Read below as BDSRA Foundation President & CEO Amy Fenton Parker details the different ways you can give to BDSRA as the organization launches its Annual Appeal.

As we approach the Annual Appeal and holidays, I am mindful of some families’ medical expenses, the need for new winter coats, and the cost of fuel. There are still many creative ways in which you can support BDSRA, and we are happy to help you with any of them.

Visit our 2022 Annual Appeal Donation Page!

Click here to visit!

Become a Monthly Donor

Click here to read last month’s edition of The Illuminator for more information!

Amazon Smiles

One of the easiest ways to donate to us is to join Amazon Smiles. If you are already shopping with Amazon, some of the products you purchase could earn us a half percent at no cost to you! The supplies we buy help support our own work too! It’s easy to sign up for Amazon Smiles; simply click here to get started.

Kroger Community Rewards

Where do you buy groceries? Kroger and other grocery chains have a similar program to Amazon’s. When you link your Kroger account to Kroger Community Rewards and designate BDSRA, a portion of your purchases earn income for BDSRA at no cost to you. The donations are sent directly to us to help provide programming for our families. If you would like to support BDSRA in this way, click here for more information.

Facebook Fundraisers

Facebook fundraisers brought in enough money last year to cover the office rent! This is where the magic happens — supplies are stored and shipped, and virtual meetings occur almost daily. Facebook fundraisers bring in needed money and they spread awareness about Batten disease. You can set up a fundraiser for your birthday, International Batten Awareness Day (if you aren’t already forming a team), or an important anniversary. Raising money and awareness through Facebook is easy, and you don’t have to collect the money or send a check. Donations made through your fundraiser come directly from Facebook to BDSRA, and we are grateful. Click here for instructions on setting up a Facebook fundraiser!

Host an Event

Some families have taken to hosting their own events. From fishing tournaments to extravagant yard sales to bike rides, BDSRA has been the beneficiary of many events. The Freemason Wilmette Park Lodge 931 in Illinois is presenting a check this weekend, while we attend the Translational Research Conference for the Management of NCLS in Chicago. The following weekend, I will travel to the 20th anniversary of a Bowl-A-Thon at Rab’s Country Lanes in Staten Island, New York.

Do you or someone in your community organize special events for Batten disease? Let us know! We welcome the opportunity to attend and support the effort. BDSRA Foundation is always in need of more resources for supporting our families, research, and advocacy.

-Amy Fenton Parker, BDSRA Foundation President & CEO