Dear Kidney Foundation: Thank you so much for the help you are giving to our father.  We have had four really hard years since his kidney stopped working and he’s been on dialysis.   The medical expenses have devastated his and my mother’s life. Dad has to drive 130 miles a week to receive dialysis treatments to keep him alive. Keeping the only car they have running and buying gas to get him to and from dialysis is more than they can afford.  Today they received a letter from Social Security informing them that they will be receiving $400 less a month from now on.  They have no idea how they are going to make it now.  They are  having to depend on the generosity of the local food bank now.  We are so grateful for the help you are providing through financial assistance.  They could not survive at all were it not for the generosity of others.  Sincerely, The Bird Family

We wanted to write a quick thank you to the National Kidney Foundation of Utah to say thank you for the help in buying us gasoline so I could drive from Logan to Ogden every day for two weeks so I could get trained helping my husband do diaysis here at home.  Getting trained to help him dialyze at home we knew would be a huge blessing for our family, but the extra expense in gas and time away from our young family was a hurdle we just have not been able to surpass. Thank you for helping us take at least one of the burdens from our shoulders.  Thank you to all the Kidney Foundation’s generous Kidney Kars donors, and other sponsors who help people like us living with kidney failure.  God Bless you.   K. Johnson

http://www.abc4.com/sports/story/Coaches-hit-the-links-for-charity/XKkvatl6Zkalo-97wW5h3Q.cspx

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700036893/Utah-BYU-coaches-lend-assist-to-Kidney-Foundation.html

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=635&sid=11011094

http://heraldextra.com/news/local/article_884391dc-6a8e-11df-b61c-001cc4c002e0.html

Gary Coleman has lived in Utah County since 2005. Although Coleman died of a brain hemorrhage, he suffered most of his life with chronic kidney failure. Coleman has been on dialysis, and had two kidney transplants. While his life here in Utah has not been without trouble, we send very sincere condolences to his family on behalf of the National Kidney Foundation of Utah & Idaho.

Hey! Here’s an idea for Mother’s Day. Give Mom’s old minivan to the National Kidney Foundation Kidney Kars donation program and get that woman some new wheels. That’s right…maybe Mama needs a Porsche 911 Turbo Carrera or a BMW Z4 instead of some lame card and some flowers. Just a thought…You know, because what some Moms really want for Mother’s Day is to drive away in a really, really fast car without room for the whole family. 

And remember, for that old minivan—when you donate it to Kidney Kars, towing is free and donations make a great tax deduction!  For more information, or to donate your car, van, truck or boat, call 1-800-TOW-KARS (869-5277) or donate online at www.towKars.org

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Dear Kidney Foundation, My family and I would like to thank the donors, board members, and friends who made helping us pay our rent & gas possible.  Last fall Daniel (the main provider for our family) was diagnosed with end stage renal failure.  While I was searching for a job, we still had no way of bridging the gap between our new medical expenses and paying for rent, with the new financial burden of getting Daniel to and from dialysis three days a week.  Without your help and generosity, we would have been truly lost.  We are very grateful there are people and charities out there willing to help lend a hand to those in need–people they have never met.  We just want to say, thank you for helping us, for helping our family.  From the bottom of our hearts, Daniel & Julie C.

http://www.kidney.org/news/wkd/

Dear Friend:

Today is World Kidney Day! It’s the perfect time to look back and celebrate the progress we have made in the fight against kidney disease.

In 1950, when the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) was founded, people with kidney failure had little hope or available treatments: there was no dialysis or transplants, which meant they simply died.

Today, kidney patients can enjoy rich and productive lives, and NKF is proud to have played a role in providing vital programs and services for these individuals and their families for the past 60 years. But, now we need your help more than ever.

The scope of kidney disease continues to grow: 26 million Americans–1 in 9–have chronic kidney disease. More than 367,000 currently depend on dialysis for survival. More than 83,000 are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. Every two hours, one person waiting for a kidney dies.

As we commemorate our 60th Anniversary, the need for our services remains critical. Please make a generous gift to our 60th Anniversary Fund Campaign. You can also help us by becoming a volunteer fundraiser for NKF and by reaching out to your family, friends and coworkers

All gifts help us provide valuable public and professional education, early detection screenings, and research into the causes and treatments of kidney diseases. They also provide vital services to people with kidney disease, dialysis patients, transplant recipients and organ donors across the United States.

Happy World Kidney Day and thank you for helping us provide help and hope to everyone affected by kidney disease.

Sincerely,

John Davis, CEO
The National Kidney Foundation

I wanted to thank the foundation for the generous scholarship I received.  Going to college has gone from a dream to reality.  But without the assistance the National Kidney Foundation of Utah has provided, I do not know where I’d be today. You are helping me make a better life for myself.  I’m 21 now, but when I was 16 I received a kidney transplant.  It changed my life.  Being sick makes you wonder if you will ever be able to accomplish anything and now I have the world at my fingertips.  I am the first person in my family to go to college.  I am in my final semester of the Occupational Therapy Assistance program at Salt Lake Community College.  I have always had an interest in the medical field.  I am very grateful to be able to persue my passion.  The Kidney Foundation does wonderful things and I will forever be grateful for how you have helped me since my transplant.  Sincerely, Brooke R.