... in honor of all mothers & women with pregnancy complications.
Giving back life through blood donation.
... in honor of all mothers & women with pregnancy complications.
Giving back life through blood donation.
Our Mission
Donate for Mothers is a Colorado-born blood donation campaign, started in recognition of a mission close to all our hearts: delivering life to mothers & women with pregnancy complications through blood donations.
2025 Donate for Mothers' BLOOD DRIVES are HERE!
Our incredible partnership with Vitalant is now in 7 states-- head over to www.vitalant.org/donateformothers
Listening to our donors at 2025 D4M blood drives...
Being present at these blood drives, sharing our mission and our stories are why they are so impactful for both us and for the donors.
- A Labor & Delivery nurse found the Elizabeth United Methodist drive via the D4M landing page and made an effort to donate there in honor of her patients that she has transfused over the years.
- Ken Caryl Community donor hosted her D4M drive two days after Mother’s Day. She went to the florist and purchased discounted Mother’s Day bouquets of flowers and gave them to each of her donors to honor them.
- A pastor/donor shared her ministry of a family who lost a mother in childbirth.
- Vitalant Manager Robin shared that she has been getting so much great feedback from both donors and blood drive hosts about how much this D4M campaign has meant to them.
- Our first donor, NICU nurse at Intermountaim Lutheran Hospital, wanted to donate in honor of the moms of her patients.
- A donor at 2025 AAPA Conference Denver shared her pregnancy complication story and subsequent need for 4 blood transfusions.
- An exhibitor at 2025 ACOG Conference Minneapolis came to donate for the first time because of her own postpartum hemorrhage and blood transfusion.
- Three survivors hosted meaningful family blood drives – Thank you Dani, Tara and Trish-- how healing theses events can be.
- A donor at AdventHealth Castle Rock donate a power double red pint in honor of his wife that survived an Amniotic Fluid Embolism 10 months ago.
- Vitalant Manager Alyssa donated at the Perham Health Donate for Mothers blood drive – the hospital where she gave birth to one of her daughters.
Thank you ACOG 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting!
2025 ACOG two day blood drive exceeded their drive slots and then some!
- a stunning 61% first time donor rate, far above 10% average (this is up from 2024 ACOG three day blood drive of 50% first time donors).
-42 donors gave whole blood while 4 gave double reds and 1 rbcs+plasma.
-54 donated pints means 162 life saving transfusable red cell products!
- Thank you Denielle, Amanda, Minneapolis, & your convention teams for another wonderful partnership.
Thank you to SMFM 2025 Pregnancy Meeting Annual Conference
SMFM achievements during the Jan 29-Jan 31, 2025 Donate for Mothers blood drives:
- 13 double red blood donations
each of these blood donors doubled the amount of red cells and time given to Colorado’s patient community! - 74 single whole blood donations:
donors and interested attendees were MFM physicians, MFM fellows, OBGYN residents and vendors from across the country & world. There was even a high school student family member who wanted to learn more! - At least 4 international donors:
2 blood donors were abstract presenters and first time SMFM attendees from Belgium & Germany. - After we shared the recent FDA rollback of European Mad Cow exclusions, 1 donor was able to donate again after 12 yrs (a vendor attendee from France, where she was previously a regular platelet donor, a 2hr process & vital to prevent bleeding for mothers with severe preeclampsia/HELLP).
- 59 first time donors:
Remarkably, SMFM provided 59 conference attendees the chance to donate for the first time- that is an astounding 68% of SMFM blood donors! - In total, SMFM attendees gave
87 whole blood donations to achieve 261 blood units
(each blood donation is made into THREE transfusable units and so, can potentially help save more than one mother)
Great quotes from SMFM donor attendees:
- The GE team chief without a moment of hesitation, said "Let's go!" when his employee who donated went back to her booth to rally other teammates to donate blood. He did a double red!
- "Why haven't we always done this?!?" [referring to having blood drives at SMFM conferences- from John, an MFM fellow and a ACOG planning committee member].
- "I need to do this! I just poured 99 units of blood into a woman at a c-hyst" [a cesarean birth which converted to an emergency hysterectomy- from Neil, MFM from Northern CA].
- "I love this [blood drive at conference- from Larry, a genetic counselor who works from home & doesn't have corporate/local blood drive options].
- "I'm doing this because my wife is presenting, and it's something I can do" [-from a husband of an attendee].
- "I can totally have a blood drive at my office after the fires are over" [from Kathleen, a private practice owner in the Palisades area].
