Don't let the name fool you---

a "Non-Profit" has huge rewards!

Meet Kate (Keeley) Hylan, a Development Director  for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

The CF Foundation is what is called a non-profit organization. An organization like this raises money to either help a social cause or advocate for a particular point of view. The CF Foundation raises money to help find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis.

WHAT IS CYSIC FIBROSIS?
It is a life-shortening disease that affects the lung and digestive system of 30 thousand people in the United States and 70 thousand world-wide.
In the 1950's few children with this disease lived to attend elementary school. Today, many are living into their 20's 30's 40's and beyond.

It is with the fund-raising efforts of the CF Foundation that has made this possible.

Kate's nephew, Drew, has CF; her career helps people like him.

Kate is a CCHS graduate (class of 2001) and an alum of the University of Scranton (class of 2005). (And my good friend, may I add.)  She graduated with a Major in Communications and a Minor in Business. After her college graduation, Kate served as an events planner for "Project Hope," a homeless shelter for women and children in Boston. This led to a job as an events planner for a corporate company, Event Strategy Group, where she traveled across the country to plan events for tech companies.

Then, in 2010, Drew (and his twin Lily) was born.

Kate began to volunteer for the CF Foundation as a team leader; by the next year she was recruited to work there.

Kate's responsibility as a Development Director is the Great Strides Program, the Foundation's largest fund raising program, which is a walk fundraiser.  Her territory includes the 5 county regions of Philadelphia, all of Delaware, and South Jersey.  (There are 650 walks across the country!) When I entered my zip code for a walk near me, I came up with 26 walks, mostly in May----and that was just my zip code!

The walks (which are also 5K runs) are vital to raising money for CF, but they not only raise funds, but promote awareness for this rare disease that makes it difficult to breathe and to break down and absorb food. 

Why is this money needed? Well, because Cystic Fibrosis is considered a rare disease, it does not receive federal funding the way that the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society does. The money is used for research for new drugs to help combat CF.

Kate's job is both rewarding and sometimes frustrating. In her 6 years at the CF Foundation she has witnessed the development of 2 new drugs that help a small portion of the population with correcting the defect in the CF gene. Before that, a person with CF had taken 760 pills/month; now he or she may be down to 60 pills/month.

The frustrating part for Kate lies in explaining CF to the companies she asks for sponsorship and the general public. She also, unfortunately, has worked with and for people who have passed away; it's an isolating disease.

BUT THERE IS HOPE!  The CF Foundation likes to say "Money buys science and science saves lives."

BC Students, I'm sure a career like Kate's is not one you may have considered, but I know many of you have the passion and drive to help others. There are other non-profit organizations that may be of interest to you. Perhaps a family member or friend has a condition that you would like to support. Maybe you've done a science fair project that is genetically-related. Maybe you just like to help others. 

Some non-profits that you might recognize include:

Make a Wish Foundation.....Save the Children......Habitat for Humanity.......Salvation Army....Greenpeace.......Best Friend Animal Society......Big Brothers/Big Sisters

Yes, these groups hold fund raising events, but individuals work professionally for them as their jobs.

For now, volunteering for non-profit organizations can fulfill service hours....or you can join me in a 5K for the CF Foundation. I'm running in Lebanon on May 6. Anyone want to join me?