Statements

Mission

Tennessee Kidney Foundation's mission is to empower and support those at risk or affected by kidney disease. TKF's vision is a Tennessee where the rate of kidney disease is minimized and everyone who needs care receives care.

Background

Tennessee Kidney Foundation was founded in 1972 by a group of visionary leaders who had a vision for an organization that would provide support and hope for people affected by kidney disease. The rate of kidney disease has grown dramatically since the organization was founded, with nearly 500,000 people at risk throughout the state and more than 5,000 in kidney failure right here in Middle Tennessee. Education about kidney disease is one of TKF's focus areas, and for good reason. Increased awareness and education about kidney health is paramount to minimizing the rate of kidney disease: more than 48% of those with severely reduced kidney function are not aware of having kidney disease and 96% of those who have kidney damage and mildly reduced function are not aware of having kidney disease. Prevention is key. Through its free community kidney health screenings, TKF can both help identify risk factors and early stages of kidney disease and empower individuals at risk or affected with information to slow or stop the progression of the disease. What about those who are already affected by kidney failure? TKF offers hope and support by increasing access to medical care through its transportation assistance program. The single greatest barrier to care is transportation and TKF provided nearly 14,000 transit passes for ESRD patients in 2016-17 for nearly 175 individual each month who would otherwise have no means to access care. Currently TKF provides assistance to over 250 clients at over 6000 trips to and from dialysis each month.

Impact

Accomplishments: Access to Medical Care: Over 56,000 transit passes were provided to dialysis and transplant patients for whom access to medical care was the biggest barrier to care. Preventive health Screenings: More than 700 individuals received free preventive kidney health screenings throughout middle Tennessee Financial stability: $290,000 was raised through The Prohibition Ball in April 2018; $150,000 raised through the Liberty Mutual Insurance Invitational in June 2018; $60,000 raised through the Love Your Kidneys Walk Nashville in November. All three events surpassed income goals, allowing TKF to grow. Community Engagement: The most successful The Big Payback event in the history of TKF brought in nearly $20,000 in community support and TKF raised over $18,000 in it's Year End Campaign, more than doubling the amount raised in 2017. TKF received a Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance partnership development grant to develop framework around a formalized partnership between TKF, Vanderbilt Center for Kidney Disease, Meharry, and faith partners to the end of providing increased education and prevention programming throughout Middle Tennessee. Strategic Direction: the 2017-2020 strategic plan is under development with directives to continue driving the organization forward Board Development: four new members joined the board, including a kidney donor and the director of a kidney transplant center to provide valuable insight as TKF grows its focus on transplant education and support Recognition: TKF was won the Salute to Excellence Kraft CPAs board member of the year award. Continued Goals: Increase the number of preventive screenings and individuals screened. Identify pediatric program growth opportunities and expand transplant and prevention education programs with at least three new partners. Develop strategic partnerships with key regional hospitals and affiliated medical practices in order to identify individuals with CKD stages 1-3 for targeted education as well as financial support to further ensure TKF's sustainability. Develop additional partnerships with key Middle TN Churches for outreach and fundraising purposes.

Needs

Financial support for living kidney donation education and awareness activitiesVolunteer support for data management related to kidney health screening activities and outreach activities Funding to support access to medical care, specifically transportation for dialysis and transplant patients, which is a lifeline for life-saving treatment 3 times weekly. Transportation costs range from $50 to $260 per month, per person. Communications strategy support to create and assist with the implementation of a plan to provide community-wide information about kidney health and TKF's programs

CEO Statement

At TKF, we encourage people to talk about kidneys. Kidney health is vitally important yet often takes a backseat to other health issues. 96% of people with kidney damage or disease do not know they have it, so the importance of increasing community-wide awareness about kidney disease is paramount. I should know: my mom, who was an otherwise healthy 35-year-old woman, was diagnosed with kidney disease nearly 30 years ago. She was shocked to learn that her kidneys were damaged and, without intervention, she would experience kidney failure quickly. Fortunately, she was able to access care prevent the progression of the disease. The number of people affected by kidney disease is staggering - more than 4,500 on dialysis in Middle Tennessee alone - and the number of people affected by kidney disease grows at a rate of 10% or more annually. However, kidney disease can be prevented and the progression of the disease can be slowed or stopped through early detection, health and wellness changes, and management. Providing preventive screenings is vitally important so more people are aware of the risks and symptoms of kidney disease and are empowered with tools to prevent kidney failure. Thanks to the support of the community here in Middle Tennessee, TKF answered provided nearly 14,000 transit passes last year for dialysis patients who otherwise would have no means to access their live-saving care. TKF also provided assistance for individuals in kidney failure and transplant recipients who needed help paying for food, utilities, housing and bridging the gap between the cost of meeting basic needs and the limited income they earn. TKF also screened more than 500 individuals at kidney health screenings throughout Middle Tennessee. TKF is the only organization in Middle Tennessee meeting the needs of kidney patients, families and people at risk for kidney disease. With your support, TKF will not only continue in that work but do more to provide hope and support for people when they need it most. Together, we will make a measurable impact on the prevalence of kidney disease and the frequency of transplantation in our community.

Board Chair Statement

TKF is poised for growth and increased support for people affected by kidney disease and transplant in Middle Tennessee. TKF's board and staff have renewed energy and enthusiasm about the direction of the organization, and TKF will serve increasingly more patients, reach more at-risk individuals with screenings and touch more lives with education and resources about kidney transplant and especially living kidney donation.

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Human Services  - Transportation Assistance
Secondary Category:	Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines  - Kidney Diseases
Tertiary Category:	Health Care  - Public Health

Areas Served

TKF provides services for people at risk or affected by kidney disease and transplantation in all 40 counties in Middle Tennessee.

TN - Bedford

TN - Cannon

TN - Cheatham

TN - Clay

TN - Coffee

TN - Cumberland

TN - Davidson

TN - DeKalb

TN - Dickson

TN - Fentress

TN - Franklin

TN - Giles

TN - Hickman

TN - Houston

TN - Humphreys

TN - Jackson

TN - Lawrence

TN - Lewis

TN - Lincoln

TN - Macon

TN - Marshall

TN - Maury

TN - Montgomery

TN - Moore

TN - Overton

TN - Perry

TN - Pickett

TN - Putnam

TN - Robertson

TN - Rutherford

TN - Smith

TN - Stewart

TN - Sumner

TN - Trousdale

TN - Van Buren

TN - Warren

TN - Wayne

TN - White

TN - Williamson

TN - Wilson

TN