Foundation Update

The Foundation of the National Lipid Association has accomplished much since its creation four years ago, but we want to continue to grow. Over the past year, I have been engaged in conversations with leadership, members, staff and patients about the future of our charitable organization. As we look ahead to the way the Foundation will define its agenda in the coming years, several themes consistently emerge.

The Foundation continues to build on the inaugural public awareness campaign, "FH: It’s Relative—Know Your Family Cholesterol History," which was launched in May 2011. Earlier this year, the International Guidelines Center published an FH pocket guide based on the NLA’s expert panel consensus statement. More than 2,000 copies were sold this year. For National Cholesterol Education Month in September, the NLA staff distributed several news releases, including one focusing on the importance of checking the cholesterol levels of patients who may have a family history of FH.

Also this past September, the Foundation hosted a "Strike Out FH!" bowling fundraiser during the Fall Clinical Update to a sold-out crowd of 40 participants. We look forward to another terrific turnout for our cooking and jazz fundraiser at the Spring Clinical Lipid Update in New Orleans this February.

In November, we enjoyed a presentation by the FH Foundation at our biannual Board meeting. We look forward to working with them in the future, particularly in regard to supporting the group’s efforts to establish an FH patient registry.

Thanks to many generous individuals, the Foundation has received more than $26,000 in donations this past year. Thank you to everyone who has made a gift to the Foundation.

Looking ahead, NLA President Peter Toth, MD, PhD, and I are asking you to support an initiative of great importance to the Foundation. The NLA recently unveiled a limited-time offer of Lifetime Membership in the NLA, which would charge members a one-time fee that would include a generous donation of $1,000 to the Foundation for the purpose of funding lipidology fellowships. Applications to participate in this offer will be accepted through December 2013. To learn more, please visit www.lipid.org/lifemember.

Please continue to support our FH outreach and our fundraising initiatives. Soon, the Foundation will be making changes in several important areas. Subcommittees have been established to review fundraising and development, criteria for Foundation grants, refinement of our mission. I look forward to sharing details of our progress with you in the coming months.

As always, thanks for your support and dedication to the Foundation. Together, we will continue to accomplish great things.