- Another donor, who received 42 units of blood when she was a mother, was donating again after 4yrs of medical treatments. And she was able to meet & thank Dr. Belfort, the Baylor MFM and twin twin transfusion surgery pioneer who took care of her high risk pregnancy.
Attendee engagement:
- sat side by side with current MFM work partners or with peers from fellowship during their blood draws.
- talked with new colleagues over salty snacks at the post-donation recovery station.
- filled out free cards to send good vibes to loved ones who they were thinking about.
- while donating, they picked up information for how to setup their own local blood drives and signed up for followup help.
- took physician & patient survivor peer support info (from Amniotic Fluid Embolism Foundn. & National Accreta Foundn).
- enjoyed lots of blood donation thank you gifts & snapped fun donor selfie pics (see below).
- Kate, Kristin, & Vy interviewed at Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine's Pregnancy Meeting, Denver CO, 1/29/2025: the back story and purpose of Donate for Mothers.
Thank you from Donate for Mothers:
for a powerful message of caring from MFM colleagues and a substantial charitable impact by the Society of MFM Board of Directors, especially to Kasey & Co, for your leadership excellence and the event integration into your Pregnancy Meeting--- definitely our best partnership experience!
And thank you for the next collaboration-- we really look forward to making sure 2026 SMFM at Cesar's Forum Las Vegas will be another positive Donate for Mothers blood drive for your members & conference.
2025 Association of Blood Donor Professionals (ADRP)
Blood Drive Partner of the Year
Dr. Vy Rossi for Donate for Mothers
Our Team
We are women’s advocates: patients, families, & providers affected by pregnancy-related complications. Our stories connect deeply with this mission and have spurred us to organize & outreach to enhance blood donations.
Hear powerful stories from Mothers--and how blood donation kept them safe!!
D4M Awareness spreading:
-Emily on Colorado & Co, 5/8/2025, her story of her newborn, preterm twins' separation surgery.
-Kate on Ch. 2 News, 5/9/2025, her story of uterine inversion.
-Alyssa in Fargo ND, Valley News, 5/14/2025, her story of HELLP at 36wks.
-Melissa on Billings, MT Ch. 8, Nonstop Local, 5/15/2025, her story of HELLP at 36wks.
- Kristin on YouTube, 4/14/2025, her story of amniotic fluid embolism.
- Kate, Kristin, & Vy at SMFM The Pregnancy Meeting, Denver CO, 1/29/2025: tells the back story and purpose of Donate for Mothers.
-Trish on Ch.4, News, 5/14/2023, her placenta accreta story.
- Vy on Ch. 7, Everyday Hero, 5/14/2023, her story of caring for women with pregnancy hemorrhage.
- Nicole on Ch. 11, CO Springs, 5/12/2023, her story of amniotic fluid embolism.
-Trish on Ch. 9, CO & Co. 5/4/2023
- Kate S. on Ch. 31, Great Day CO, 4/28/2023
-Dani & Kate R. on CBS4 TV News, 9/7/2020, their placenta accreta stories.
-Liz Lambert of Vitalant & Dr. Caroline Hedges OBGYN at UC Health blood drive in CO Springs 9/22/20
Kristin's story
Thank You:
The day your baby is born should be one of the best days of your life. Now imagine having absolutely no memory of that special day. Sadly, this is my story during the birth of my daughter Emily. My water broke at home, and I woke up 48 hours later in the ICU asking ‘Why are all of these people in my bedroom?’ I needed 26 units of blood during a massive hemorrhage to survive. Childbirth stories like mine and fellow blood recipients (highlight in the media stories) Nicole, Trish and Kate are more common that you many realize. One in every 83 deliveries require a blood transfusion in the U.S.
I am so grateful to our committee of physicians, nurses, medical students and patient survivors for being inspired to motivate and to share their experiences. Collectively, our “lived experiences” are what makes Donate for Mothers so special. I am equally proud of the entire Mountain Division Vitalant team for embracing the Donate for Mothers mission throughout the month of May. Thank you for giving of your time and passion towards this year’s D4M campaign.
Thank you,
Kristin
2024 DONATE FOR MOTHERS' across The Rockies & now California!
2023 DONATE FOR MOTHERS' MAY RESULTS across CO, SD, and WY:
- 3843 lives impacted by 1281 Blood donations from 41 blood drives at 32 different hospital partners (all Denver hospital systems) and 7 community partners.
