In celebration of people who are living with kidney disease, as well as the individuals and corporations who are working to improve the lives of kidney patients, the American Kidney Fund will host its first national gala, The Hope Affair, at the Newseum on October 6.
The theme of The Hope Affair is “Making News. Leading the Way.” Wolf Blitzer, Anchor of CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, has signed on as the evening’s emcee. Kent J. Thiry, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of DaVita®, is serving as 2009 Event Chair.
“I am incredibly honored to be the Event Chair for this important cause and appreciate the support of the entire kidney care community,” said Thiry. “It is charity affairs like these that help shine the spotlight on kidney disease and the millions of Americans who need our government’s support, both now and in the future.”
As the nation’s attention continues to focus on the cost and impact of chronic health conditions, The Hope Affair shines a spotlight on chronic kidney disease, the nation’s ninth leading cause of death. An estimated 31 million Americans are living with chronic kidney disease, though many are unaware because of the silent nature of the condition.
Left undiagnosed and untreated, chronic kidney disease can progress to kidney failure. For the more than 500,000 Americans who are living with kidney failure, survival depends upon dialysis or transplantation. Kidney failure imposes an enormous cost burden on patients and on the nation, accounting for nearly 6 percent of all Medicare spending. Ensuring kidney disease patients have access to care is a collaborative effort of the American Kidney Fund and the entire renal community.
“The Hope Affair is the American Kidney Fund’s opportunity to draw public attention to chronic kidney disease, and to thank the many individuals and corporations who support our mission to fight kidney disease through direct financial support to kidney patients in need; health education; and prevention efforts,” said LaVarne A. Burton, President and CEO of the American Kidney Fund.