AS NATIONAL PRESENTING SPONSOR OF THE 2018 KIDNEY WALKS, FMCNA PLEDGES $750,000 TOWARD KIDNEY DISEASE RESEARCH AND SUPPORT
WALTHAM, Mass. Feb. 28, 2018 – Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA), the nation’s leading renal care company, and the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), announce that FMCNA will serve as National Presenting Sponsor of the 2018 Kidney Walk series, the nation’s largest ongoing fundraiser to fight kidney disease. The partnership, launched at the start of National Kidney Month, sets an ambitious goal for FMCNA to contribute $750,000 this year toward kidney disease research and support.
Last year, more than 3,700 FMCNA employees joined more than 260 teams at 74 Kidney Walks across the country, raising nearly $300,000 – the most ever raised by a National Team – and surpassing the $250,000 company goal.
FMCNA aims to increase that contribution to $750,000 in 2018 through a $250,000 National Presenting Sponsorship, increased corporate outreach and participating again as a National Team, bringing together the collective power of FMCNA’s employee volunteers to make a greater social impact on the broader kidney community. FMCNA leaders throughout the country will once again serve as Corporate Walk Chairs for local Kidney Walks.
“We are proud of our longstanding relationship with the National Kidney Foundation,” said Bill Valle, Chief Executive Officer of Fresenius Medical Care North America, who will serve as the Inaugural National Corporate Walk Chair. “We were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support our employees demonstrated through the 2017 Walks, but certainly not surprised. We see how our team members go above and beyond for every patient every day and look forward to helping even more people affected by kidney disease through our partnership this year.”
Since 2012, nearly 14,000 walkers from Fresenius Medical Care-affiliated teams have raised more than $1 million in the fight against kidney disease.
“We are honored to announce this collaboration with our national partner, Fresenius Medical Care North America, just ahead of National Kidney Month,” said Kevin Longino, CEO, National Kidney Foundation, and a kidney transplant patient. “Their impassioned employees’ commitment to the Kidney Walk is a great support to the education, programs and services that NKF provides nationwide to combat kidney disease.”
Held in more than 100 communities, more than 85,000 walkers join NKF in raising more than $9 million each year to help kidney patients and their families. More than 81 cents of every dollar donated directly supports NKF programs and services.
About Fresenius Medical Care North America
Fresenius Medical Care North America is the premier healthcare company focused on providing the highest quality care to people with renal and other chronic conditions. Through its industry-leading network of dialysis facilities, outpatient cardiac and vascular labs, and urgent care centers, as well as the country’s largest practice of hospitalist and post-acute providers, Fresenius Medical Care North America provides coordinated health care services at pivotal care points for hundreds of thousands of chronically ill customers throughout the continent. As the world’s largest fully integrated renal company, it offers specialty pharmacy and laboratory services, and manufactures and distributes the most comprehensive line of dialysis equipment, disposable products and renal pharmaceuticals. For more information, visit the FMCNA website at https://fmcna.com.
Kidney Disease Facts
Thirty million American adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease – and most aren’t aware of it. One in three American adults are at risk for chronic kidney disease. Risk factors for kidney disease include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and family history of kidney failure. People of African American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian or Pacific Islander descent are at increased risk for developing the disease. African Americans are three times more likely than Whites, and Hispanics are nearly one and a half times more likely than non-Hispanics to develop end stage renal disease (kidney failure).
About National Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is the largest, most comprehensive and longstanding organization dedicated to the awareness, prevention and treatment of kidney disease. For more information about the NKF visit www.kidney.org.
