Building FPIES Awareness through Fundraising and Events

Over the last year we have been inspired by the impact of your unique talents and hard work as you continue building awareness to FPIES.   As we approach our 2^nd annual Global Day, we wish to share some of these events with everyone, in hopes to inspire you, that you too can make a difference.  “Our shoes may be small but our steps will be BIG!”

FPIES families have always been creative, including in how they raise awareness and fund-raise! We have had several moms using  Jamberry fundraisers, and even a couple of these moms designed the nail wraps themselves to feature FPIES awareness art. Awareness from fingers to toes! Other moms have designed T-shirts and other awareness gear to raise funds to further FPIES education and awareness. Their creativity has helped fund programs to educate medical professionals about FPIES. We want to give special shout-outs to Jessie Ipson Richens, Kate Hutchens, Crystal Lentz, Brandi of Glam Tots, Rosie's Creations, and Half Pint Threads!

Restaurants have joined in the cause, sponsoring family nights and awareness days where they donate a certain percentage of sales to The FPIES Foundation. We were touched to see photos from Jersey Mike's Subs-- a visual reminder of how communities are really joining in the cause and reaching out to support  FPIES awareness. The families initiating these fundraisers and the restaurants partnering in the cause have helped to fund programs providing resources and support to families worldwide. Special recognition for Luca's family for all of their support!

In every fundraiser and in every awareness event, families put their own unique stamp on the day.  Just as each child is unique, each family-organized event has its own special style. The Fangman Family, for instance, raises awareness at Drag Races and Mud Runs!  Samantha Fangman shares, “Our daughter, Josie, has FPIES. My husband had decals made for his race-car with the FPIES logo. We have brochures printed that we hand out at all our races. We were amazed how many people came up and asked us what FPIES and The FPIES Foundation was at our first race. We’ve handed out many more brochures than we anticipated and are thrilled about it!!! We are doing what we can to get the word out!!“

If you are thinking about starting your own awareness event or fundraiser for the FPIES Foundation, we hope that you have found inspiration in the stories of the families highlighted above--- we certainly are inspired by all of them, and all of you, everyday as we continue working to fulfill the FPIES Foundation's mission of education, support and advocacy for all those affected by FPIES, worldwide. 

This post was written by the Executive Board of The FPIES Foundation 

A Year of Gratitude

The programs of The FPIES Foundation are centered on the child living with Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome. Our programs and initiatives are maintained on a lean budget, minimizing spending while maximizing returns for families. We operate with generous donations of time and talents, all staff- volunteers, advisors and executive are unpaid volunteers.   We are a non-profit, an organization in the business of spreading FPIES awareness, education, and support to families and the medical community alike.

We would like to take a moment to recognize some of the monetary donations and fundraisers we have received this year:  

• A donation received from a family, in lieu of presents for their son’s birthday, in honor of their son Shawn, who is living with FPIES.

• A Custom Ink Booster sales t-shirt fundraiser organized by a mom of a child with FPIES, Crystal Lentz with her design: “FPIES, Rare but Real”.  The t-shirt was an inspired idea for a FARE walk, to raise awareness to FPIES.   Crystal organized two successful sales of these bright and quality t-shirts (watch for round 3 in the New Year!).

• A Norwex Fundraiser, with the profits from Erica Allen’s commission donated to The FPIES Foundation.  Erica raised funds while spreading awareness in her community and online, of what FPIES looks like and how it affects families today.

• “Chase-ing FPIES” Fundraiser, hosted by Victoria Warren with a percentage of the sales of Ava Anderson products donated to The FPIES Foundation.

• Bon-Ton booklets sold by Amanda LeFew and Jenn Booth in their communities to raise funds for The FPIES Foundation while helping others save money at Bon-Ton Retailers (watch for this again this spring!).

• Thank you to our anonymous donors who have graciously gifted The Foundation. 

• Fundraiser through Cafe Press of FPIES Wordle T-shirts, with designs from FPIES mom Vicki Garding.  Contributions from sales continue to provide donations in this ongoing fundraiser. 

• And, of course, all of you who contribute by taking part in our other ongoing Foundation fundraisers on Café Press, iGive, Flower Power,  GoodSearch,  Label Your Stuff, Planet Green, Text To Donate and various other online fundraisers you have helped by sharing your participation, we thank you.

The FPIES Foundation is an incorporated, 501(c)3 non-profit foundation dedicated to overcoming the challenges of FPIES by offering tools for education, support, and advocacy to empower families and the medical community.   To learn more about our donations, please visit our Donate page.  In addition, be sure to stay posted for bi-annual updates regarding The FPIES Foundation’s spending trends and how your support is directly impacting the face of FPIES awareness, education and research.

This post was written by the Executive Board of The FPIES Foundation