The National Kidney Foundation of Illinois (NKFI), a major voluntary health organization, seeks to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, improve the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases, and increase the availability of all organs for transplantation. The red "thread of life" element woven throughout this website visually depicts the connections that the NKFI continues to provide for patients, families, transplant recipients, healthcare professionals, Illinois communities and organizations.

Learn more about the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois

For more information: kidney@nkfi.org

215 West Illinois, Suite 1C
Chicago, IL 60654
PHONE:(312) 321-1500
FAX:(312) 321-1505

Healthcare Professionals Patients & Families Giving to NKFI

 

 

 

Please consider making a donation today to the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois. Your support will allow the NKFI to continue to provide FREE, comprehensive screenings for diabetes, high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease, as well as provide information on transplantation and organ donation.

justgive.org is a secure site and all donations made here will come directly to the NKFI. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

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FREE KIDNEY DISEASE, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND DIABETES SCREENINGS!

The National Kidney Foundation of Illinois offers FREE comprehensive screenings for kidney disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes through the KidneyMobile throughout the year! For a complete list of screening locations and dates, please visit www.kidneymobile.org.

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10am - 3pm
Oak Forest Hospital Auditorium
15900 South Cicero Avenue | Oak Forest, Illinois
Join the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois and our partners in celebrating World Kidney Day 2010! Participants will enjoy free, comprehensive screenings for high blood pressure, diabetes and chronic kidney disease, as well as healthy eating and exercise demonstrations. For more information, please contact Nicole Sisen at 312.321.1500 x246 or via email to nsisen@nkfi.org.
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Upcoming Events & Programs in 2010!

2010 World Kidney Day
Thursday, March 11, 2010
10am - 3pm
Oak Forest Hospital Auditorium
15900 South Cicero Avenue | Oak Forest, Illinois
Join the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois and our partners in celebrating World Kidney Day 2010! Participants will enjoy free, comprehensive screenings for high blood pressure, diabetes and chronic kidney disease, as well as healthy eating and exercise demonstrations. For more information, please contact Nicole Sisen at 312.321.1500 x246 or via email to nsisen@nkfi.org.

Living Well...With Your Transplant
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Northern Illinois University Conference Center
8500 East State Street | Rockford, Illinois
Living Well...With Your Transplant is an informative program and networking opportunity for transplant recipients, transplant candidates and their family members, care givers and friends. Presentations include: Healthy You: Bones, Body & Heart; Travel Tips; Health Wellness & the Spirit; and New Developments in Transplant. The National Kidney Foundation of Illinois and the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin are pleased to present this program along with the American Liver Foundation - Great Lakes Division and Transplant Wisconsin.

Living With Transplantation - includes Preparing For Transplantation Break Out Session
Saturday, April 10 | 8am - 3pm
Marriott O'Hare
8535 West Higgins Road
Chicago, IL 60631
Living With Transplantation & Preparing for Transplantation is an educational event for all organ transplant recipients, as well as those who are waiting or contemplating a transplant of all organ types. This event typically has break out sessions on information including maintaining transplants for as long as possible; discussion on the pre-transplant workup; post-transplant lifestyle; and financial considerations for patients who have had a transplant and those who are waiting. Please click here to download the registration form. For more information, please contact Diane Hollingsworth at 312.321.1500 x226 or via email to dhollingsworth@nkfi.org.

ICNNT, ICNSW & ICRN Spring Conference
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Haray Caray's
70 Yorktown Center | Lombard, Illinois
Spring educational conference for the Illinois Council of Nephrology Nurses & Technicians; Illinois Council of Nephrology Social Workers; and the Illinois Council on Renal Nutrition. Councils will meet both together and separately and CEUs will be provided. Click here to download the registration form. Please contact Diane Hollingsworth at 312.321.1500 x226 or via email to dhollingsworth@nkfi.org for more information.

2010 Controversies in Nephrology - Debates
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Maggiano's Chicago
Join the Scientific Advisory Board of the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois for an educational program for nephrology and transplant professionals on topics that address current practices in kidney disease management. This friendly competition will bring controversial issues to the forefront and provide a forum for them to be debated and discussed. Nephrology fellows will debate and will be judged on their preparation, presentation and outcome. Debate topics will be: Bundling of Dialysis Services is in the best interest of the patient and ESA's should be used in chronic kidney disease patients in the treatment of anemia. To download a reply form, please click here. For more information, please contact Diane Hollingsworth at 312.321.1500 x226 or via email to dhollingsworth@nkfi.org.

