Let’s Go There Together: Celebrating the Volunteers Fueling Our Impact

Navigating life with IBD, Eitan Tye was motivated to find a community that understood his journey. At 18 years old, he became a counselor for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Camp Oasis, a sleepaway experience for kids with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). 

“Volunteering with Camp Oasis has been the most meaningful, impactful, gratifying experience of my life,” Eitan said. “Being a counselor inspired me to pursue a career in education. Using my challenges and experiences to help others has been profound.”

Eitan is one of the thousands of Foundation volunteers contributing across all areas of the organization who are changing lives in their communities and finding purpose in the cause. Ahead of National Volunteer Appreciation Week, we want to recognize and celebrate the many ways our volunteer community is making a difference.

“Our volunteers are the heart of the Foundation, driving our mission with passion and dedication,” said Kelly Chirumbolo, the Foundation’s Associate Director of Volunteer Engagement. “Their unwavering commitment allows us to make a lasting impact for the IBD community.”

From advocating for life-saving legislation to helping determine the Foundation’s leading research agenda, our volunteers fuel every area of our impact. Here are a few of the heights our volunteers helped us achieve in 2024:

• Thirty-one thousand volunteer advocates fought for health insurance reform, restroom access, and more.

• Volunteer counselors and doctors supported more than 1,000 kids and teens who attended Camp Oasis.

• Thanks to volunteer fundraising efforts, more than $9 million was raised to support IBD cures during 59 Take Steps walks nationwide.

• Our volunteer research advisory committee provided oversight on 299 active research projects.

   

These are only a few examples of our volunteers’ life-changing impact. The following stories highlight what drives some of our volunteers to be a part of this community.

My “why”

Eitan Tye

What’s your connection to the cause?

I’ve had Crohn’s disease since 2009 and first started volunteering with the Foundation in 2012. I was passionate about working with young people, coming to terms with my diagnosis, finding a way to give back, and forming a community of people with IBD.

What motivates your volunteer work with the Foundation?

Using my experience to try to help kids. I’ve volunteered every summer since 2012 as a Camp Oasis counselor. Seeing my campers, whom I’ve known since they were young kids, become counselors, graduate college, go into the workforce—and then seeing their campers become counselors—everything coming full circle has been an unbelievable experience.

Any advice for someone looking to get involved?

Take that first step. It can be a bit scary to put yourself out there, but it’s such an amazing community and a powerful experience.

Maria 

What is your volunteer role with the Foundation?

I’m a support group facilitator for the Queer with IBD: Women and NB Support Group.

How did you get involved?

I started volunteering in February of this year! I first got involved with the Foundation by attending a children’s support group when I was diagnosed in 2012 with Crohn’s disease at the age of 15. Since then, I’ve attended MyIBD Learning seminars and participated in Take Steps walks. 

In 2024, I decided to seek out a support group to meet other adults with IBD and joined a virtual LGBTQ+ IBD support group. In this group, I felt seen and heard, not only as an individual with Crohn’s disease, but also as a member of the queer community. 

What does volunteering with the Foundation mean to you? 

I volunteer to help facilitate a safe space where queer IBD patients can find support and validation from others who are living similar experiences. IBD can feel so isolating, and it means a lot to me to connect with others who have similar life and disease experiences. I have found the role of being a facilitator to be inspiring! 

Heidi Fernandez

Tell us a bit about yourself

I am a wife, mom, photographer, and advocate. In 2012, after what we thought was a stomach bug, my son Andrew was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. I’ve volunteered with the Foundation by photographing the Atlanta Take Steps walk and as a walk committee member, as well as participating in advocacy initiatives like Virtual Day on the Hill, serving as a member of the Foundation’s Advocacy Committee, and speaking with state and federal legislators about how Crohn’s disease impacts my son.

What motivated you to get involved?

It was important to me and our family to reach out and learn all that we could about IBD. What better way than the Take Steps walk? I was welcomed by the Georgia Chapter and had the opportunity to meet many individuals and families impacted by IBD. I left the walk not feeling alone.

I volunteer because of my son Andrew and all the others diagnosed with IBD. I am proud to be able to share my son’s story; it’s one of the most powerful ways we can make a difference for individuals with IBD.

What have you taken away from your volunteer work?

I am most proud of my advocacy and seeing firsthand how we can make a difference. There are always opportunities to get involved. Together, we can find a cure for IBD.

Join us in our mission to find a cure for IBD and to improve the quality of life of those affected. Get involved.

You can make an impact on IBD cures! Please consider making a donation to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.