The Brendan B. McGinnis Fund at the National CMV Foundation
The National CMV Foundation is pleased to announce the establishment of the Brendan B. McGinnis Fund, made possible by a nearly $20,000 donation from the former Brendan B. McGinnis Congenital CMV Foundation. The fund will help to sponsor family scholarships and a family gathering at the CMV Public Health and Policy Conference in Austin, Texas on September 26
th and 27
th. The National CMV Foundation also hopes to continue the tradition of an award for researchers dedicated to advancing CMV vaccine development.
The Brendan B. McGinnis Congenital CMV Foundation was established in 2007 by Brendan’s mother, Tracy, with the goal of raising public awareness about congenital CMV while supporting research towards a vaccine for CMV. Tracy McGinnis was instrumental in connecting families affected by CMV through the foundation’s annual Making Tracks Together gatherings.
Brendan, born in 2004, is severely physically disabled due to congenital CMV, but is an extremely happy boy who loves to play, laugh, be tickled, and interact with those around him. He loves to be outdoors and is especially fascinated with trees. He loves looking at books, listening to music, and Finding Nemo is his favorite movie.
The National CMV Foundation is pleased to honor Brendan B. McGinnis and looks forward to continuing the great work of the foundation that bore his name. Donors interested in supporting the Brendan B. McGinnis fund can make their donation “in honor of” Brendan B. McGinnis at:
https://www.nationalcmv.org/get-involved/donate.aspx.
Statement from Tracy McGinnis:
“Nearly 10 years ago, I established the Brendan B. McGinnis Congenital CMV Foundation. We were the first non-profit charity in the world to focus on CMV Awareness and support CMV Vaccine research. I started the "CMV Foundation" because I did not want to see any parents in the future have to suffer the heartbreak that I had done, nor did I want to see any future babies be born with their brain damaged in utero from this common, but often devastating, virus as did my son Brendan. As the years passed, other CMV related charities were formed and they have now come together under one umbrella, The National CMV Foundation. With my permanent return to live in Ireland in late 2014, my Board of Directors and myself worked toward the dissolution of the Brendan B. McGinnis Congenital CMV Foundation. That dissolution was completed in December 2015. We have as such gifted all of our remaining donated funds, totaling nearly $20,000, to the new National CMV Foundation charity. These funds will continue to be used as we and our donors wished, namely: 1. To sponsor CMV-affected family gatherings 2. To financially support CMV vaccine research, and 3. To fund CMV Awareness projects. It has been agreed by both organisations that all works funded by these gifted funds will be named after Brendan Bjorn McGinnis, to continue to honour his legacy, for it is Brendan who inspired this original CMV Foundation and as such, his life has saved countless others...and it will continue to do so. This is his legacy.
I want to thank my Board of Directors for their years of strong support, encouragement and professional knowledge; all of the donors who enabled us to continue our works; and to all of the CMV-affected families around the world over the past 10 years who have become like family to me and my sons - your love, encouragement and strength has kept me fighting this good fight! Last, to my precious son Brendan Bjorn, for teaching me the true meaning of unconditional love and about life like no other ever could, you are my heart. With that, I move on to the next phase of our lives, which includes having recently established a new charity which will launch this year here in Ireland to help families with children that have a life-limiting illness. May all our good works continue around the world, both in the fight to eradicate CMV and in compassionately helping our special families in need.”
Posted: 2/1/2016
Category: Community, "Fueling Our Mission"