$7,144 raised by 37 donors
71% complete
$10,000 Goal
Chronic, painful, and often life-altering, IBD affects millions of children and adults in the United States. Due to the complicated factors influencing each person’s IBD, the often unpredictable and debilitating course of disease, and resulting physical, emotional, psychosocial, and financial impact, IBD patients and their loved ones have unique concerns and needs. No other Texas based organization serves these needs through groundbreaking programs in research, education, support, advocacy, and awareness – designed to cure IBD and improve the lives of patients.
IBD can be unpredictable and debilitating, leading to a decreased quality of life for patients. It is not uncommon for patients with IBD to have two dozen bowel movements per day or to take as many as 20 pills per day to manage these diseases. Symptoms of IBD can lead to reliance on medications not recommended for long-term use and hospitalizations. Over time, patients may develop complications from surgeries or ongoing and uncontrollable inflammation that create new and compounded difficulties. 70% of Crohn's patients, and up to a third of patients who have had colitis for 30 years or longer, will require surgery which may involve removal of sections of the intestinal tract, complete removal of the colon, and the creation of temporary or permanent ostomies. 18% of patients may develop colorectal cancer by the time they have had IBD for 30 years. As IBD is commonly diagnosed earlier in life, these complications are likely to occur within a patient's lifetime.
Treatment options are limited. Medications may work for one patient but may not work for another exhibiting similar symptoms. Medications may also stop working and lead to flares of disease activity, leading to surgeries to remove the inflamed parts of the small intestine or colon. Currently, anti-TNF therapy is considered first-line treatment for moderate to severe disease, but up to 80% of patients do not respond or lose response to these therapies.
Many patients suffer in silence, feeling isolated and alone. According to a large-scale study funded by the Foundation, 42.6% of patients had at least one mental health diagnosis, with common diagnoses being depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders, substance use disorders, and bipolar and related disorders.
Foundation-funded research has determined that factors in the gut microbiome, genes, and the environment interacting with the immune system influence the onset, course, and severity of each individual's disease. The complexity of IBD, the increasing number of patients, and the accompanying physical, psychosocial, emotional, and financial burdens demand the exploration of every potential therapeutic opportunity.
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's mission is to cure Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases. When the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation was founded in 1967, very little was being done to improve treatments or to find the causes for IBD. Today, the Foundation is the largest public foundation driving research and programs designed for individuals with IBD.
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation is the leading advocate for patients and the hub of the IBD community - which includes patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, volunteers, donors, commercial partners, and other non-profits. The Foundation engages the largest community of IBD patients in the country and maintains collaborations with partners that add value to IBD research or assist in improving patients' quality of life. The collaborative approach of our mission activities and world-renowned work with the best clinicians and researchers in IBD care are qualifications unique to the Foundation.
The Foundation has earned a reputation for fiscal stability and careful stewardship of donated dollars. The Foundation proudly meets the high standards established by the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance and GuideStar, as well as other leading independent charity evaluators. More than 80 cents on every dollar raised goes towards mission, a ratio the Foundation has maintained for the past several years. Our most recent annual report can be found at www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/annual-report.
Chronic, painful, and often life-altering, IBD is estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to affect millions of children and adults in the United States. Due to the complicated factors influencing each person's IBD, the often unpredictable and debilitating course of disease, and resulting physical, emotional, psychosocial, and financial impact, IBD patients and their loved ones have unique concerns and needs. No other Dallas based organization serves these needs through groundbreaking programs in research, education, support, advocacy, and awareness - designed to cure IBD and improve patients' lives.
For over fifty years, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation has addressed the unique needs of the IBD community. Our goal is for all IBD patients to achieve remission (reduction or disappearance of disease symptoms) as we search for cures.
We bring together IBD patients and caregivers and engage them in the fight against Crohn’s and colitis. Brought together with the opportunities we see in research, education, support, and advocacy, there is tremendous potential we have to transform the IBD field together.
Increasing Awareness: IBD is poorly understood by both the general population and even by medical professionals. Increased awareness has the potential to lead to earlier diagnosis and more effective treatments. It is only through relentless efforts to educate patients, the medical community, and the general public with the goal to increase awareness, that the Foundation can alleviate the isolation felt by IBD patients and remove the shame and stigma from these diseases. The Foundation not only drives high-profile events which raise awareness and mission-critical funds but has also recently launched a campaign to build disease familiarity, resulting in the creation of broadcast, social media, and radio PSAs, as well as a traveling IBD museum called PoopUp.
Research Input: Patients are actively engaged in our research grant-making process and contribute clinical samples and data to accelerate research. Tens of thousands of adult and pediatric patients are currently contributing data and biosamples, providing researchers with invaluable information and facilitating studies into new treatments and cures as never before. We also actively solicit patient and caregiver input in setting research priorities and reviewing the progress of active studies.
Support Programs: The Foundation operates a nationwide support group program, including in [locations]. The support groups provide a safe, supportive community for both patients and caregivers managing the day-to-day challenges of living with IBD. Support is also available through online groups, community forums, and 1:1 mentorship programs, through which patients and caregivers can connect with others on their disease journey.
Camp Oasis: As the only program of its kind, Camp Oasis addresses the wide range of challenges faced by pediatric patients and offers campers the opportunity to interact in a safe and supportive environment with others in their age group – often for the first time – who face similar issues. The chronic nature of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, coupled with the psychosocial issues patients face, make this program vital to improving the quality of life for children and teens with IBD. The 2021 Virtual Camp Oasis served 1,548 campers, including 413 new campers. After two years of Virtual Camp Oasis, the Foundation will safely offer in-person Camp again this year at 11 host sites, as well as CampOasis@Home – a virtual component that will allow campers who are unable to attend in-person sessions experience this program that is changing lives year after year.
We strive to create a positive culture that welcomes, respects, and values differences while seeking out opportunities to safeguard against inequalities and disparities. We actively seek out people of diverse backgrounds to inform the development of our strategies and activities.
Organization name
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, Northern Texas/ Oklahoma Chapter
Causes
Health Care, Medical/Scientific Research, Youth & Children
Operating Budget
$500,000 - $999,999
Counties Served
Hunt, Wise, Tarrant, Somervell, Rockwall, Parker, Palo Pinto, Navarro, Montague, Kaufman, Johnson, Hood, Grayson, Erath, Ellis, Denton, Dallas, Cooke, Collin
BIPOC Leadership
Neither/None
Address
12801 N. Central Expressway Suite 530