K.I.S.S. (Kick In to Stop Sarcoidosis^®) is the theme for FSR's annual education and awareness campaign which reaches hundreds of thousands of Americans each February.  You can help FSR raise awareness of the disease and funds to support much-needed research throughout the year by hosting a local K.I.S.S. event.  See the calendar of upcoming events.

While there are many successful ways to raise money, we think the best method for soliciting any kind of donation is a personal request from one person to another. K.I.S.S. events are designed to provide a system for friends and supporters of FSR to help us raise money in areas where you live.

Funds raised through local ‘K.I.S.S. Days’ will support FSR’s independent research programs and other crucial initiatives to raise awareness of sarcoidosis.

Here is how you can help in your community:

• Download and review the K.I.S.S. Day registration form. (PDF file)

• Think about and put together a list of prospects, businesses that you frequent or business owners that you know on a first-name basis.

• Visit these businesses.  Explain how sarcoidosis has touched you or your family personally. Describe that very little is known about this disease and new patients are diagnosed every day.  Donations will help patients and will help to find a cure.  It is also a good idea to say, ‘I know first-hand the difference that FSR has made’. 

• Give the business owner or manager a copy of the registration form.
  Be sure to include your name and telephone number on the line 'I learned about this from' - so that when the form is returned to FSR, we can be sure to let you know that we received it.

• Be considerate, but be specific about your request for a donation.  Offer suggestions, such as a percentage of one-day sales or proceeds from a particular item.  Remember, you are not asking for yourself, but you are helping to raise needed money for patients around the country with this disease.

• If a business returns a form to you, we ask that you forward it to FSR on a timely basis so that we can promote the event on our Web site and thank the donor in writing for their tax deductible contribution.
  Please note all donations must be made payable to the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research or FSR in order for the business to receive a tax letter.

• Once a date is decided, tell your friends, family and the community about your local K.I.S.S. Day.  Ask local radio and television stations to add the event to their list of community events.

If you have any questions about making a donation to FSR or about hosting a K.I.S.S. Day, please contact Debbie Durrer at FSR at 312-341-0500 or info@stopsarcoidosis.org.