PERSONIFIED Cystic Fibrosis Foundation mission to find cure

Tell us about your organization:

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation began in 1956 by a group of parents who didn’t want to just watch their children die and start- ed advocating and fundraising. We are now the world’s leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis, and nearly every CF-specific drug available today was made possible with our financial support.

■ Mission: The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

is to cure cystic fibrosis and to provide all people with the disease the opportunity to lead full, productive lives by funding research and drug development, promoting individualized treatment, and ensuring access to high-quality, specialized care. ■ Services provided: The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has a unique patient care model with more than 130 CFF-accredited care centers. Teams of dedicated health care professionals work with CF patients and their families to provide expert individualized and specialized disease management. We have four locations in Arkansas, including UAMS, Arkansas Children’s Hospital in both Little Rock and Northwest Arkansas and Mercy Hospital in Rogers. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s patient assistance service, Compass, is a personalized service to help with the insurance, financial, legal and other issues faced by anyone with cystic fibrosis, their family and their care teams. Other programs offered are a young professionals group called Tomorrow’s Leaders, Community Voice, Peer Connect, Grampions, Virtual events and more.

■ Average number of people served annually: There are approximately 30,000 people with CF in our country.

How is your organization’s mission unique? We are an organization that is focused on curing a life-threatening genetic disease. In just 63 years we have gone from what once was an infant disease to now over half our population are adults, and we believe we will find a cure within our lifetime.

Why do you work for a nonprofit organization? Do you have a personal connection to the mission? If so, what is it? Working for a nonprofit is more fulfilling than words can describe, to know you are making a difference and can leave the world in a better place is incredible. When I came to work for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation seven years ago, I did not have a personal connection; today I have many personal connections.

What part of your job fills the most of your time? Event planning.

What challenges face your organization? Finding venues and dates that work for events, having enough time in a day.

Are there volunteer opportunities in your organization? What are they? Yes, we have three big events in Northwest Arkansas and have opportunities to serve on planning committees, help at events, and we have a great program for young professionals that want to network and have professional development while being connected to a great cause.

What upcoming fundraisers and/or other events does your organization have planned? Weekend with the Finest, Golf with the Finest on Sept. 6 at Stonebridge Meadows Golf Club, which is sold out, and Party with the Finest on Sept. 7 at the Record in Downtown Bentonville with an after party featuring dueling DJ’s and dancing. This is where we will celebrate the 30 Finest Honoree young professionals that have been fundraising and advocating for CFF over the past four months. A limited amount of tickets are still available at finest.cff. org/nwarkansasweekendwiththefinest. Save the Date for the Wine Opener on Feb. 7, 2020, at the John Q. Hammons Center.

Bryam