The Cody Dieruf Benefit Foundation: Breathing is Believing

By Alison Grey, 1-17-08

The Gallatin Valley is home to over 200 non-profits. These organizations do not hinge on metropolitan amenities, and are often created to stimulate local communities of the West. As part of our New West economy, NewWest.Net/Bozeman is highlighting Gallatin Valley organizations in a weekly series.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a progressive genetic disease affecting more than 30,000 children and young adults in the U.S. It is a debilitating disease that over time, weakens a patient’s lungs and heart resulting in consistent and life-threatening lung infections and severe digestive problems, prolonged hospital stays and often necessitating life-saving organ transplants. Currently, there is no cure.

The Cody Dieruf Benefit Foundation was created in 2006 as a living tribute to Cody Dieruf, a young woman and accomplished ballet dancer from Bozeman who died from the disease when she was 23-years-old, just days before her college graduation.

Described as a passionate and fun-loving woman with a tremendous zeal for life, Cody was deeply committed to living her life to the fullest, as she realized that each day was a gift. Even as the disease began to take its toll on her young body, she found triumph in the smallest of accomplishments, her signature smile never fading away.

“I guess you could say that I am approaching my old age now. Cystic fibrosis is my old age. No, I will never see the skin on my hands turn into wrinkled silk as they sleep in the hands of the one I love. However, I already have the aching joints, and the crepe paper lungs, the cough of an 80-year-old man laughing in my abdomen, snoring behind my sternum…

…The sicker I get, the more difficult the little things become, but consequently, the more victories I have—making it up a flight of stairs or down the block or through a slow dance with a close friend, without getting short of breath—triumph! Before long, taking a breath will be the sweetest victory imaginable. But, all so beautiful. Perhaps I, we, should count ourselves fortunate to be able to find the grace, the splendor, the potential in the ordinary, the expected, the taken for granted. Life.” - Cody Dieruf, excerpt from her obituary.

The organization is committed to raising awareness of CF and offering the necessary financial and emotional support to local kids and young adults with CF and their families. Anne Dieruf, President, expands on the CDMF and its efforts.

NewWest.Net: Why and how did your organization come into being?

CDBF: The CDBF was established on March 6, 2006 as a loving tribute to Cody Dieruf, the beloved daughter and sister of George and Ginny Dieruf and their son Levi. Cody lost her courageous battle with the genetic disease Cystic Fibrosis in April, 2005, at age 23. Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease that causes consistent and life-threatening lung infections and severe digestive problems in the more than 30,000 children and young adults in the U.S.  Currently there is no cure for CF, but continued medical advances provide hope that someday there will be.

Despite the many everyday challenges presented by CF, Cody lived each day with a passion that was unfaltering. She accomplished a tremendous amount in her short life, including earning her college degree, and her tremendous courage, grace, and determination are, and always will be, an inspiration. The Foundation was established to carry on this legacy by providing support to other families who are living with CF. 

Much of the medical care required to manage and control CF cannot be adequately obtained in many parts of Montana, including Bozeman. Consequently, families of CF children, and young adults with CF, often must take time off work to travel out of the area, and often out-of-state, to receive medical care. In addition, the high medical costs are often financially crippling. After the exorbitant expenses, there are often no excess funds with which to provide these children an opportunity to pursue their dreams, extra-curricular activities, education, and cultural or other experiences to enrich their lives. 

NewWest.Net: Why is this organization in Bozeman? What are the advantages and challenges of operating in this area? Are there other non-profits in this area that you partner with or would like to?

CDBF: Cody is a third-generation Bozeman native. Therefore, it was only natural to base a foundation established in her honor here in Bozeman. When the Dieruf family began talking about starting a non-profit to assist those with CF, it was discovered that there was a great need in Bozeman and the surrounding communities.

The CDBF allows this area to help its own children who are in need. At this time, nearly all of the financial support for the Foundation’s programs has come from the local communities. As such, our financial programs are limited to families residing in and around Bozeman. As we grow, we will likewise expand our support, financially and emotionally, statewide. 

The biggest advantage of operating in this area has undoubtedly been working with so many wonderful people eager to help local families. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness that have come from Bozeman and the surrounding communities.  Of course, the greatest challenge of operating in smaller communities is the limited resources to support charitable organizations.

While we have not officially partnered with other charitable organizations, we are especially grateful to Eagle Mount, Big Brothers and Big Sisters and the Dance Alliance of Bozeman, for reaching out and offering us assistance.

NewWest.Net: Where are you directing your resources?

Cystic Fibrosis is a progressive disease that, over time, weakens the CF patient’s lungs and heart, resulting in prolonged hospital stays and often necessitating life-saving organ transplants. As the Foundation was established only a few years ago, the vast portion of accumulated resources is being set aside in reserve funds in anticipation of large expenditures such as the costs of transplants.

Nonetheless, we have been able to assist many area families with medical bills not covered by insurance, and with expenses incurred in traveling to the Denver Children’s Hospital for treatment. We have also been able to provide several children with experiences they many not otherwise have been able to do. Through scholarship essays, one teenage girl received the opportunity to participate in a two week basketball camp, while another young boy has been able to enroll in fiddle and dance lessons. 

The Foundation has also directed its resources toward raising awareness and educating the public about CF. 

NewWest.Net: What is your annual operating budget, and can you please break that down between administrative and fund-raising versus program expenses?

CDBF: For the year 2008, our total revenue was $103,000, with most of that coming from fundraising events and donations. Our expenses totaled $43,834, with about $5,000 going towards administrative costs, $23,000 going to fundraising and upwards of $14,000 directed towards program costs. The major fundraising event of the year is the annual Cody Dieruf Benefit Foundation Auction, held annually every summer.

NewWest.Net: How are you fulfilling your mission statement?

CDBF: The Foundation has been successful in raising awareness of CF in Bozeman and the surrounding communities. Executive Director Virginia Dieruf has spent countless hours educating people about CF, and delivering Cody’s message of hope to many individuals and community groups.

One of the Foundation’s greatest achievements has been to bring together area families living with CF, giving them the vital support and an understanding that can only come from facing similar circumstances.

Finally, the Foundation has been fortunate to assist many local CF families in alleviating the financial burdens that accompany this disease by providing financial assistance to cover travel expenses to out-of-area medical treatment and help with the ever-rising insurance deductibles. 

We have also awarded several grants to local CF children, which have allowed them to participate in special activities and experiences to enrich their lives - lives which are all too often filled with multiple daily breathing treatments, medicines, and hospital stays.

NewWest.Net: What is your most recent success story?

CDBF: Last year the Bozeman community helped us to raise $68,000 during our annual Benefit Auction. But the real importance of the Foundation is in the small success stories that happen all the time. Every time someone new learns about CF, every time someone opens their hearts to our kids and makes a donation, every time a mother and father of a CF child are relieved to know that they have help in paying medical bills and travel expenses from their child’s latest hospitalization, and every time one of these precious children smiles because they get to attend a basketball camp or fiddle lessons; those are our success stories. 

Cody is our lead in our venture, She is the strength of our mission. Through her we will reach our goal of taking our mission across Montana to help all children and their families. Currently two physicians in Billings will be working with the foundation to help get an event going in their area. Baby steps will turn into footprints and our growth will be phenomenal.

NewWest.Net: Thank you!