- 1,000+ giveaway items for mobile blood drives and CO/WY/RC donation centers
- 1000+ Donate for Mothers / Vitalant ‘In Honor Of’ postcards
- 500+ of women’s health advocacy group info brochures and clinician materials
- 10+ survivors sharing their pregnancy-related complications stories
- 2 donated gift baskets for CO first time and repeat donors
- 10+ Maternal Health Advocacy Partners
- Amniotic Fluid Embolism Foundation
- Colorado Accreta Survivors
- National Accreta Survivors
- Heroes for Moms
- UCHealth Anschutz Medical Students
- Colorado Mountain College Nursing students
- Rapid City Boys Club
- A vast network of OB physicians & nurses, Labor & Delivery departments, Mother & Baby Units and Maternal Fetal Medicine groups
2022 American Blood Centers Outstanding Blood Drive of the Year
2022 American Blood Centers Outstanding Blood Drive of the Year
American Blood Centers National award: 2022 Outstanding Blood Drive of the Year
Photo Gallery
Our Wonderful Partners!
OUR WONDERFUL PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
vitalant.org
Vitalant, formerly Bonfils, is one of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit community blood service providers, supplies comprehensive transfusion medicine services to nearly 1,000 hospitals and health care partners for patients in need across 40 states.
Colorado Accreta Survivors
https://www.facebook.com/coloradoaccretasurvivors
Colorado Accreta Survivors is working to spread awareness of placenta accreta to our local Colorado communities.
Heroes for Moms
Heroes for Moms is a national platform for blood drive events focused on saving the lives of moms who need blood to survive childbirth.
National Accreta Foundation
https://www.preventaccreta.org
Their mission: Eliminating preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity attributable to placenta accreta.
Amniotic Fluid Embolism Foundation
Amniotic Fluid Embolism Foundation
The AFE Foundation is the only organization in the world dedicated to AFE and the research to prevent it.
❣ Finished September Labor of Love MOTHERSTRONG!! ❣
Skyridge Hospital 9/29/20
❣ 30 whole blood donations
❣32 scheduled donations, 5 walk ins
❣7 first time Donors
❣130% above average!!
❣❣❣helping as many as 78 lives
💞 Dr. Novotny volunteered herself & her mother, on a day she was also working on Labor & Delivery, delivering mother & babies' care.
💞 Dr. Berga volunteered & was one of the few donors donating a DOUBLE red unit (2 units of blood!).
🙌 Thank you Kristin, Vitalant drive Coordinator & AFE patient survivor, Carla (mother of OBGYN), Dr. Sonia Novotny & Dr. Sally Berga (OBGYNs), for beautifully representing D4M.
Parker Adventist @Donation Center 9/21-27
❣ 7 whole blood donations
❣ 2 reengaged
❣❣❣helping as many as 18 lives!
🙌 Thank you Tricia, Director of OB & Neonatology at Parker Adventist Hospital, for organizing this week for D4M!
Medical Center of Aurora 9/30/20
❣19 whole blood donations
❣ 21 scheduled blood donations, 5 walk in
❣ 5 first time Donors!
❣❣❣helping as many as 49 lives!
🙌 Thank you Whitney & Dani, patient survivor, for representing D4M & Colorado Accreta Survivors at her second drive !
Vitalant Donation Centers (across regions)
❣18 whole blood donations, 1 platelet donation, 11 first time donors!
- Lowry donation center: 3
- Colorado Springs donation center: 6
- Denver west donation center: 5 donations (1 Platelet donation)
- Highlands Ranch donation center: 1
- Westminster donation center: 1
- Parker donation center: 1
- Rose Medical Center: 1
- Parker Adventist Hospital: 7
Donate for Mothers Drive 2020 Results
-every ONE blood donation can help as many as THREE adults or TEN newborns!
2020 GRAND TOTAL:
💞 337 donations
💞 90 first time donors
💞 impacting as many as 1011 lives!
💞 Thank you Blood Donors & Drive Volunteers 💞
September 2020 Labor of Love Drive Results
-every ONE blood donation helps as many as THREE lives!
GRAND TOTAL:
💞 337 donations
💞 90 first time donors
💞 impacting as many as 1011 lives! ll
Kaiser Baseline Medical Office 9/3/20
❣26 whole blood donations
❣20 scheduled blood donations, 8 walk ins
❣100% filled appts, 10 first time Donors
❣37% above goal, 2 double units!!
❣❣❣helping 70 lives!
