Our Programs & Initiatives
Our programs and initiatives at KDF are strategically designed to support our core mission: raising awareness about Kawasaki disease, providing comprehensive support to those affected, and advocating for increased funding for crucial research efforts. Our efforts involve educational campaigns, patient support programs, fundraising activities, and collaborations with research institutions to advance our understanding of the disease and help fund the development of improved treatments.
KDF Bridges
The KDF Bridges program connects families dealing with Kawasaki Disease (KD) with trained Support Volunteers, typically parents of children who have had KD or adult patients who have recovered from KD. These volunteers offer personal insight to help families cope with KD and provide support to families facing a KD diagnosis.
Annual Kawasaki Disease Parent Symposium
The KDF has been sponsoring an annual educational symposium for patients and parents since 2009. These events are organized by renowned medical experts and are financially supported by the Foundation. Since 2014, the symposiums have been available for live and on-demand viewing, enabling patients and caregivers to participate virtually in the sessions and Q&A.
KDF Youth
KDF Youth is an engaging and impactful program designed specifically for young individuals. Launched in September 2020, its primary aim is to increase understanding and awareness of KD within the younger generation. Participants are actively involved in devising and implementing creative social media campaigns, organizing exciting fundraising events, and have the opportunity to accrue community service hours through the KDF Youth Internship Program.
KD Research Funding
Since 2000, the KDF has been dedicated to advancing research on Kawasaki disease by providing substantial grants. A significant initiative supported by the KDF is the establishment of a biorepository in San Diego, the most extensive DNA bank for KD in North America, providing valuable samples for research projects. The KDF has contributed over half a million dollars towards KD research, furthering the understanding and potential treatment options for this rare disease.
National Kawasaki Disease Awareness Day
In 2011, the Kawasaki Disease Foundation proposed a resolution to the 111th Congress, 2nd Session, to designate January 26th as “National Kawasaki Disease Awareness Day.” Senators Jim Webb of Virginia and Daniel Inouye of Hawaii sponsored the official declaration. The resolution was successfully approved by Congress. Since then, the Foundation has been commemorating the annual awareness day with an online campaign backed by groups, families, and individuals worldwide.
KDF Tote Bag Project
In 2019, the Foundation launched the KDF Tote Bag project, providing support to families of newly diagnosed Kawasaki Disease patients. Specially designed tote bags for hospitalized children with KD include essential care items, informative materials, extra resources, and a comforting teddy bear. 100 tote bags were distributed to hospitals across the United States to ensure families facing KD have the support they need.
Dr. Tomisaku Kawasaki Memorial Scholarship
The Dr. Tomisaku Kawasaki Memorial Scholarship is dedicated to supporting students majoring in health-related fields who have a connection to Kawasaki Disease (KD). The scholarship awards two annual grants, offering $5,000 and $10,000 to deserving recipients.
KD Patient Advocacy
The Foundation’s board members stay updated on significant developments in research studies related to our patient population. They have attended the international KD symposia held every three years, and a KDF representative is often invited to attend specific KD research meetings held nationally and internationally.
From 2014 to 2015, three KDF board members participated in pSCANNER’s Stakeholder Advisory Board (SAB) for KD research, providing input and guidance for active participation of stakeholders in pSCANNER activities. During the research prioritization panel (Phase I), board members helped identify KD research studies addressing priority topics for patients. This led to the development of the stakeholder-driven comparative effectiveness study of treatments to prevent coronary artery damage in patients with resistant KD (KIDCARE).
