Funds, Fundraising, and Funding needs

Talk about a demand that's exponential! We've grown well beyond this core group of initial volunteers.

Have you ever wondered why is it that funds are never enough, requiring fundraising to be ongoing, and the funding needs seem to be more than either of the first two can adequately cover?

If you're going at the frenetic pace like we are at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Barbados [Cffb], you seldom have the time to pause and ponder. Currently, our funds don't even cover the basic needs of the foundation, which are to provide adequate funding for those affected with Cystic Fibrosis [CF] to get adequate medical treatment.

To give a bit of background, we have so much gratitude for US Based Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for the assistance they gave us when we first started out. The gave selflessly of their information, support and guidance that we were able to become established quite quickly and as a young charity, become well organized with proper structure.

In our few short years, we were able to accomplish quite a bit to assist those on the island that were seeking care. Whereas our US counterparts are "Adding tomorrows", here in Barbados, we are "Aware to Care"; building awareness within the country and indeed the region with our information about an illness that so few knew about, even though there were others who had it over the years.

In short order, we need funds.

Our fundraising efforts included gala dinners with silent auctions, the walk/run which has now become an annual event. We did awareness programs with the medical fraternity when we invited our US-based supporters to come in and assist with the sharing of the information. Still, we feel there's a shortfall. We feel as if we haven't done enough. Why? It's because this is an illness that is expensive, it mutates, and the learning curve is steep. We need to raise the bar.

Others may have this challenge as well, and we need to make our needs known. Our fundraising needs are great and need to continue with the ever increasing costs of medication and treatments which are not available on our shores of Barbados.

Our funding needs include:

• the need to support the families who are affected by CF to get medical care and medicine for their family members who are ill with CF. 
• the needs to have an established secretariat from where we can function on a permanent basis where the public can better interact with us and vice versa. 
• administration of our organization on a permanent basis since CF does not take a break, neither should the organization. We need admin equipment, including computers, telecommunications, furniture, stationery, and the list can go on. 
• the ability to contribute our share to finding a cure to the international medical research programs. 
• the training of doctors in the special field of pediatric pulmonology so that we can reduce the need to travel overseas to seek medical care. The medication is still an overseas cost, but at least the provision of on-island medical care can eliminate/significantly reduce the foreign exchange pressure the families face financially for not only the person affected by CF, but those who must accompany them. 
• the training of volunteers can be usually met with venue rental fees. Sometimes we can negotiate facilitators to donate their time, but it is not always possible. There are areas where we lack internal competence where we must seek professional help, e.g. audit reviews and other types of programs which enable us to maintain a presence in the public domain.

As usual, volunteers are a must, as there are a number of programs that we would like to implement but are short of manpower. So our topic is one that tells you. our needs expand exponentially; often faster than our ability to meet them.

Complacency is not an option

Cystic Fibrosis [CF] is an illness that presents situations that are dynamic. There is just not a blanket approach that can be taken to the treatment of the illness. The result is that a remedy/cure remains elusive.

To any organization that caters to the challenges of CF one thing is certain, we cannot become complacent. When we do something one year and it becomes successful, we cannot adopt a cookie cutter approach and decide that this particular approach will be taken from now on. We like the illness that we are addressing must evolve, we must do more.

In earlier days, we held the gala fundraiser, it became an event that many looked forward to on an annual basis. It grew in popularity and reputation, but the benefits derived fell. Instead of making money that could be contributed to the cause of aiding those who suffer from CF, the organization itself began to suffer from the associated costs.

So then, we have had to seek alternate ways of raising funds. Is it easy, certainly not by the stretch of our imagination. Daily we recognize the reality of Luke 10:2, where it says, "The harvest truly is great but the labourers are few". We have to heed the second part of that verse which is to ask for others to come help.

Can you contribute? Yes, you can!

There are committees and sub-committees where so much needs to be done to be compliant. We need think tanks where ideas for fundraisers are developed that would keep our supporters engaged. We need to have ongoing fundraising since it is not only our desire to help the sufferers but to raise awareness, contribute to our global effort of finding the ever elusive cure(s). The ever expensive and necessary medication which those affected by CF needs every month.

We also need to race against time, since as we win the "battle" in keeping people with CF alive, we have to develop programs for when they age, since jobs would not be able to pay them at the levels they require to maintain the costs of medication and care that make parents stagger financially and emotionally when they have to provide for those with CF within the family, while still maintaining the other elements of family life. 

We have to cope since family situations change due to the stresses resulting in breakdown of the family via divorce, pending retirement, job displacement, rising costs of living, and fuel costs that make airline travel for medical care even more difficult. The amount of moving parts to be considered when dealing with caring for someone with CF can be overwhelming if not put in perspective with the required and welcome assistance.

How can we address these various scenarios? Only with the grace of God, and the help of volunteers. We need you. Please, register today with us indicating your areas of strength that can help us advance our fight against CF.

We are the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Barbados, and we are Aware to Care!

