News & Impact
Real Stories. Real Impact. Real Local Change.
Behind every statistic is a real person whose life has been touched by kidney disease and transformed by community support. These stories represent the hundreds of individuals and families we serve each year, and the thousands of community members who make this support possible.
2025 Community Impact
Patient Services Expansion
This year we served over 500 kidney patients across our 12-county region, maintaining our 97% application approval rate. New services added include emergency pest control assistance and expanded medical equipment offerings, responding directly to needs identified by our patients and their social workers.
Community Education Growth
Our PEED Program (Providing Education & Early Detection) conducted 8 community health screenings this year, screening over 275 community members for early signs of kidney disease. Early detection efforts resulted in 57 individuals presenting as at risk for kidney disease.
137
Dialysis Transportation Grants
61
Housing Assistance Payments
201
Adopt-A-Box Holiday Meals Distributed
111
Utility Bills Paid
Kampbell's Community Reach
71 Educational Appearances
12 Community Health Fair Appearances
Stories of Hope
All patient stories shared with permission and in compliance with privacy requirements.
“I went from Stage 1 to 5 Kidney Disease without any time to process how much my life would change. In my first week of dialysis I was bombarded with financial stress. Without the Kidney foundation, I wouldn’t have been able to make it to my life saving dialysis treatment every week. They are an organization that cares and wants to help, you just have to let them.
Kidney Foundation of Greater Chattanooga Client
"Throughout this disease, my family was getting behind on bills. The kidney foundation was able to help us get caught up on our utility and phone bills. That alone made a huge difference for us. We didn’t know how we would ever get caught up, so having the Kidney foundation provide assistance and resources has allowed us to not struggle so much financially.”
Kidney Foundation of Greater Chattanooga Client
Community Support Highlights
Foundation Partnerships
We extend our gratitude to The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga; The Lillian L Colby Foundation, Dialysis Clinic, Inc., Common Spirit and The Osborne Foundation for their continued support of local kidney patients. Their partnerships enable us to expand our reach and serve more families throughout our region.
Kidney Foundation News
PBS Interview Highlights Nutrition Resources
July 3, 2025
Foundation leadership recently appeared on PBS discussing community resources for kidney disease patients, highlighting the popularity of kidney-friendly nutrition information and the importance of working with healthcare providers for personalized dietary guidance.
Scenic City Spotlight Podcast with Garry Thurman
September 8, 2025
Genna and Heather discuss upcoming events, programs designed to make a difference, and how local partnerships are helping expand their reach. Listeners will gain insight into the personal stories that fuel their dedication and the vital importance of kidney health awareness.
This episode shines a light on the foundation’s heart for service and the ongoing fight to support patients and families across the Scenic City.
Share Your Foundation Story
Whether you're a patient whose life has been touched by our services, a community supporter, or a dedicated volunteer — we'd love to hear your story.
Patient Impact - Share how our services helped you or your family (anonymously if preferred)
Community Supporter - Tell us how you're supporting kidney disease awareness in our community
Volunteer Recognition - Help us recognize champions who make our mission possible