(L-R):
Event Chair Beth Horn – Chief Marketing Officer, Northwestern Mutual
Paul Griffith, Founder, President & CEO, Over the Edge
Traci Barnett, MBA - President & CEO, NKF-MD
Rodney Scaife, Chairman of the Board of Directors, NKF-MD
LUTHERVILLE, Md. (July 5, 2016) – Along with the excitement from 62 people scaling down the Hyatt Regency Baltimore, the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland (NKF-MD) had an extra thrill during its seventh annual Rappel for Kidney Health signature event, June 24 & 25.
The Foundation received a $10,000 check for its Patient Emergency Financial Assistance Program from Over the Edge Global (www.overtheedgeglobal.com), which has safely sent more than 25,000 people down 267 buildings in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Great Britain during 500+ fundraising events.
To celebrate reaching its 10-year mission of helping nonprofits raise $50 million through urban rappelling events -18 months ahead of schedule, Over the Edge selected NKF-MD as one of the five North American donation recipients.
“It gives us great pleasure to be able to help 50 kidney patients reduce monetary stresses that negatively impact their health,” said Over the Edge Global Founder and CEO Paul Griffith. “The National Kidney Foundation's mission is very special and rewarding to all of us here at Over the Edge and we are proud to be part of this great cause.”
“NKF-MD is honored to receive this gift, which will provide much needed medication, dental assistance, food, transportation, rent/utility relief or medical equipment to 50 patients during their time of need,” said Traci Barnett, NKF-MD’s president and chief executive officer. “I applaud the team at Over the Edge for generously helping us support patients with chronic kidney disease.”
As the exclusive rappel event occurring annually in the Baltimore metropolitan area, Rappel for Kidney Health invites people of all ages who raise a minimum of $1,000 to scale down the 15-story hotel, from the roof to the sidewalk.
Participants have included people with connections to kidney disease, including transplant donors and recipients, as well as adventure seekers, media personalities, local celebrities and employers participating in the Toss Your Boss Challenge.
Through the years, Rappel for Kidney Health events have created an unbelievable amount of excitement, drawing approximately 600 participants and raising over $850,000 to help the Foundation expand its patient services, education and research efforts.
About NKF-MD
Serving central and western Maryland, the Delmarva Peninsula and portions of Virginia and West Virginia, the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland is the area’s only voluntary health agency dedicated to preventing kidney and urinary tract diseases, improving the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases, and increasing the availability of all organs for transplantation. For more information, visit www.kidneymd.org.