Gratitude

Have you ever taken the time to count your blessings? You will be amazed at the things that are often taken for granted by others that can mean life for you. At the Cffb we are fortunate for the following:

• To have supportive families and friends being instrumental in assisting in realizing the vision of the Cffb for those affected by Cystic Fibrosis (CF) 
• To live in an era of social media so that we can get our messages out to educate people about who we are, why we do what we are doing, how they can help, when we need to do so, and what are the areas of challenge we face as an organization that prohibits us from doing more for those who are afflicted by the illness. 
• That we are gaining recognition locally by the medical fraternity
• That donors, sponsors, and supporters generally recognize that we are doing everything, within limitations, to function as a bonafide charitable entity
• That we have the interactions and advise of the wider global Cystic Fibrosis bodies that keep us focused on and educated about what we should be considering in our fight against CF
• We are able to embark upon another year with teams of excited and thoughtful supporters who will attend our events and activities to ensure that we realize targets set to assist those who suffer from CF

While we say thanks for all you have done in any way for us up until 2017, we look forward to interacting with you during 2018 as we strive to meet and exceed previous targets. We wish you a happy and wonderfully blessed new year. Thank you for being a part of the teams that serve to win victories over CF. 

Reflections of a charity

Serving in a charity is never easy. It always seems that there is more to be done than they are people to fulfill the various roles and activities. Attracting and mobilizing volunteers is a never-ending, continuous process that one cannot become weary of doing. Activities have to be planned and coordinated with the various public stakeholders with whom a charity interacts. Yet...

...when you do get a moment to pause and think, even for a little while, the questions come.

1. Are we doing enough of the right things to help those for whom the charity was designed to help?
2. What if family situations change, especially when children are involved, what systems are in place to fill the gap? E.g. Divorces, the death/serious injury of a parent, and the list can go on. 
3. Coming closer to home; what are we doing other than trying to raise funds to help those with Cystic Fibrosis? 
1. Meetings have discussed getting doctors certified to assist sufferers locally and reduce at least the travel expenses of having to commute overseas for medical treatment. 
2. So far, we have been unable to contribute to the global effort of finding a cure. 
3. Our capacity for at least doing a local diagnostic is far from being able to determine if someone genuinely has CF, without them having to travel overseas. 
4. We need new fundraising activities as the public grows bored with the current programs. 
5. Research and development are needed so that we can determine what is needed to enable the foundation to obtain a headquarters, permanent staffing that can interact with the public when volunteers are earning their keep to sustain themselves and their families personally, new sources of donors, sponsors, and other supporters. 
6. Sound and dedicated administration practices and procedures implemented and sustained to ensure compliance of the foundation in a manner that's timely. Ensuring that we can capitalize on every available incentive that saves leakage of funds. 
4. Growing the volunteer base so that committees can be well established, and leadership can be changed on occasion to bring in a fresh perspective from others. 

The work of a charity is too important to be trivialized. Are you willing to step up to the plate and function with integrity and interact as a team player? How committed are you to continuous learning and development of networks? 

Stop and think about how you can make a difference via your contributions. Once you're clear on that contact us via www.cfbarbados.org we can use your help. 

The demands of a charity

Charities are established for a variety of reasons, often to help someone or a group that has a specific need that is not served or known about in the mainstream society. Those who function within a charitable environment know one thing, the requirements are endless with lots to do and so few to assist in doing the actual work.

Volunteers are a constant need. Often when you find the right one who has the time, skillset, and the greatest of attitudes, along with the willingness to help; they get hired away by individuals/entities who get to see them in action and realize "this one is a keeper".

What are some of the demands that charities experience? Here are some thoughts:

• Great leadership 
• Good governance 
• Accountability 
• Compliance 
• Administration 
• Volunteers 
• Clear mission supported by aims, goals, and objectives 
• Great media access and usage 
• Donors 
• Sponsors 
• Concessions and incentives
• Continued education programs 
• Local and international recognition 

So as not to make this post unwieldy to read the various demands can be explored more in details should the readers make a request that this is what they want. For those of you already in charities, what are your thoughts?

We the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Barbados - Registered Charity 861 exist to assist those who have the illness Cystic Fibrosis, and We are Aware to Care!

The 2017 walk/run fundraiser

Every year The Cffb raises funds for those who have to deal with the challenges associated with Cystic Fibrosis [CF]. These funds help the patients and their families better cope with the financial challenges, which are quite high, associated with caring for the illness.

Every year, the foundation has to draw on the willingness of various individuals, groups, and organizations who volunteer in one way or another to help sufferers cope.

Even when assisting those who are ill, there need to be some moments of levity that helps to bring people together. Without exception, our Walk/Run 2017 was again helpful in further building bonds of friendships. See pictures from this year right here! You can look for your friends and colleagues while contemplating how big your group will be for 2018.

An Organization of Leadership

When The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Barbados first came on the scene, there was a lot of dedication on the part of those who founded the organization. To the onlookers, it seemed like The Cffb grew fast. It was often commented upon that our growth was faster than organizations who were many times our senior due to our age.

Immediately upon its formation, The Cffb was determined to be a leading organization. Parameters for operating was developed and implemented with a team that sought excellence. The leadership was determined to assist those afflicted with Cystic Fibrosis with the best service possible; since there are no doctors on the island who are qualified in cardiac pulmonology.

In Barbados, hardly anyone knew what the illness comprised of, CF was unfamiliar to Barbadians. The Cffb had an uphill task. So how did we get to where we are?

1. We are willing to serve. 
2. We think ahead, planning towards future situations. 
3. We take initiative, preparing to be uncomfortable to ensure the beneficiaries obtain assistance.
4. We function with a character of humility. 
5. We're constantly developing skills with people.
6. We ensure that those who depend on us are covered. 

Despite being a not for profit entity, it is necessary that we are committed to a code of excellence. We believe it necessary to give of our best in all that we do, especially since people's lives and livelihood depend on it. 

We are the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Barbados, and we are Aware to Care.