With family members afflicted with cystic fibrosis, Partner Matt Devoti has been dedicated to supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and its local chapter, the Gateway Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for many years.
Over the past several years, Matt has been instrumental in planning and hosting The Wine Opener, a wine tasting event which raises almost $70,000 annually for the Gateway chapter. The firm also serves as a corporate sponsor of the Wine Opener event. Last October, Matt and a team of family and friends rode in the CF Cycle For Life event, which raised over $100,000 for the local chapter. In 2013, Matt was invited to join the Gateway CFF Board of Directors; and recently he received the 2014 Outstanding CF Advocate Award for his continued support of the local chapter.
The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to cure cystic fibrosis and to provide all people with the disease the opportunity to lead full, productive lives by funding research and drug development, promoting individualized treatments, and ensuring access to high quality, specialized care.
Nearly every CF drug available today was made possible because of Foundation support. In the past several years, drug development programs have yielded drugs that have changed the course of cystic fibrosis. For the first time, there is an FDA-approved therapy (Kalydeco) that treats not just the symptoms of the disease, but the underlying genetic defect for a small percentage of the population. Recent studies show there is great hope for additional treatments that will address the underlying defects in an even larger percentage of the CF population.
CF patients benefit most from a multi-disciplinary approach to their care. The CF Foundation funds over 110 cystic fibrosis care centers nationwide, which provide diagnostic services, comprehensive treatment, research programs, and support for patients’ families. The CF Foundation also funds the Patient Assistance Resource Center, which is a clearing house for patients to access a range of services, including help with medications, insurance coverage and reimbursement, legal rights, and mutation analysis.
There are Cystic Fibrosis Foundation chapters across the country. Citizens can get involved by volunteering their time and talents, participating in a fundraising events or by advocating to local, state and federal elected officials. If you reside in the St. Louis area, we invite you to participate in or sponsor one of the 2015 Gateway CFF events:
Great Strides Walks
4/18 – Columbia, MO
4/25 – Cape Girardeau, MO and Springfield, IL 5/2 – St. Charles County
5/2 – Metro East, IL
5/16 – St. Louis, MO
Other Events
8/16-17 – Jack Buck Dinner & Golf Classic St. Albans, MO
9/11-13 – Xtreme Hike on Ozark Trail Lesterville, MO
9/18 – Wine Opener St. Charles
10/17 – Cycle For Life O’Fallon, MO
11/6 – Reach for a Star Gala St. Louis
For more information, go to www.cff.org.
In the St. Louis area, go to www.cff.org/chapter/gateway.
