We’re thrilled to bring you another Q&A with our Manager of Development, Joe Norskov. You may remember Joe from a recent post titled “Play is Important: The Ultimate Challenge,” where he talked to us all about work/life balance and community service. At Red Arrow, it’s important that we not only do good work in our industry but also as citizens in our community, and those values start with the members of our team. So when we got wind that Joe was nominated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Rising Star class of 2019, well – we had to know more.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A RISING STAR?
I am honored to be nominated to the CF Foundation’s Rising Star class of 2019. Rising Stars are outstanding young professionals in the Knoxville community recognized for their commitment to volunteerism and career achievement. As part of my recognition, I have committed to raising funds for the foundation to pay for ongoing research to cure CF. This celebration and recognition will occur on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 7 PM – 11 PM at The Press Room located 730 North Broadway, Knoxville, Tennessee 37917. This event is themed Martinis and Movies, will include a silent auction, and fantastic food and drink. It’s attended by 300-400 of Knoxville’s business leaders and young professionals. It is always a blast! (BUY YOUR TICKET HERE AND HELP JOE REACH HIS FUNDRAISING GOAL!)
WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT CYSTIC FIBROSIS?
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections, digestive problems, and eventual respiratory failure. As of now, the disease is terminal. The CF Foundation funds research that searches for a cure as well as developing medicines to ease the symptoms of CF. Many times other diseases with similar symptoms are inadvertently benefited. Here’smore information on the foundation’s research.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GET INVOLVED?
Personally I’m motivated to assist a foundation that has directly changed a good college friend’s life who is still fighting CF. We met playing ultimate in college sometime in 2005. Before the disease overcame his abilities, he was a natural athlete who was noticeably more talented than our teammates. It was difficult to watch him decline and to know that due to the disease and research at the time, his life expectancy was in the late 20s. In 2015 the foundation released the drug Orkambi that they had researched and was paid for by funds similar to what I am committed to raising. This drug extended his life by years if not decades and revitalized him to the point he was able to join my other college teammates for a summer league team in 2016. Coincidentally ultimate is the common thread here as part of my nomination was due to my volunteer work with Knoxville Youth Ultimate.
WHAT SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION?
I’m proud to be supporting a foundation that has a 98/100 Charity Navigator score. This score is graded on the ratio of funds spent on the foundation’s mission versus administrative costs, financial transparency, donor privacy policy, and many more important factors. One can confidently support this organization with such a stellar rating – you can check it out on Charity Navigator here.
HOW CAN PEOPLE HELP?
DONATIONS AND TICKETS TO THE GALA CAN BE PURCHASED HERE.
Fundraising and community engagement are passions of mine and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to such a worthy cause. CF Foundation anticipates a cure within our lifetime which is inspiring to consider that just 50 years ago, a CF diagnosis essentially meant that person would be lucky to see 10 years old. Any and all support is truly appreciated!