With Thanksgiving right around the corner, all of us at the American Kidney Fund are grateful for our friends like you. Your support enables us to provide financial assistance to tens of thousands of dialysis patients each year, and reach millions with information that could help protect them from kidney disease. This year, we are participating in the #GivingTuesday campaign right after Thanksgiving. So much attention is focused on Black Friday and Cyber Monday as the days for consumers to begin their holiday shopping. #GivingTuesday, which is Tuesday, December 3, asks people to pause and consider making gifts to the organizations and causes they believe in. I hope that this year, on #GivingTuesday, you will consider making a gift to the American Kidney Fund, of whatever size you can afford, to help us continue our vital work. Best wishes to you and your loved ones for a wonderful holiday season!
November is National Diabetes Month. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, causing nearly 40 percent of all cases. For people with diabetes, managing the condition—through healthy eating, medication and an active lifestyle—is key to helping prevent kidney disease or slowing its progression.
The Hope Affair, AKF’s annual gala, recognized four remarkable individuals who are fighting kidney disease and inspiring those around them. Meet this year’s honorees—a teenage kidney patient from Puerto Rico, a dedicated patient-advocate from Houston and a nephrologist-nurse team from Rhode Island—and watch their inspiring videos.
Our Medicare Education Benefits course covers kidney disease-related benefits to help health professionals link patients to these important benefits by referral or providing the benefit themselves. The course was developed in partnership with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Association of Diabetes Educators, American Nephrology Nurses Association, Renal Physicians Association and Tulane University.
On a busy Monday morning in downtown Atlanta, hundreds of people attended Kidney Action Day. Representatives of our event partner, the American Society of Nephrology, were on hand for the Nov. 4 event, as were elected officials including Congressman John Lewis, who served as honorary host of the event. Watch a slideshow of the event. Thank you to our National Sponsor American Renal Associates and Lead Regional Sponsor U.S. Renal Care, Inc.
The American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) is a multi-disciplinary professional membership organization dedicated to improving diabetes care through education, with more than 13,000 members including nurses, dietitians, pharmacists and others. AADE collaborated with AKF on an educational course for healthcare professionals about Medicare education benefits, which includes diabetes self-management training. This month, you’ll also see a collaborative feature on AKF's website about why managing diabetes is so important to your kidney health.
Coinciding with the kickoff of the holiday shopping season, #GivingTuesday inspires people to take action to improve their local communities, give back to the charities and causes they support and help create a better world. We hope that you will make a gift (large or small) to AKF in support of the fight against kidney disease. Look for a reminder from AKF as #GivingTuesday approaches!
