MARLBOROUGH, Mass., June 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) teamed up with the Boomer Esiason Foundation (BEF) to present Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) with a $50,000 donation to its Adult Cystic Fibrosis program at the Joey O’Donnell Cystic Fibrosis Center. Executives, business owners, entrepreneurs and golf enthusiasts from all over the region gathered at Wedgewood Pines Country Club in Stow, MA on June 19, 2007 to support the fight against cystic fibrosis, a fatal genetic disorder that affects over 30,000 Americans (70,000 worldwide). Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, in 2006, the predicted median age of survival was 37 years.
DCU for Kids, DCU’s charitable foundation, hosted the annual tournament and partnered with BEF to raise funds for cystic fibrosis programs. BEF recently approved a grant request by MGH to establish a program for cystic fibrosis clinical training and research for adult Pulmonary and Critical Care specialists with a passion for finding a cure for cystic fibrosis “We recognize and are happy to support the efforts BEF and MGH continue to make helping those afflicted with cystic fibrosis,” stated Carlo Cestra, President and CEO for DCU.
Dr. Leonard Sicilian, adult program director at the Joey O’Donnell Cystic Fibrosis Center at MGH, accompanied by the CF Center Director Dr. Henry L. Dorkin, accepted the check on behalf of the fellowship. “We are overjoyed to receive this much needed support to achieve our goal of providing future care for patients with cystic fibrosis,” said Dr. Sicilian. “The young physicians who finish the program will go on to become leaders in cystic fibrosis care both in Massachusetts and at academic centers throughout the country. On behalf of MGH, I would like to thank DCU and BEF for their support.”
This is the third year BEF and DCU have joined forces to raise money for cystic fibrosis. Representatives from DCU and Boomer Esiason presented the check to MGH. “One of our primary missions has been to assist researchers and scientists acquire the resources they need to expand and accelerate their efforts to find a cure for cystic fibrosis. BEF continues to work hard to provide assistance in the adult cystic fibrosis community now that patients are living longer,” said Esiason. “It is my pleasure to present this check with DCU to MGH so they may continue to improve the quality of care and treatment adults with cystic fibrosis receive.”
Although a cure has yet to be found for cystic fibrosis, new and improved treatments have helped young children diagnosed with the disease live a relatively “normal” life. The life expectancy for children diagnosed with cystic fibrosis has steadily increased over the past 40 years. Today, people diagnosed with cystic fibrosis live, on average, into their late 30s, with new treatments making it possible for some people to live into their 40s and beyond.
About DCU
DCU (Digital Federal Credit Union) is a full-service, not-for-profit financial institution cooperatively owned by and operated for its members. DCU was chartered in October of 1979. Since then, DCU has been chosen as the credit union for employees and members of more than 700 companies and organizations along with their families. DCU has $3.5 billion in assets and serves more than 300,000 members in all 50 states. DCU has full-service branch offices in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Georgia, and Colorado. For more information about DCU please visit http://www.dcu.org/.
About DCU for Kids
DCU for Kids is a non-profit charitable foundation providing financial support to causes and charities benefiting children and families, founded by Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) in 2005. The Boomer Esiason Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis, Children’s Hospital, Boston, The American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Clubs, The Jimmy Fund, and many other organizations are recent recipients of DCU for Kids support. Since 2005, donations have totaled nearly $1 million. For more information about DCU for Kids please visit http://www.dcuforkids.org/.
About BEF
The Boomer Esiason Foundation is a partnership of leaders in the medical and business communities joining with a committed core of volunteers to provide financial support to research aimed at finding a cure for cystic fibrosis. The Foundation works to heighten education and awareness of cystic fibrosis and to provide a better quality of life for those affected by cystic fibrosis. For more information about BEF please visit http://www.esiason.org/.
About Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program at MGH
Under the auspices of the Joey O’Donnell Cystic Fibrosis Center at MGH, The Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program seeks to provide not only outstanding care to adult patients with cystic fibrosis, but also to train leaders in the field of adult pulmonary medicine who will continue to provide clinical care for patients and research into the management of this disease. The goal of the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program at MGH is to develop a focus in care and research in cystic fibrosis for Medicine fellowship trainees. For more information about the fellowship and MGH please visit http://www.massgeneral.org/.
Adult Cystic Fibrosis Facts -- Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). -- A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that: -- clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and -- obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food. -- About 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year. -- More than 70% of patients are diagnosed by age two. -- Approximately 40% of the CF patient population is age 21 or older. -- In 2006, the predicted median age of survival was 37 years.
For more information about cystic fibrosis contact The Massachusetts-Rhode Island Cystic Fibrosis Center in Natick, or the national CF Foundation website at http://www.cff.org/.
Digital Federal Credit Union
CONTACT: Tim Garner of Digital Federal Credit Union, +1-508-263-6856, [email protected], or Natalie Stout of Boomer Esiason Foundation,+1-913-744-6105, or [email protected], or Jennifer Gundersen ofMassachusetts General Hospital, +1-617-724-6425, or [email protected],or Rachel Poor of Wallwork Curry McKenna, +1-617-266-8200 x23, [email protected], for Digital Federal Credit Union
Web site: http://www.dcu.org/http://www.dcuforkids.org/http://www.esiason.org/http://www.massgeneral.org/http://www.cff.org/
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