Gift of Life Walk & Family Health Fair
Sunday, June 27, 2010 (TENTATIVE)
Soldier Field Great Lawn | Chicago (TENTATIVE)
Don't miss your chance to take part in one of the summer's best events - the Gift of Life Walk! Last year, more than 1,000 people enjoyed entertainment, refreshments, healthy living tips and a leisurely three mile walk along beautiful Lake Michigan. Nearly $100,000 was raised in 2009 after expenses, which directly benefits programs like free screenings; educational days for patients, family members and healthcare providers; and camp for children with kidney disease. For more information on the 2010 Walk, please call Anne Black at 312.321.1500 x224 or via email to ablack@nkfi.org.

Kidney Camp
Sunday, July 18 - Friday, July 23
Camp Duncan | Ingleside, Illinois
For one week, children ages 7-15 with chronic kidney disease, on dialysis or living with kidney transplants can experience the freedom, fun and independence of a traditional summer camp - free of charge! Activities include swimming, boating, horseback riding and arts and crafts. All of this is done in a safe environment where they continue to receive their medications and/or dialysis treatments at a local clinic. The NKFI has been able to continue this tradition due in large part to the generosity of Benjamin B. Green-Field Foundation and individual donations. For more information, please contact Nancy LePain at 312.321.1500 x232 or via email to nlepain@nkfi.org.

Middle Market Open Golf Tournament
Monday, July 26, 2010
Olympia Fields Country Club | Olympia Fields, Illinois
The Middle Market Open has quickly become the midwest's hottest golf tournament! For three years in a row, both the North and South courses of beautiful Olympia Fields Country Club have been filled and a waiting list formed. Last year's tournament set a record, raising more than $223,000 after expenses for the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois. Don't miss your chance to participate this year! For more information, please contact Anne Black at 312.321.1500 x224 or via email to ablack@nkfi.org.

US Transplant Games
Friday, July 30 - Wednesday, August 4
University of Wisconsin | Madison, Wisconsin
The U.S. Transplant Games is the world's largest gathering of transplant recipients, living donors and donor families and there is nothing quite like it. People attend for many different reasons, but share commonalities: they are each filled with a tremendous enthusiasm for life and are inspired by the touching stories of perserverence and hope. The NKF U.S. Transplant Games demonstrates the success of transplantation, honors those who have given the gift of life and calls attention to the need for more organ donors. For more information on the games, please visit Team Illinois' website at www.team-illinois.org or contact team manager, Mary Schlereth, at 312.706.6771 or via email to teamILmgr@aol.com.

25th Annual Gift of Life Gala
Fall, 2010
Join the NKFI as the Gift of Life Gala marks a quarter century! This exciting annual event typically includes a silent auction, raffle prizes, dinner and dancing. For more information, please contact Anne Black at 312.321.1500 x224 or via email to ablack@nkfi.org.

For more information on NKFI events or programs, please call 312.321.1500.

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Recently Completed Programs and Events

Lifetime of Service Award - Fredric L. Coe, MD, FACP, FASN
Held Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The Standard Club
320 South Plymouth Court | Chicago, Illinois
Over 100 professionals and friends joined Dr. Fredric Coe to honor his years of service and tireless efforts in the study of urinary tract stone disease and his contributions to patient care.  Dr. Coe joins a very distinctive list of Lifetime of Service honorees including Dr. George Dunea, Dr. Jessie Hano, Dr. Todd Ing, Dr. Adrian Katz, Dr. Marshall Lindheimer, Dr. Norman Simon and Dr. Frank Stuart. Lifetime of Service was generously supported by contributions from AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Fresenius Medical Care, Litholink, OrthoBiotech, Roche Pharmaceuticals and many grateful patients and associates.  A special thanks to the planning committee:  Dr. Andrew Aronson, Dr. John Asplin,  Dr. Murray Favus, Dr. Michelle Josephson, Dr. Stuart Sprague and Dr. Elaine Worcester.

