WHO WE ARE
The Connecticut Coalition for Organ and Tissue Donation (CCOTD)
dba Donate Life Connecticut (DLC)
The Connecticut Coalition for Organ and Tissue Donation (CCOTD) was established in 1985. CCOTD became a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation in 1996. The statewide coalition is comprised of volunteers with a shared interest in public education about organ, eye, and tissue donation and increasing the number of transplants that save lives. The membership body includes donor families, transplant recipients, and allied health professionals who advocate organ, eye, and tissue donation. The coalition is guided in its work by a set of Board approved Bylaws, which are reviewed and updated periodically. Officers are nominated and selected through a democratic process, and membership is extended to all groups and individuals interested in organ, eye, and tissue donation. CCOTD is an affiliate of Donate Life America, the national organization most recognized for its work in increasing organ, eye, and tissue donation through massive public education and advanced communications campaigns. In 2007, CCOTD began doing business as Donate Life Connecticut (DLC) to better align with the national campaign.
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From the Co-Chairs
Welcome to the Donate Life Connecticut (DLC CT) website! We are honored to share the meaningful work our volunteers undertake every day to educate Connecticut residents about the life‑saving impact of organ and tissue donation.
DLC is guided by a passionate and diverse Board of Directors, which includes donor family members, living donors, transplant recipients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, each united by a personal connection to donation. Together, we are committed to increasing public awareness and understanding of organ and tissue donation across our state. Our hope is that through education and engagement, more Connecticut residents will make the powerful decision to register as donors.
This mission is especially important now, as misinformation and uncertainty surrounding deceased donation continue to create barriers for many individuals. We strive to be a reliable source of truth, compassion, and clarity for anyone seeking answers about donation.
Each year, our events touch communities across Connecticut, and we are inspired by the stories of individuals who have been empowered by our education and who choose to pay it forward. We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds who wish to share this life‑saving message with others. Whether you’re considering joining a committee, attending an event, or bringing new ideas to the table, your involvement makes a difference. No idea is too small, and every voice is valued.
Thank you for visiting our website and for supporting this vital mission. We look forward to connecting with you and continuing this work together.
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Elizabeth Cohen, PharmD - Co-chair
Kevin Prue - Co-chair
Donate Life Connecticut Staff
Lindsay Vigue - Executive Director
Barb Doyle - Marketing Coordinator
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2026 Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Elizabeth Cohen, PharmD, BCPS - Co-Chair
Kevin Prue - Co-Chair
Cheryl Edwards, RN, MSN, CPTC - Secretary
Andrew LeGrant, JD/MBA - Treasurer
Board Members
Jenn Batisti, MD
Carolyn Fletcher
Casey Guiheen
Amanda Gurren, JD
Christina Haines
Joanne Pinto
Amy Prue
Beth Sardellis
Donna Schaub
Megan Serke
Mike Serke
Marie Torres
Deborah Wright
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95% of Americans are in favor of being a donor but only 54% are registered. Help increase that statistic.
Membership Information
Donate Life Connecticut membership shall be open to all persons interested in contributing to the coalition's objectives. DLC shall not establish restrictions or qualifications for general membership based on, but not limited to, sex, age, race, religious creed, nationality, ancestry, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, physical and/or mental disability, lawful source of income, professional training, or experience.
If you are interested in becoming a Board Member of Donate Life Connecticut, please email us at dlct@donatelife.org.
Annual Reports
Annual Report 2024
Volunteer
The Power of Volunteerism
Donate Life Connecticut is an all-volunteer organization managed by a Board of Directors, representing statewide agencies involved with organ and tissue donation and other interested individuals. The organization is incorporated as a Not-for-profit 501(c)(3). Donate Life Connecticut is an affiliate of Donate Life America, the national organization most recognized for its work in increasing organ, eye, and tissue donation through massive public education and advanced communications campaigns.
If you are interested in volunteering your ideas and/or time to Donate Life Connecticut projects, please complete the form below:
Supportive Organizations
The American Liver Foundation (ALF) is the nation's leading nonprofit organization promoting liver health and disease prevention. ALF provides research, education, and advocacy for those affected by liver-related diseases, including hepatitis.
Eversight Connecticut, formerly the Connecticut Eye Bank, began as a project of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Rebekah’s, a national fraternal organization founded to provide aid to those in need. The initial grant was received from John Hopkins University in 1961, and by 1962 the eye bank was incorporated and open for business. Through the continued efforts of the Odd Fellows and local Lions Clubs, Eversight Connecticut has not only helped restore sight for over 35,000 people but has also expanded its role in the community by funding local researchers and by providing pediatric vision screening in area schools.
Eversight Connecticut was one of the first eye banks to receive accreditation from the Eye Bank Association of America.
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The Hartford Hospital Transplant Program is the largest transplant program in Connecticut, with a team of specialists providing expert pre-operative, peri-operative, and post-operative care in liver, heart, and kidney transplantation. The program utilizes state-of-the-art technology, cutting-edge surgical techniques, and personalized treatment plans tailored to each individual and family.
The mission of the Hartford Hospital Transplant Program is to improve the health and healing of the people and communities they serve. Their approach to patient care utilizes the enormous talents and resources of their multidisciplinary team. Specialized medical and surgical providers work hand in hand with nurses, the psychosocial team, financial coordinators, pharmacists, and community providers.
The Transplant Program is certified by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).
New England Donor Services (NEDS) coordinates organ and tissue donation in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, the eastern counties of Vermont and Bermuda. Through its federally designated organ procurement organization, New England Organ Bank (NEOB), and its centralized tissue donation services operation, NEDS serves thousands of donor families each year who have generously made the decision to donate and honors the wishes of those who registered as donors and gave the gift of life.
​Responsible for one of the 57 OPOs that make up the nation’s donation system, NEDS works with nearly 200 hospitals and serves 14 million people in our region, screening nearly 50,000 potential donor referrals annually. Working sensitively with the donor families, NEDS staff leads donation authorization discussions, maintains medical support of potential donors, coordinates recovery surgeries, allocates organs according to the national transplant waiting list, and directs transport of organs to transplant centers and tissues to processors.
New England Donor Services saves and heals the lives of organ and tissue transplant recipients in our region and across the country through these gifts of life.
Yale-New Haven Transplant Center(YNHTC) has earned a reputation for technical excellence, leading-edge research, and a commitment to excellent patient care that results in high success rates. A world pioneer in live-donor transplants, YNHTC offers a unique service for patients with both kidney and liver disease that requires transplantation: patients with one or more family members willing to donate a kidney or a portion of a liver may have the procedures performed when the need presents itself, without waiting for a cadaveric organ. Yale-New Haven doctors are known for advances in transfusion-free medicine and surgery.