Community Grant Projects

Whether focused on physical wellness or connectivity and creativity, there are countless projects led by the community to support and empower people with CF and their loved ones.

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Impact Grants

Headshot of Audrey Tluczek, one of the co-leads of the Bright Beginnings, Brilliant Futures program
Bright Beginnings, Brilliant Futures 
Bright Beginnings, Brilliant Futures is an online space where primary caregivers of newly diagnosed infants can build community, empower their families with tools to live full lives, and feel hopeful about their children's futures. This two-part program includes a series of self-guided informational modules and an online community of support. Bright Beginnings, Brilliant Futures was created by Jennifer Drake, MS, RN, CPN, Lisa Greene, MA, and Audrey Tluczek, PhD, RN. 
Family photo of Laura Bonnell, who leads CF Master Class
CF Master Class
CF Master Class is an online program that features a series of educational videos designed specifically for parents, guardians, and caregivers of children and young adults with CF — all created by parents and caregivers in the community. Topics include advocating for your loved one, raising multiple children with CF, diversity and CF, and more. CF Master Class is led by Laura Bonnell, a mother of two daughters with cystic fibrosis.
Headshot of Brian Callanan, who co-leads the program "STROLO University: Promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health of Men With CF"
STROLO University: Promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health of Men With CF 
STROLO University: Promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health for Men With CF is a virtual support forum for people assigned male at birth with cystic fibrosis to share their CF-related sexual and reproductive health experiences, define priorities for research and care, and create resources for both clinicians and people with CF. This program is led by Brian Callanan and Georgia Brown, both of whom live with CF. 
Photo of Aimee Lecointre, who leads The Nourished Breath, sitting on a porch with her laptop
The Nourished Breath 
The Nourished Breath is a virtual, bimonthly journaling workshop for adults in the CF community. These 60–90-minute workshops are grounded in a warm, online environment that prioritizes the connection and comfort of the writers who join. The Nourished Breath is led by Aimee Lecointre, an adult with CF.
Collage made up of headshots of program participants.
The DistrActors
Founded by professional performer and adult with CF Rebecca Shook and her spouse, Bobby Shook, this group of comedic actors creates personalized music, storytelling, and skits to provide emotional support for children with CF during hospital visits.
Physical therapist adjusting patient through stretches
Exercise Training for Teenagers With CF
Led by clinical exercise physiologist and pulmonary exercise specialist Taylor Lewis, this virtual program helps teens with CF learn proper exercise techniques to build their own personalized exercise routines, avoid injury, strengthen performance, and enjoy physical activity.
Colorful mosaic artwork
I Can Imagine
Led by artist and adult with cystic fibrosis Dylan Mortimer, this program offers virtual art sessions for adults with CF to create visual representations of their unique experience living with the disease. The program aims to display select artwork in CF care centers and hospitals across the country to inspire hope and healing.

Community Support Grants

Two woman smiling in front of research poster
Cystic Fibrosis Reproductive & Sexual Health Collaborative
This program invites women with CF to partner with health care providers and researchers to shape the future of CF research on sexual and reproductive health issues. CFReSHC holds monthly virtual meetings for women with CF to share their experiences, help identify knowledge gaps, and formulate key research questions to inform patient-centered research projects.
The two directors of the CF Roundtable program smiling together.
CF Roundtable
This quarterly newsletter offers the CF community an opportunity to exchange medical and non-medical information. Available in digital and print, the publication is free to all subscribers, and provides an open network for members of the community to engage with one another and gain access to a dynamic library of educational and support resources.
  Kid Busy Living
Founded by two parents of children with CF, this program is dedicated to helping kids with CF in Mississippi live healthier, happier lives through exercise and activity. Through “Kid Busy Living,” the organization funds participation in extracurricular activities such as summer camps and sports programs. They also provide educational tools for program providers about the special needs of children with CF, and supply products, such as hand sanitizer and tissues, to aid in infection control.
Project CF Spouse purple logo
Project CF Spouse
A nonprofit dedicated to educating and supporting spouses of people with CF. Funding from the Community Support Grant has been used to grow into an organization that provides educational resources and access to other spouses and people with CF via monthly “Spouse Calls.”
Zoom meeting screenshot showing the faces of the sINgSPIRE choir
sINgSPIRE Private Lessons – Breathe Bravely
Founded by professional vocalist and adult with CF, Ashley Ballou-Bonnema, this 10-week program focuses on combating CF through the art of singing. Virtual lessons are taught by a cohort of professional voice instructors and focus on building self-awareness, self-confidence, and respiratory strength.
Two men walking on the beach with an oxygen tank

Coach-Ed: Exercise and Athletic Sponsorships – Coach-Ed, Inc.
To help manage the physical and emotional aspects of living with CF, this program supports and empowers children with CF to incorporate physical activity into their daily lives. Program participants are selected to receive financial sponsorships of up to $1,000 for participation in fitness-related activities, including guidance for identifying the appropriate opportunity.

This is an image of a woman on stage acting.

Fall Risk: The Musical – Colie Creations, Inc.
This CF-based musical comedy brings the CF community and theater world together through a series of virtual musical theater workshops that focus on empowering the community and bringing the show from script to stage.

Man smiling in hospital bed

Raising Cystic Fibrosis Engagement in the African American Community
A program expansion from the National Organization of African Americans With Cystic Fibrosis that aims to connect and engage people with CF and their families in the African American community through online workshops, an expanding network of virtual support, and more.

This is a graphic of the sINgSPIRE logo along with headshots of program participants.

sINgSPIRE Virtual Choir – Breathe Bravely
Individuals who have completed at least one session of the sINgSPIRE Private Lessons program are invited to participate in the sINgSPIRE Virtual Choir. Students participate in group rehearsals where they interact with each other, build community, and work through music that is commissioned and arranged specifically for them.  

Group photo of the "We Walk Together" mother's retreat attendees

“We Walk Together” Virtual Mother’s Retreat – Cody Dieruf Foundation
A virtual retreat and safe space for mothers of children with CF to come together for education, support, and community. Session topics for these events include self-care, emotional wellness, journaling, yoga, and more. 

Headshot of a man in a blue flannel shirt associated with Work Proudly
Work Proudly
A program piloted by the Claire's Place Foundation, Work Proudly provides adults with CF and caregivers with job training and equipment to gain the skills necessary to be competitive in the job market and acquire flexible, work-from-home employment.
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