CYP CLUB Articles & Current News

Charity Spotlight: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Written by Chris Alexis, CYP CLUB Newsletter Contributor

The Columbus Young Professionals Club wants you to remember two charitable organizations that were the recent beneficiaries of "A Date 2 Remember."

We spoke with Brittany Wittman, Development Director of one of those charities - the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - for a little insight.

"As the Central Ohio Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, we host fundraising events to raise money to fund research for cystic fibrosis and support the CF Care Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital," Wittman says.

Nearly 90 cents of every dollar of CFF revenue supports vital cystic fibrosis research, along with medical and educational programs, she says.

Today, a cure for cystic fibrosis does not exist. But the CFF is trying to change that ... and progress is being made.

"In 1955, children born with (cystic fibrosis) often died before reaching elementary school. Today, people with (cystic fibrosis) are living into their 30s, 40s and beyond. More than 47 percent of people with (cystic fibrosis) are aged 18 or older," Wittman says.

The CFF is no stranger to the Columbus Young Professionals Club. The two organizations joined together for a recent fundraising event in November 2011 called Celebrating Visionaries.

"Through that event, we have come to know the CYP Club and their leadership team. We are very honored and humbled to be chosen as one of the beneficiaries of A Date 2 Remember," Wittman says.

There are several ways young professionals can get personally involved in the good fight against cystic fibrosis.

"One way is to attend our fun events that we hold throughout the year. We have a wide range of events from wine tastings to walks to bowling to a Half Way to a St. Patrick’s Day Party. The second way is to volunteer at our events," she says.

Wittman encourages everyone to step up to the plate.

"Even if you do not have a connection to cystic fibrosis, we hope you consider attending one of our fundraising events. We are at a very historic, exciting time in the fight against cystic fibrosis," she says. "Promising therapies that treat the underlying cause of (cystic fibrosis), rather than just the symptoms, are in late-stage clinical trials. If successful, these drugs could change the face of the disease the prognosis of those who suffer from it."

To learn more and get involved, visit www.cff.org/chapters/centralohio.