Gift of Life Gala
Held Saturday, November 14, 2009
Navy Pier Grand Ballroom | Chicago, Illinois
The Gift of Life Gala raised more than $117,000 after expenses to support the programs and initiatives of the NKFI. Guests of the gala were delighted by performances from stilt walkers, contortionists and jugglers, who turned the Navy Pier Grand Ballroom into an eclectic circus environment. The Gift of Life Award was presented to Martin Mozes, MD, FACS and Burl Osborne for their contributions to transplantation and organ donation. Mary Begel, Sharon Fabris, Terry McDermott and Julie Housman representated long term kidney transplant recipients - each has had their kidney for at least 30 years! Many thanks to all of our sponsors, but specifically to our Platinum Sponsor Baxter and our Gold Sponsors Dr. & Mrs. Ronald Hamburger, Merck & Company and Walgreens.

Multi-Disciplinary Clinical Conference
Held Thursday, September 24, 2009
Chicago Marriott O'Hare | Chicago, Illinois

The 10th Annual Multi-Disciplinary Clinical Conference was a great success! Nearly 200 renal professionals attended and had the opportunity to network with their peers, attend a variety of comprehensive workshops and visit with pharmaceutical company exhibitors. Presentations included:

Hemodynamics of the Dialysis Patient
National Healthcare Policy and Its Effect on Renal Care
Depression and Anxiety with Chronic Illness

For more information on this event, please contact Diane Hollingsworth at 312.321.1500 x226 or via email to dhollingsworth@nkfi.org.

Gift of Life Walk & Family Health Fair - Chicago
Soldier Field Great Lawn, Chicago
Held Sunday, June 28, 2009

The 10th Annual Gift of Life Walk & Family Health Fair raised more than $92,000 after expenses to support the prevention programs and organ donor awareness initiatives of the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois. More than 1,000 people gathered at the Soldier Field Great Lawn in Chicago for a morning of exercise, comaraderie and education. Many thanks to Baxter, Presenting Sponsor; Trader Joe's, Refreshment Sponsor; and our Check Point and Health Fair Sponsors Abbott, Fresenius Medical Care, Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network, Lifeline Vascular Access, AMAG, Astellas Pharma, Genentech, PhRMA, Roche, University of Illinois Transplant, Wellbound, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. Thank you also to our honorary chair Steve Baskerville from CBS2 Chicago and Famos from Bizar Entertainment for getting the group enthused, warmed up and on their way!

Gift of Life Walk & Family Health Fair - Champaign
U of I Arboretum, Champaign
Held Saturday, July 18, 2009

The Champaign Chapter of the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois hosted the area's first Gift of Life Walk & Health Fair in July. The 5K walk was held at the U of I Arboretum, where the route took Walkers through the beautiful grounds and back to the Health Fair, near the entrance of the Noel Welcome Garden. The health fair following the Walk featured dialysis center and hospital representatives from Avantus Renal Care – Champaign Urbana Dialysis Center and Christie Clinic, who distributed information and healthcare materials on healthcare options and lifestyle choices. Guests were entertained throughout the morning with live music from local band 2 Bad Actors, music from Lite Rock 97.5 FM and our MC Diane Ducey, massages and delicious refreshments from Michael’s Catering, County Market and Texas Roadhouse.

5th Annual Middle Market Open Golf Tournament
Olympia Fields Country Club, Olympia Fields
Held Monday, July 27, 2009

This year's Middle Market Open Golf Tournament was a record-setter! Once again, both the North and South Courses of Olympia Fields were filled by foursomes from Chicago's top commercial banks, law firms, private equity groups, mergers and acquisition companies, and accounting firms. Many thanks to MMO Platinum Sponsors Harris Bank and Katten Muchin Rosenman for their generous continued support of the tournament. The MMO raised more than $223,000 after expenses to support the life saving programs of the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois.
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NKFI Research Grant Applications

The application for NKFI Research Grants will be available fall, 2010. Funding for this two year grant cycle begins July 1, 2011. Please contact Kate O'Connor at 312.321.1500 x228 or via email to koconnor@nkfi.org for additional information.

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Need a list of dialysis units in Illinois? Please click here.

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Looking for a job in the renal field?

Click here to visit the Kidney Career Center on the National Kidney Foundation website.

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YOUR OLD CELL PHONE COULD DO A WORLD OF GOOD FOR THE NKFI!

Did you know that cell phones contain toxic materials and are harmful to the environment if they're not discarded properly? Cell phones donated to the NKFI are given new life and provided to those in need or discarded in an environmentally friendly way.

Please send any cell phone you no longer use to the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois. If your place of business would be willing to put out a cell phone collection box, please contact Anne Black at 312.321.1500 x224 or via email to ablack@nkfi.org for more information.

 

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