Make this Giving Tuesday count with a donation to the Boomer Esiason Foundation, or as we like to say, #FightCFwithBEF.
Here’s a quick look at some of our programs and how they have evolved over the past few years:
Team Boomer
Team Boomer is a program that: encourages people with cystic fibrosis to incorporate exercise into their everyday lives; provides an avenue for individual athletes in a variety of sports to raise money for cystic fibrosis; and offers assistance to grassroots athletic events looking for a cause to support.
With our flagship event, Run to Breathe, we celebrate the lives that people with cystic fibrosis are living and encourage them to get out there and hit the pavement. Most recently I’ve been so incredibly inspired by our Team Boomer athletes that I have been working on running more frequently as a way to improve my health. In 2018 Team Boomer is going to be adding another event to the agenda, Run to Breathe West Coast on June 10th in San Diego.
Cystic Fibrosis Scholarships
As therapeutic developments increase the lifespan of cystic fibrosis patients, the need for a scholarship program to support college students with CF has emerged. BEF’s scholarship program assists students who are working toward academic success while living with CF. It’s the only program of its size and scope focused solely on supporting the CF community.
Our scholarship program is by far my favorite program at BEF. College is an integral part of a person’s education and character development. I believe it is important for people to have the opportunity to live on their own in an educational environment and that’s why the scholarship program is fantastic. It’s also one of the programs that I really love to work on! Last year alone we gave away over $300,000 in scholarships. My goal is to increase this number.
Transplant Grants
The experience of living with cystic fibrosis is markedly different today than it was decades ago. Thanks to the discovery of the CF gene, the availability of effective drug therapies and advances in technology, the 30,000 Americans who deal with the disease day in and day out are living longer and fuller lives. In a word, they are thriving.
Organ transplant generally comes with an enormous cost, which can include moving to a different state or city. Our Transplant Grant program has assisted a number of patients with costs not covered by Insurance.
Educational Videos, Podcasts and (duh) this blog!
Our educational resources are unrivaled in the rare disease sector. We seek to empower, educate and inspire with our educational videos and podcasts from You Cannot Fail, Up For Air, Wind Sprints, Cystic Fibrosis Step-By-Step with Gunnar Esiason, Breathe In: A Cystic Fibrosis Podcast with Gunnar Esiason and the Salty Cysters, and the Jerry Cahill Cystic Fibrosis Podcast amongst others.
We also run a really cool blog that you should subscribe to….
Disaster Relief
In August we launched our Disaster Relief program designed to help get CF patients and their families back on their feet after a series of natural disasters struck the Gulf Coast and Northern California. To this point the program has given away thousands to help people with construction costs, rent, clothing, medical equipment and many other household items. This program has certainly been a source of pride for many of us at BEF.
Funding Cystic Fibrosis Centers and Hospitals
Over the past few years we have supported several Cystic Fibrosis Centers and hospitals in a big way! From the CF Centers at Columbia University Medical Center, Cincinnati Children’s, Morristown Medical Center, to Northwell Health and others, we believe it is important for cystic fibrosis patients to receive the proper care they deserve at the clinic!
Help us today, on Giving Tuesday, to rid the world of cystic fibrosis and empower patients to live full, successful and loving lives! We are also asking everyone to get involved in our latest social media campaign through the holidays by using the #FightCFwithBEF… and tell us how you are fighting cystic fibrosis, whether it is making a donation, running for Team Boomer, or simply sharing your own story. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook (/BoomerEsiasonFoundation), Twitter @cysticfibrosis, and Instagram @BoomerEsiasonFoundation. #FightCFwithBEF
