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. Logo courtesy of Sierra Donor Services

 

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) – Sierra Donor Services (SDS) honored the extraordinary generosity of Northern California and Nevada donor heroes whose gifts made 422 lifesaving organ transplants possible in 2025, saving and improving lives across the state and beyond.

In 2025, 170 generous organ donor heroes said yes to donation, giving hope to patients waiting for a second chance at life. In addition, Sierra Donor Services facilitated 855 tissue donations and provided support to over 1,200 donor hero family members, honoring their loved ones’ legacies through compassionate care and ongoing bereavement support.

“I am deeply grateful to the Californians who chose to register as organ donors and, in doing so, gave the extraordinary gift of life. Their generosity and selflessness ripple through the communities we serve, making our work possible and transforming countless lives. They are the true heroes among us,” says Sean Van Slyck, chief executive officer of Sierra Donor Services.

Every lifesaving gift is made possible by the compassion of donor heroes and their families, the dedication of Sierra Donor Services team members, and the commitment of community partners who raise awareness and encourage Californians to register as donors.

Sierra Donor Services is one of California’s federally designated organ procurement organizations (OPOs) responsible for the 24/7 coordination of organ and tissue donation for over 2.8 million people in Northern California and Nevada. This work includes supporting families during moments of profound grief, caring for donor heroes, coordinating recovery surgeries, ensuring the safe and timely transport of organs to transplant hospitals, and providing long-term support for donor families.

“I watch in awe as our team continues to overcome significant obstacles while working around the clock to make every lifesaving gift possible for our donor heroes and patients awaiting transplants,” says Van Slyck. “I am so incredibly proud of our staff, and we will continue our lifesaving mission in 2026.”

Across the nation, the United States continues to lead the world in organ donation and transplantation, surpassing 49,000 organ transplants in 2025 – an average of more than 130 transplants each day.

Despite this progress, the need remains urgent. More than 100,000 people nationwide, including nearly 20,000 Californians, are still waiting for a lifesaving transplant.

Sierra Donor Services encourages everyone to #BeTheGift that saves lives by registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor at sierradonor.org.

About Sierra Donor Services

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.