect

The Trees of Diversity Exhibit features trees decorated to represent different countries, ethnic backgrounds, and traditions. DonorConnect is honored to participate this year with a tree representing all of those impacted by organ, tissue, and eye donation. The exhibit is open at the Pilar Pobil Celebration Gallery at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley today until Dec. 31.

🎉 Big news - We’re growing at DonorConnect! Please welcome from left to right: Bryce English - IT Support Specialist I Kendra Hawker - Organ Donation Coordinator I Rachel Houck - Strategic Development Advisor Janel Justice - Tissue Recovery Coordinator I Dustin Schroeder - Business Intelligence Analyst Randy Lowenadler - IT Support Specialist I Their contributions will play a key role in driving our continued growth and innovation at DonorConnect. We’re grateful they chose to be part of our journey and can’t wait to see the impact they’ll make. Welcome to the team! 

DonorConnect hosted a Día de los Muertos Candlelight Vigil at the Celebration of Life Monument in downtown Salt Lake City. Attendees were invited to place photos and personal mementos of their loved ones on the ofrenda, surrounded by the warm glow of candles and marigolds. Guests decorated luminaries with heartfelt messages while enjoying pan de muerto, aguas frescas, and atole. Music filled the monument as families and friends gathered to remember their loved ones and honor the donor heroes who gave the gift of life. The evening concluded with a powerful traditional Aztec dance and drum performance by Miktlanzihuatl Salt Lake Utah symbolically guiding visiting spirits back to the afterlife. - DonorConnect organizó una Vigilia de Velas del Día de los Muertos en el Monumento a la Celebración de la Vida, en el centro de Salt Lake City. Los asistentes fueron invitados a colocar fotos y recuerdos personales de sus seres queridos en la ofrenda, rodeados por el cálido resplandor de las velas y los cempasúchiles. Los invitados decoraron luminarias con mensajes llenos de sentimiento mientras disfrutaban de pan de muerto, aguas frescas y atole. La música llenó el monumento mientras familias y amigos se reunían para recordar a sus seres queridos y honrar a los héroes donantes que dieron el regalo de la vida. La velada concluyó con una poderosa presentación tradicional de danza y tambores aztecas a cargo de Miktlanzihuatl Salt Lake Utah, que simbólicamente guió a los espíritus visitantes de regreso al más allá.

DonorConnect’s last candlelight vigil, meant to honor donor heroes who gave the gift of life, was hosted on Dia de los Muertos. An ofrenda displaying photos of deceased loved ones also featured marigols, called cempasùchil flowers in Nahuatl. The smell of the flowers, which is very distinct, is meant to guide loved ones home. Take a look at the moving vigil through this video. - El último homenaje de DonorConnect con velas encendidas, realizado para honrar a los héroes donantes que dieron el regalo de la vida, se llevó a cabo durante el Día de los Muertos. Una ofrenda con fotografías de seres queridos fallecidos también presentaba flores de cempasúchil, conocidas en náhuatl como cempasùchil. El aroma de estas flores, tan distintivo, se cree que guía a los seres queridos de regreso a casa. Mira este emotivo homenaje en el siguiente video.

DonorConnect is launching the DonorConnect Foundation, a “philanthropic arm” to the organization. Foundation Program Director Franny Johnson and Executive Director Chuck Zollinger appeared on FOX 13’s The PLACE with Jenny Hardman to discuss the launch. “It’s going to enable us to enhance and amplify the services that we already provide our donor families in the community,” Franny told Jenny. “That means more outreach, more education, and more impact at the end of the day.” On top of this new foundation, DonorConnect will have a new facility constructed in Murray. Chuck told Jenny that this location will include a community event space and a donor memorial plaza. “It’s going to provide an opportunity for us to amplify our mission in a different way,” Chuck said. Watch the full segment here: https://lnkd.in/ggvTsY8P

This weekend, DonorConnect team members made an ofrenda and art display for the Utah Cultural Celebration Center’s Día de los Muertos Celebración 2025. The exhibit is open Oct. 21 through Nov. 6, allowing attendees to learn about the history and tradition of Día de los Muertos. "DonorConnect’s ofrenda is a tribute to the generous donors and their families who gave the gift of life through organ, tissue, and eye donation. Inspired by the traditions of Día de los Muertos, this altar honors their memory and celebrates the lives they continue to touch through their selfless gifts. At the heart of this exhibit stands the Tree of Life, symbolizing how love, generosity, and hope continue to grow beyond loss. Each branch represents lives renewed and connections that remain rooted in gratitude and remembrance." - "Nuestra ofrenda es un tributo a los generosos donantes y sus familias que dieron el regalo de la vida a través de la donación de órganos, ojos y tejidos. Inspirada en las tradiciones del Día de los Muertos, este altar honra su memoria y celebra las vidas que continúan tocando con su acto de amor y generosidad. En el centro de esta exhibición se encuentra nuestro Árbol de Vida, símbolo de cómo el amor, la esperanza y la gratitud siguen creciendo más allá de la pérdida. Cada rama representa vidas renovadas y recuerdos que permanecen profundamente enraizados en el corazón."

🎉 Exciting News at DonorConnect! 🎉 Please join us in giving a warm welcome to our newest team members! 👏 Aimee Barker - Credit Card and Expense Coordinator 👏 Octavio Castillo - Tissue Recovery Coordinator We’re thrilled to have both Aimee and Octavio on board and look forward to the impact they’ll make at DonorConnect! 💚 #WelcomeToTheTeam #DonorConnect #NewHire

Last week, DonorConnect unveiled a tribute plaque at the Springville, Utah DLD (Driver License Division) honoring the donor Algernon "Algee" Baxter. Manager of Public Education/Public Relations Brady Dransfield spoke at the event, informing members of the public about the importance of organ, tissue, and eye donation. These tribute plaques, which can be found in DLDs all across Utah, share the stories of those impacted by donation — honoring the memories of donors alongside the gift of life that has saved many transplant recipients. DonorConnect hopes that those who come to the DLD to renew their license see these impactful plaques and realize how important one "yes" can be.

🌟 We’re Hiring at DonorConnect! 🌟 DonorConnect is growing, and we’re looking for passionate, mission-driven individuals to join our team. We have multiple open positions across different departments, offering the opportunity to make a real impact in the lives of others. 👉 Explore our current openings and apply today: https://lnkd.in/ggD-hei If you or someone you know is ready to be part of meaningful work, we’d love to hear from you!

Every year, DonorConnect shows recognition for DLD (Driver License Division) employees during September, National DLD Appreciation Month. This year, DonorConnect Community Liaison Jane visited each DLD throughout Utah to give the employees personal gift bags with a magnet, keychain, pen, sticker, chapstick, bracelet, and cookie. While visiting the West Valley DLD, DonorConnect even had the opportunity to meet and chat with a transplant recipient, who shared her story. DLDs are where most people register to become a donor, and DonorConnect is incredibly grateful for the partnership with each and every employee who takes time to educate the public about donation.