Who We Are

The National Kidney Foundation, Inc. (NKF) is a voluntary health agency dedicated to preventing kidney diseases, improving the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases, and increasing the availability of all organs for transplantation. 2010 marks the Foundation’s 60^th anniversary, and its 20^th year as organizer of the U.S. Transplant Games.

What We Do

Currently over 100,000 men, women and children are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant in the United States. Approximately 80% are waiting for a kidney. The Foundation supports these patients and the transplant community through its extensive work in public and professional education, patient and community services, research and organ donation.

NKF also recently launched END THE WAIT!, a groundbreaking, multifaceted initiative, to end the wait for a kidney transplant in the United States in 10 years. Acting as a roadmap, END THE WAIT! addresses current financial, medical, educational and legislative issues identified as barriers to obtaining a kidney transplant. Many of the recommendations will also have a positive impact on the availability and waiting times for other organs.

To learn more about the NKF, visit www.kidney.org

As the single largest event promoting organ, eye and tissue donation, the Games serve to foster the health and fitness of its participants, while showcasing the success of transplantation, highlighting the vital need for more organ and tissue donors, and honoring donors and donor families.

Competitive events are open to all recipients of life-supporting allografts and hemopoetic cell transplants, as well as to living donors, who are eligible to compete in selected events in their own division.

Join Us

Organ and tissue donation is a selfless act of compassion from one person to another. In this spirit, all Games attendees are encouraged to “pay it forward” by adopting the philosophy that their involvement extends beyond the personal to serve the greater good of the community.

By working together on national and local advocacy efforts that foster a better quality of life for transplant candidates and recipients, by increasing the sensitivity and effectiveness of the donation process for donor families, and by providing support and educational resources to living donors and potential donors, we continue the legacy of donors and donor families everywhere!

Contact your Team Manager, local NKF office, or NKF Headquarters to discuss what you can do to help.

Important NKF Contributions Include:

• Helping establish the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, and initiating the Uniform Donor Card, 1968.
• Prompting action in all 50 states to enact driver’s license legislation providing for organ donor designation.
• Collaborating with Congress to create National Organ & Tissue Donor Awareness Week, 1983.
• Working to pass the Transplant Act, which prohibits the sale of organs, 1984.
• Founding the very first national organization for donor families, 1992.
• Fostering the concept of transplant athletics, leading to the creation of the NKF U.S. Transplant Games, 1990.
• Managing Team USA to represent America’s finest transplant athletes at world events 1992.
• Helping establish the Organ Donation and Recovery Improvement Act, 2004.
• Helping establish the Charlie W. Norwood Living Donation Act, 2007