Making a difference with CF care donations

Living with Cystic Fibrosis [CF] does not only affect the individual suffering from the illness, it impacts their family as well. The adaptations of lifestyle are noticed especially when older siblings then have to care for younger ones who may sufferers since they have to be more attentive.

Apart from the excess care of loved ones, financial care is really needed as CF demands that the sufferer takes medication and treatments that are quite expensive; even for a two (2) parent household.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Barbados [Cffb] was established to build awareness, assist with care, and contribute towards finding a cure as capacity is built. Functioning under the slogan of "Aware to Care", The Cffb has been raising funds tirelessly; each year trying to surpass previous levels of contribution as the costs of care continue to escalate.

So far, the assistance being provided is but a trickle by the organization's estimation as so the focus is maintained to build awareness and generate more opportunities for offering care.

Pictured above are parents of children with CF receiving their care package contributions by the Treasurer, Ms. Linda Foster for the year 2015.

In 2017, by the Cffb not having the gala dinner, the organization is faced with the challenge of raising necessary funds to provide for the children whose overseas doctor visits are rapidly approaching. In essence, we want to make a substantial difference in our donations and exceed what we have donated in the past to those families who need urgent assistance.

The responsibility of a charity

Though a charitable organization's main purpose is not a profit motive, it is important that a businesslike approach is taken to running such an organization in order to ensure continued support from those who serve and those who are served.

What does this mean?

In short, here are a number of aspects the leadership of a charity need to consider.

• The leadership structure and roles are sound with clear lines of authority and responsibilities. 
• There must be great document management and file storage. 
• Meeting minutes need to be out around 72 hours of the last meeting. This so the discussions of the meeting can be expedited in time for the next meeting. 
• Volunteers need to understand that they are accountable for what they have promised to contribute. There really is no room for people to lag. If you're unable to adequately contribute; you may actually be a hindrance rather than a help. 
• You accounting and accountability should be current. Complete with audit reviews on an annual basis. 
• Databases need to be current, these include: volunteers, sponsors, donors, supporters.
• Correspondence must be well managed, stored, and traceable. 
• Meeting participants need to arrive promptly, contribute wholeheartedly, and leave with clarity as to what's required of them by the next time there's a meeting. 
• Training needs to be ongoing, complete with a train-the-trainer program. 
• Budgets should be established to ensure that the organization adequately plans for the needs to further their cause. 

Though this list is not exhausted, you begin to get an idea of the vast responsibility required to ensure the smooth functioning of a charity. 

Volunteers - Youth and Finance

Barbados has hope! This statement is due to the caring nature of some of our youth and financial institutions. We at The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Barbados [Cffb] can say this is true, because we have experienced it.

The youth of The St. Michael School and the Frederick Smith Secondary School have joined the volunteer forces of the Cffb as they are preparing their major fundraising initiative for 2015 where proceeds go towards helping the growing numbers of families affected by Cystic Fibrosis [CF]. These youth will be participating in a variety of ways to realize this and will be given certificates for the initiatives within which they participate. This is because the Cffb believes in recognizing the efforts of their supporters, and volunteers are no exception. The volunteer efforts of these students go towards their high school certification on their curriculum.

Corporate entities are more focused on giving back to society, and they are not doing so because they have to, but they genuinely enjoy helping. For this we are thankful at the Cffb, since Royal Bank of Canada [RBC] has graciously offered and tangibly supported our efforts of building awareness and building funds to help those afflicted with CF. We have had a phenomenal time sharing with their team mates who participated in our outreach efforts, and thank them for putting their shoulders alongside ours and really serving. RBC we look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with you and we want to publicly thank you for your support, especially when we recognize that you had choices of organizations that you could have chosen to serve. We have found RBC to be an organization that cares. The actions of these groups cements it in our minds that Barbados has hope!