🙌 Thank you CO Accreta Survivors Dani & Kate for teaming up & their awesome CBS4 TV interview (see above link), Jenna- Vitalant drive coordinator & patient survivor, and Whitney & Drs. Tracy Anderson & Vy Rossi (OBGYNs) for representing D4M.
SCL Good Samaritan Hospital 9/9/20
❣40 blood donations
❣32 scheduled donations, 12 walk ins
❣94% filled appts, 11 first time Donors
💞 to the many GS employees who paused their essential work to be Essential donors: Mary (EVS- walking in to hit her 5th gallon mark), Tonya & Laura (Director & Managers of L&D), and many doctors!
❣67% above goal, 4 double units!!
❣❣❣helping as many as 104 lives---and not just adults, but each donation can help 10 babies!
💞 Dr. Rossi volunteers to honor the struggling mothers who needed blood to sustain them in childbirth. She even had a mother and her premature baby boy both needing blood at the same time earlier this week.
🙌 Thank you Jenna- Vitalant drive coordinator & patient survivor, Stacey-teacher/survivor, Dr. Marci Peralto-OBGYN/survivor, & Dr. Vy Rossi for representing D4M.
SCL Lutheran 9/14/20
❣ 19 whole blood donations
❣21 scheduled a blood donation, 1 walk in
❣ One donor saw Kate & Dani's news story (see their interview link above on CBS4) was inspired to donate for D4M!
❣87% filled appts, 1 first time Donor
❣ 17% above goal
❣❣❣helping as many as 57 lives!
🙌 Thank you: Whitney for representing D4M again.
Boulder Community Hospital 9/14/20
❣29 whole blood donations
❣29 scheduled blood donations, 1 walk in
❣100% filled appts, 5 first time Donors
❣ 53% above goal, 2 double units!
❣❣❣helping 79 lives!
💞 3 employees (nurses & administration) felt compelled to donate because they too received blood for pregnancy hemorrhages!
💞 2 Labor & Delivery nurses donated.
🙌 Thank you Jenna- Vitalant drive coordinator/patient survivor, & Dr. Vy Rossi for representing D4M!
National Jewish Hospital 9/17/20
❣ 71 blood donations, 24 first time Donors!!
❣ 77 scheduled,2 walk ins
❣ 40% above average collections!
❣❣❣helping as many as 191 lives!
💞 This was the MOST successful blood drive in 10yrs at internationally acclaimed National Jewish!!
🙌 Thank you Dr. Kathleen Doyle (OBGYN), Dr. Kevin Brown (Chair of Medicine), & Whitney for rallying & representing for D4M.
UCH Memorial 9/22/20
❣14 blood donations
❣ 9 scheduled blood donations, 11 walk ins
❣ 5 first time Donors
❣❣❣helping as many as 37 lives!
💞 Dr. Hedges felt the importance of supporting this D4M drive, after transfusing a pregnant patient just this week.
💞 Nurse & AFE survivor came to donate!
🙌 Thank you Gina & Dr. Caroline Hedges for representing D4M.
🙌 Liz & Dr. Hedges were interviewed by KOAA NBC 5 news at the drive, which aired 9/23/20.
Lily's Day: Colorado Springs Donation Center
❣ 5 family Donors came in to support Lily & her history of blood transfusion after placenta accreta.
🙌 Thank you Lily for this special family drive!
UCH Memorial 9/24/20
❣ 15 blood donations
❣ 5 first time donors
❣❣❣helping as many as 39 lives!
🙌 Thank you Gina & Lily, patient survivor/ volunteering at her second drive, representing D4M & Colorado Accreta Survivors!
Saint Anthony Hospital 9/24/20
❣ 20 blood donations
❣ 8 scheduled, 5 walkins, 4 first-time donors
❣ helping as many as 52 lives.
🙌 Thank you Brie & Dani, both patient survivors, representing D4M & Colorado Accreta Survivors!
Porter Adventist
❣22 blood donations
❣25 scheduled, 3 walk-ins, 2 first time donors
🙌 Thank you Whitney, for representing D4M as always!
@Donate4mothers #Vitalygood @vitalantco
Leisure World Sewing Brigade
Leisure World Sewing Brigade
Thanks to tremendous support from the Leisure World Sewing Brigade, we have received 600 more masks, bringing our total to 1300 Donor masks: 300 from Colorado hands, 400 from one dedicated California mother, who enlisted retired community Leisure World Sewing Brigade for another 600! We will give out more masks to any donors & look to Donate for Mothers' May 2021! Blood donor feedback: the bags are really appreciated for the many unique, care-infused handmade masks & gift bags.