The mission of the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan is to prevent kidney disease and improve the quality of life for those living with it.

The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, Inc. is partially funded by public donations through golf tournaments, charity walks, raffles, and other special events. The Foundation also raises money by soliciting donations of money, cars, or even household contributions and clothing.

Donations of clothing or useable household items are sold to Sunshine Thrift Stores of Michigan, Inc. through a unique arrangement allowing the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan to focus on other fund raising events and programs, and use the proceeds generated from this sale to fund prevention programs, patient services, education, and research. Sunshine Thrift Stores resells the merchandise to the public assuming all costs and risk associated with doing so.

PATIENT SERVICES

• Kids' Camp
  Our camp program provides children with kidney and urological diseases an opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities and to develop friendships with peers.
  
  
• Peer Mentoring Program
  We train qualified peers with chronic kidney disease to be positive role models with whom other renal consumers can relate to, identify with and learn from.
  
  
• Luann Scheppleman-Eib Patient Emergency Fund
  We offer limited financial assistance to qualified patients with emergency needs.
  
  
• Public Policy Program
  The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan advocates on behalf of people with chronic kidney disease through the legislature, government agencies and health care systems.

EDUCATION

• Prevention Programs
  In the NKFM’s Healthy Hair starts with a Healthy Body™ and Dodge the Punch: Live Right™ programs, NKFM staff trains African American hair stylists and barbers to speak with their clients about chronic kidney disease and its causes. Similarly, in the Healthy Families start with You program, the NKFM trains coordinators at Head Start locations to speak with parents about keeping their families healthy through nutrition and exercise.  Regie’s Rainbow Adventure teaches pre-school aged children about nutrition and exercise using the colors of the rainbow. Our Healthy Communities Start with You initiative provides community members with opportunities to gain skills and tools needed to achieve excellence in patient self-care and improve health outcomes through using four evidence-based programs:  PATH or Personal Action Toward Health, Tomando Control de su Salud, EnhanceFitness, and Diabetes Self-Management Training.
  
  
• Professional Education
  Statewide professional education conferences and workshops are offered for physicians, nurses, dietitians and social workers which address current treatment advancements.  These programs insure the highest quality of care for people with chronic kidney disease.
  
  
• K.I.C.K. “Kids Interested in the Care of their Kidneys”
  This high school education program benefits students by promoting awareness of organ donation and chronic kidney disease prevention.
  
  
• Kids and Kidneys
  This elementary school program teaches 5th/6th graders the importance of their kidneys and how best to take care of them.
  
  
• R.I.S.E. – Rehabilitation, Information, Support, and Empowerment
  This four-day workshop focuses on functional and vocational rehabilitation for people with chronic kidney disease.  Individuals are educated about health care, optimal treatment, volunteer opportunities, self-esteem issues, employment incentives and work skills.
  
  
• Public Education
  The Foundation educates the community about chronic kidney disease and organ donation through various campaign efforts including “March is Kidney Month,” “National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week” and the “Holiday Resolution Campaign.”
   

For more information, please visit www.nkfm.org