“The more money we can raise, the better chance we stand of finding a cure.”

For the past two years, Angela Gutierrez has been actively involved in her Texas community’s efforts to partner with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to help find a cure.  After losing a friend in high school to the disease which claims a child nationwide every day, Angela became a part of her local area’s Cystic Fibrosis fundraising effort, The North Texas Wine Opener (www.cfwineopener.org).  At the Wine Opener, neighbors and community supporters come together to participate in this fundraising auction and collaborative donation event which has raised over $1.5 MILLION for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation since its’ inception.  As Angela states, “In the 50’s, kids affected with cystic fibrosis weren’t expected to make it to school age.  With each dollar we raise that goes directly to research and finding a cure, the life expectancy has increased to 37 years old.  Money raised makes a difference for the families affected.” 

Cystic Fibrosis affects 30,000 people in the US and due to its’ relatively small prevalence, government and pharmaceutical dollars are not heavily invested in this defective gene disease that causes breathing and other health complications.  As a result, families affected must rely on the support of community fundraisers such as Angela’s and private research dollars to advance the path to find a cure.  This means that every dollar really counts towards and as Angela says, “Knowing that the Verizon Foundation matched my donation means that there is that much more being contributed toward finding a cure.  Some of the new treatments they are working on right now could be game-changers…or even lifesaving for those living with CF.”

To join Angela as part of the Verizon Matching Gifts Program, contact Engagement@verizonfoundation.org