About

100% Local. 100% Life-Changing.

Since 1989, we've remained fiercely independent and completely local because we believe the best support comes from people who understand your community, your challenges, and your neighbors.

Our Mission

To provide help and information to those affected by kidney disease.

Kidney Foundation Chattanooga logo with blue “K” and gray text on white background

Our Vision

To be the leading resource of kidney-related support in the greater Chattanooga area including: patient assistance, education, awareness, and prevention that improve the community's quality of life.

Our Founding Story

In 1973, Dr. Jackson Yium, a nephrologist, and his wife Milli, a registered nurse and clinical psychologist, came to Chattanooga to start a kidney treatment program at Erlanger and the UTC College of Medicine. By 1981, they recognized that medical treatment alone wasn't enough – patients needed comprehensive support to maintain their dignity and quality of life while receiving treatment. The Kidney Foundation was then established as a chapter of the National Kidney Foundation.


In 1989, Dr. Yium, Milli, and our Board of Directors decided to break away and become a local, stand alone organization, where 100% of funds stay local, thus creating The Kidney Foundation of the Greater Chattanooga Area.

What Makes Us Different

We receive no national funding and participate in no national programs. This independence ensures that every single dollar raised in Chattanooga stays in Chattanooga. When you support us, you're supporting your neighbors directly.

Our Values in Action

Transparency

Community-Driven

Patient-Centered Support

100% Local Impact

Two people in white coats and a woman holding a plaque stand beside a large orange mascot.
Smiling couple standing by a pool, with the man’s arm around the woman in red and white clothing.

Who We Serve

We proudly serve kidney patients and their families who live or receive treatment in:

9

TN Counties

3

GA Counties

21

Renal Clinics

Our Team

Smiling woman with shoulder-length dark hair in a white floral blouse against a brick wall

Heather Melton

Executive Director

Smiling woman in a bright blue blouse posing outdoors by a brick wall

Susannah Shaver

Operations Director

Smiling woman in a green patterned blouse standing in front of a brick wall

Genna Henshaw

Special Events Director

Smiling woman in a white floral blouse standing in front of a brick wall

Haley Jacoway

Programs Director

Board of Directors

Our foundation is guided by a dedicated team of staff members and supported by a 20-member volunteer Board of Directors, all united by a common goal of helping those with kidney disease.
Group of 9 people posing outdoors on a porch, smiling at the camera.

2026 Officers

Samantha Garcia

President
Unum

Eric Lewis

President-Elect
Shaw

Samantha Maragnano

Treasurer
Erlanger

Sonya Webb

Secretary
Dialysis Clinic, Inc

Deidra Gonzales

Past President
Erlanger

Members at Large

Aditya Bhartia
Angie Blaylock-Reece
Michelle Callahan
Becky Carroll
Dana Chadwell
Laven Coffey
Angela Griffith
Dr. Rohit Gupta
Esther Helton-Haynes
Suzanne Hemphill
Bonnie Hensley
Chaz Johnston
Omar Minhas
Austin Sizemore
Milli Yium

Ready to Make an Impact?

The patients we serve need community members who care about their neighbors and want to ensure everyone facing kidney disease has access to the support and resources they deserve.
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