WASHINGTON, D.C.–The National Kidney Foundation Serving the National Capital Area held its 29th Annual Kidney Ball on Nov. 21 at the Hilton Washington. Nearly 1,200 of the Washington, D.C. area’s business, government, and community leaders, as well as kidney patients and their families, attended the gala.
Raising as much as 1.1 million of dollars in an economy in recession is quite an achievement. William Couper, President Mid-Atlantic Bank of America and Chair of this year’s event explained: “We have a lot of people who helped reach out to corporations and individuals. Kidney disease is very prevalent in Washington, D.C. area, so it’s not too hard to make it a case to get people’s support.”
The Washington, D.C. area has the highest prevalence of kidney disease in the nation, with more than 700,000 people affected, nearly 6,000 on dialysis, and more than 1,600 waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant. Nationwide, more than 26 million Americans, 13 percent of the adult population, live with kidney and urinary tract diseases and annually, more than 70,000 people die from these diseases.
Many of the activists themselves have personal experiences with kidney disease. One of them is Ron Paul, President of Ronald D. Paul Companies, Inc. and Chairman of Eagle Bank. He is a two-time kidney recipient, with the first time being when his daughters were only 4 and 7. With such personal experiences, Paul knows how important the Foundation’s cause is.
“The waiting list for organ transplants now exceeds 100,000 names. The reality is that if donors do not step up, or are not found, thousands will not survive the wait. It has been and continues to be totally unacceptable,” Paul said. He received the 2009 Outstanding Achievement Award for his two decades of service to the National Kidney Foundation.
Raising as much as 1.1 million of dollars in an economy in recession is quite an achievement. William Couper, President Mid-Atlantic Bank of America and Chair of this year’s event explained: “We have a lot of people who helped reach out to corporations and individuals. Kidney disease is very prevalent in Washington, D.C. area, so it’s not too hard to make it a case to get people’s support.”
The Washington, D.C. area has the highest prevalence of kidney disease in the nation, with more than 700,000 people affected, nearly 6,000 on dialysis, and more than 1,600 waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant. Nationwide, more than 26 million Americans, 13 percent of the adult population, live with kidney and urinary tract diseases and annually, more than 70,000 people die from these diseases.
Many of the activists themselves have personal experiences with kidney disease. One of them is Ron Paul, President of Ronald D. Paul Companies, Inc. and Chairman of Eagle Bank. He is a two-time kidney recipient, with the first time being when his daughters were only 4 and 7. With such personal experiences, Paul knows how important the Foundation’s cause is.
“The waiting list for organ transplants now exceeds 100,000 names. The reality is that if donors do not step up, or are not found, thousands will not survive the wait. It has been and continues to be totally unacceptable,” Paul said. He received the 2009 Outstanding Achievement Award for his two decades of service to the National Kidney Foundation.
