Teresa and Jess Chairez, Donor Hero Family. Photo courtesy of Sierra Donor Services

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 to Oct. 15), Sierra Donor Services (SDS) is honoring the vital contributions of Latino donor heroes, transplant recipients and community leaders who are helping advance the mission of organ, eye and tissue donation across California.

"Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to recognize the incredible cultural richness and impact of Latino communities," said Sean Van Slyck, Chief Executive Officer of Sierra Donor Services. "We're proud to work alongside Latino advocates and organizations that are driving awareness and saving lives through organ donation."

People of color make up 80 percent of the state of California’s organ transplant waiting list, and nearly half identify as Hispanic or Latino. These communities remain significantly underrepresented on the donor registry. Factors such as language barriers, cultural beliefs and distrust of the health care community often contribute to the gap.

To help address this disparity, Sierra Donor Services partners with 44 hospitals across Northern California and Nevada to support organ and tissue donation with compassion and cultural sensitivity. These institutions are vital in serving diverse communities, including many Hispanic families who face disproportionate health challenges and rely on access to life-saving transplants. Together, Sierra Donor Services and their partners work to ensure equitable care, honor donor legacies and save lives across all communities they serve.

“I am living proof that organ donors save lives,” said Elizabeth Arteaga-Ortega, a heart and kidney transplant recipient. “I’m alive today because someone said ‘yes’ to donation. That decision gave me a second chance.”

Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, Sierra Donor Services is launching a series of outreach efforts aimed at increasing donor registration and building trust within Latino communities:

"Historias de Esperanza", a social media campaign, highlights powerful personal stories from Latino donors, transplant recipients and community advocates to raise awareness and celebrate lives saved through donation.

The community partnership initiative means collaborating with organizations such as the National Association of Hispanic Nurses – Sacramento Chapter, Sol Collective and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to share culturally relevant education materials and help community members register as organ and tissue donors.

Sierra Donor Services continues to strengthen connections with local Hispanic media outlets, including Radio Lazer, La Ranchera Radio, Telemundo, and Radio Santísimo, to amplify donation awareness and outreach.

As Sierra Donor Services celebrates its 40th anniversary, their team encourages all Californians, especially those in underrepresented communities, to consider joining them in saving and improving lives by registering as organ, eye and tissue donors at Donevida.org.

Founded in 1985, Sierra Donor Services is a federally designated, mission-driven nonprofit organ procurement organization (OPO) dedicated to saving and improving lives through organ and tissue donation. Serving over 2.8 million people across 13 counties in Northern California and Nevada, SDS is part of a national network supporting donation efforts in Tennessee and New Mexico. For more information, or to register as a donor, visit SierraDonor.org.