Our residential camp at YMCA Camp Colman in Longbranch, WA is from Sunday, July 30th to Friday, August 4th. We offer fun activities, outdoor adventures, and educational opportunities that will build confidence and facilitate new friendships - all with the comfort of professional medical staff to ensure your camper's health and safety.
Registration closes on Sunday, June 25th.
Children entering grades 2 - 11 in the fall can register, and teenagers entering 12th are eligible to join as Leaders-in-Training.
Register your camper by Sunday, June 25th so they can meet kids their own age who get it at Camp Oasis of Washington and build friendships to last a lifetime.
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
with the Northwest Chapter!
We’re excited to invite you to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Day at the Mariners on Sunday, August 13th! Game time is 1:10 PM, and you won’t want to miss IBD patient, supporter, and advocate, Mike McCready, performing the national anthem! We’ll keep you posted about game day details as they develop but be sure to grab your tickets while they’re available. We can’t wait to see you there!
For more information and to grab your tickets, click here.
The Take Steps Numbers are in...
Thank you to everyone who joined us to be a part of Take Steps this year in Portland and Western Washington! Nearly 500 people joined us in-person and over 1,000 people donated to Take Steps!
We can’t wait to share with you the impact that your efforts will make in the year ahead!
We want to give a shout out to our presenting sponsor for Portland Take Steps 2023, The Oregon Clinic Gastroenterology. We were thrilled to have their team at the event and Dr. Grunkemeier emcee the event. Thank you for being such a dedicated partner in our mission to cure IBD and improve the quality of life for the adults and children affected by these diseases!
Welcome, Jami & Reynelda!
We’re excited to welcome Jami Oster and Reynelda Solitaire to the Northwest Board! Check out their stories below to learn more about them!
Reynelda Solitaire is from Tacoma, WA, and is the oldest of five siblings with family roots in the South and military backgrounds. Reynelda started college at the University of San Francisco, living in the Bay Area for three and a half years, which she considers her second home. Upon her return to Washington, Reynelda completed her BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (Econ concentration) and a Minor in Business at the University of Washington. She is currently a small business owner of Solitaire Professional Services and provides business operations support services with a focus on billing, credentialing, and administrative support for mental health therapists. Prior work experience includes five years as an Athletic Director at her alma mater, Foss High School, and over fifteen years of administrative support and youth development work with organizations that include the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound and MetroParks Tacoma.
Reynelda was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in December of 2018 and has since been on a journey to understand more about IBD and being an advocate for those most underserved. She became involved with CCF NW Chapter in June 2022 as a volunteer with the DEI Committee. Reynelda is passionate about helping the chapter create more inclusive and supportive opportunities for BIPOC patients. She is also an Ambassador with Color of Crohn’s & Chronic Illness.
In her spare time, Reynelda enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, gardening, cooking, volunteering in her community and helping out at her friend’s ice cream shop (Creamy Cone Cafe) in South Seattle.
"Throughout my life, I have leveraged my professional and personal skills to build something better for myself and for the people around me. Growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma gave me an appreciation of hard work and resilience - no matter what happened, I always kept looking forward.
"I have built my career around finance, wireless, and the software industry. While holding multiple leadership positions and working my way up to CEO, I have leveraged both my tech-savvy and problem-solving skills to develop products that help companies reach their business goals.
"During the COVID pandemic, my daughter was diagnosed with Crohn’s at age 17, and since then I have become more involved with the foundation. I am looking forward to helping the NW chapter expand its impact on people affected by IBD.
"In addition to my career, I enjoy spending time on my boat, with my family, gardening and competitive puzzle building. Traveling the world is also one of my passions as it gives me insights into new cultures, perspectives, and knowledge."
Volunteer Opportunity
Growing up is hard and it can be even more challenging as a kid who has IBD. You can make a difference in helping create a supportive, safe space for kids in the Northwest! We’re seeking volunteers who may be interested in co-facilitating a support group for kids!
Volunteers must complete volunteer training/screening prior to leading a support group. However, no formal mental health care licensing is required. All you need is a passion for supporting kids and the ability to join virtual meetings!
Struggling with inflammatory bowel disease and unsure what to eat? Help is here
The Seattle Times' interviewed the foundation's chef-in-residence, Joel Gamoran, on his experience as an Ulcerative Colitis patient and how he has developed recipes for IBD patients like him!
