Connect to Mission
Our Mission: Donor Alliance saves and heals lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
Our Vision: Maximizing all donation opportunities.
Our Values: Integrity, Leadership, Excellence, Accountability, People First
At Donor Alliance, our mission is deeply personal for many team members who bring their own journeys of love and loss to their work each day. When staff members with lived experience guide families through donation decisions or advocate for awareness, they transform professional commitment into heartfelt purpose. This authentic connection to the mission defines who we are as an organization, shaping our approach to donor-family care, recipient support, and community education with compassion and understanding for everyone we serve.
A Personal Mission: Stef Duer’s Dedication to Donor Families
For Stef Duer, working as a Donor Family Coordinator at Donor Alliance isn’t just a job—it’s a deeply personal mission. Her life was forever changed by the loss of her brother Max in 2020, and that loss continues to shape her work every single day.
Max’s decision to become an organ and tissue donor just a month before his passing speaks to his generous and loving nature, even as he faced his own struggles. His decision saved five lives, offering hope and a fresh start to others. For Stef and her family, this incredible act of kindness became a source of healing amid their grief. They even received a heartfelt letter from the wife of one of Max’s kidney recipients, who shared how her husband could live life again, thanks to Max’s gift.
One of Stef’s favorite memories of Max exemplifies his caring nature. When they were kids, Max made sure they stayed close, even convincing their parents to let Stef start preschool two years early just so they could be together. That memory perfectly captures the love and care Max showed for those he loved, a trait he carried with him throughout his life.
Stef uses her deep connection to donation to support every family she works with. Whether or not she shares Max’s story, his spirit is always present in her conversations. As both a donor family member and a Donor Alliance employee, Stef can truly empathize with families navigating tough decisions. She understands the heartache and complexity of their journey, and the profound hope and purpose that come from knowing their loved one’s gift will save others.
Stef’s work is a tribute to Max’s legacy and the lifechanging power of organ and tissue donation. Through her compassion, understanding and dedication, she ensures families who make this choice feel supported and honored, helping them find light during the darkest of times.
Living Connor's Legacy: Kristen Adcock's Dedication to Donation
Every day Kristen Adcock carries a deep and multifaceted understanding of organ and tissue donation— one shaped by her experiences as a healthcare professional, an advocate, and a donor mother. Her journey began in the operating room as a surgical technologist, where she witnessed firsthand the life-changing impact of transplantation while assisting in organ recovery and transplant procedures.
In October 2017, Kristen’s connection to donation became profoundly personal with the heartbreaking loss of her son, Connor. Through tissue donation, Connor’s final act of generosity changed the lives of 53 recipients. Inspired by his legacy, Kristen turned her grief into purpose, dedicating herself to raising awareness and supporting donor families as a Donor Alliance Advocate for five years.
In 2023, Kristen’s passion for donation advocacy became her full-time mission when she joined Donor Alliance. Her unique blend of professional expertise and personal experience allows her to connect authentically with both donor families and recipients. Music also has a way of connecting us all. During National Donate Life Month 2024, Kristen played a key role in promoting Donor Alliance’s Spotify playlist, a meaningful collection of songs that resonate with those touched by donation and transplantation. For Kristen, “My Hero” by the Foo Fighters is more than just a song—it’s a tribute to Connor. She added it to the playlist in his honor and proudly carries his memory with her through a tattoo of its lyrics on her arm. Kristen’s unwavering dedication ensures that Connor’s legacy lives on, inspiring others to embrace the power of donation and the lasting impact one life can have on so many.