National Foundation for Ileitis and Colitis, Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America[11]
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation (The Foundation) is a volunteer fueled non-profit organization in the US that works to fund research to find cures for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these digestive diseases. Founded by Shelby and William Modell, Suzanne and Irwin Rosenthal,[12] and Dr. Henry Janowitz, it was launched publicly on September 12, 1967, as the National Foundation for Ileitis and Colitis. (The Foundation was later renamed the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America and is now the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.)[13][11] It was incorporated on December 17, 1965.[1] The Foundation serves millions of patients diagnosed[14] with IBD in the U.S., through its national headquarters in NYC, and more than 30 chapters nationwide.[15]
Research, educational workshops, as well as symposia, along with the Foundation's scientific journal, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, enable medical professionals to keep pace with this rapidly growing field. The National Institutes of Health has commended the Foundation for "uniting the research community and strengthening IBD research".[16] The Foundation ranks third among leading health non-profits in the percentage of expense devoted to mission-critical programs, with at least 80 cents of every dollar the Foundation spends going toward medical research, professional education, and patient support.[17]
Research
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation funds studies[18] at medical institutions, nurtures investigators at the early stages of their careers, and finances underdeveloped areas of research to find the causes of and cures for Crohn's and colitis.[19] The Foundation has provided more than $500 million for Crohn's and colitis research to date.[20]
Patients and Caregivers
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation offers literature and patient support services nationally as well as through its more than 30 regional chapters. The Foundation provides information and education for the estimated 1 in 100 inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients[21] and their families through a variety of periodicals (Take Charge,[22]Under the Microscope[23]), books, awareness campaigns, local chapter events, Webcasts, and through its web site.[3] Due to its extensive public awareness and outreach efforts, the Foundation reaches at least one out of every 18 patients, compared to the Arthritis Foundation, with one out of every 85, or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, with one out of every 435.[24]
Advocacy
Advocacy is a major component of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's mission. Its advocates are not only patients, but family members, friends, caregivers, and healthcare professionals who want to make their voices heard and see a future free from IBD. The Foundation advocates on behalf of IBD patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. Foundation advocates call for increased Federal funding for Crohn's and colitis research and awareness programs designed to improve the lives of patients and improved access to care.[25]
Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week and World IBD Day
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation successfully lobbied Congress to designate the week of December 1–7 as Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week in order to encourage all Americans to join in the effort to find cures for these diseases, help raise awareness, and support research. The first event occurred in 2011 through U.S. Senate Resolution 199. Most countries worldwide also recognize World IBD Day, which occurs each year on May 19. It has a similar goal of increasing awareness and knowledge of the disease.[26]
Fundraising
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation primarily relies on the support of members and donors to continue its work. The Foundation raises funds through its local and nationwide special events, spearheaded by its national Team Challenge[27] and Take Steps[28] programs.
Team Challenge is the Foundation's endurance training and fundraising program, which prepares participants to run or walk a half marathon, take part in a cycling event, or experience a sprint triathlon while raising money for cures.[27]
Take Steps, the Foundation's largest fundraising event, mobilizes participants in over 150 local communities across the nation to come together and walk for Crohn's and colitis research.[28][29]
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America established the Great Comebacks Awards in 1984 in order to recognize individuals who have triumphed over inflammatory bowel disease.[11] In 1991, the award was given to Dr. P. Kent Cullen, a colon surgeon who has ulcerative colitis and has undergone multiple ostomy surgeries.[11]
Mission
The mission of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation is "to cure Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases."[36]
^Osso, Michael; John, Crosson. "2019 Annual Report"(PDF). Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. Archived(PDF) from the original on 2022-10-16. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
