Annual Donor Report

January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022


Birdshot Uveitis Society of North America (BUSNA) is an independent volunteer-led 501(c)(3) charitable organization established in 2020 by a small group of Birdshot Uveitis patients. This group recognized the need to call attention to this rare, potentially blinding, autoimmune disease that affects the eye. Today, this group makes up the board of directors, with members in Canada and the United States and maintains relationships with other Birdshot Uveitis patient groups around the world. 


2022 was a year of continued growth. The board passionately and tirelessly worked toward our 3-tiered mission of building awareness, supporting patients, and raising research funds.


BUILDING AWARENESS

In 2022 BUSNA  partnered with the Autoimmune Association and became a member of the National Coalition of Autoimmune Patient Groups (NCAPG). The NCAPG’s mission is “to convene, support, and amplify the voice of autoimmune disease patients and autoimmune patient groups to enhance capacity, collaboration, and impact through advocacy, education, awareness, and research concerning all aspects of autoimmune disease.” This coalition is currently over 50 organizations strong, and it is through this partnership BUSNA was invited to host a virtual exhibitor booth at the Autoimmune Association Rare Summit on October 21 through October 22, 2022. This was a first for BUSNA and an exciting opportunity for us to introduce BUSNA and Birdshot Uveitis to a new audience. Our booth garnered the most visits of all booth exhibitors at the event.


In another first, BUSNA announced a partnership with Fight for Sight ,(FFS), a nonprofit organization based in New York City that has been funding medical research in vision and ophthalmology for over seventy-five years. Together, FFS and BUSNA-are offering a 2023 summer student grant for the study of Birdshot Uveitis or posterior uveitis. BUSNA welcomes this collaboration with Fight for Sight and its community of vision-focused scientists. 


BUSNA has an active social media presence on four platforms designed to share health information, build a birdshot community, and promote BUSNA’s website and events. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. 


SUPPORTING PATIENTS


BUSNA is committed to supporting patients and strives to create new opportunities to do so. In 2022, we continued to host The Gathering, an online meet-up  bringing patients together to discuss all things birdshot and create  friendships and community. 


In addition, in October, BUSNA hosted our first Walktober, a month-long event which encouraged daily walking as a means of exercise and overall healthy living. The event was promoted weekly on social media. Each week, participants shared their results and some beautiful photos of where they walked. Prizes were awarded weekly to the participant with the highest miles reported that week. We enjoyed hearing from all who participated and look forward to continuing this event in 2023.


BUSNA was pleased to present a virtual webinar with Jennifer E. Thorne, MD PhD, Cross Family Professor of Ophthalmology and Chief, Division of Ocular Immunology Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine. In addition to being the Cross Family Professor of Ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Dr. Thorne holds a joint appointment as professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is an internationally recognized uveitis specialist. During this webinar, she discussed her latest birdshot research and answered questions. The webinar was well attended, and attendees’ support and feedback was positive. 


RAISING FUNDS AND SUPPORTING BIRDSHOT RESEARCH


Because of your generosity BUSNA donated $10,250 to Birdshot research in 2022, bringing our total donated to birdshot research since 2021 to just over $17,000. Thank you for your support! To see more about research Busna supports, go to www.BUSNA.org


In May, BUSNA hosted a fun and special fundraiser. Board member Josette Abruzinni has always wanted to create a birthday calendar, so she did as our spring fundraiser. Birdies submitted dozens of photographs of different species of birds to be selected for the calendar. It was difficult to choose the winning photos. Each month has a beautiful photo and ample room to note those important birthdays, anniversaries, and other recurring celebrations. The finished product is a beautiful quality creation that will last the years. 


Our largest contribution channel for the second year running is Facebook birthday fundraising. BUSNA received over $6,500 from birthday fundraisers. We appreciate you choosing us as your charity of choice for your birthday celebration. 

A list of accomplishments busna completed in 2022 ranging from having an active presence on social media and donating over $17,000 to research since 2021
pie chart showing 2022 revenue, 27% fundraising, 31% facebook, 42% donations
additional accomplishments of BUSNA, including partnering with fight for sight for a research grant, hosting a webinar with Jennifer Thorne, running a series of blogs around diagnosing a rare disease for rare disease day and hosting walktober

Thank you for your generosity! Your continued financial support increased revenue by 23.6% over 2021.

pie chart showing 2022 donations and expenses, operating expenses 19%, promotional and advertising 10%, research donations 71%

BUSNA is excited to report the 2022 donations to Birdshot research totaled $10, 250 bringing the total amount donated to birdshot research to just over $17,000.

The board of BUSNA strives to represent the Birdshot community in everything they do. Behind the scenes, board members participate in continuously learning while attending professional development workshops and other industry-specific events.

Specific examples BUSNA participated in during 2022 include:

  • ASPECT Patient Engagement Program held by Prevent Blindness.

  • Guest speakers at Lions Club of Emmaus, Pennsylvania and Lions Club of Whitehall, Pennsylvania. 

  • Rare Autoimmune Emerging Leaders Workshop.

WHERE WE ARE HEADED IN 2023

The board of BUSNA is a group of dedicated volunteers who continuously achieve amazing results in supporting, and advocating for the birdshot community. 

In 2023, our goals include:

  • Organizing Birdshot Day Philadelphia at Wills Eye Hospital on April 6, 2024, an in-person event bringing patients, doctors, and other medical professionals together.

  • The creation of an Advisory Board of and the selection of experienced professionals to provide mentorship in the areas of marketing, fundraising, and donor relations.

  • A new, updated website that is more accessible to the low-vision and visually impaired community.

Thank you to the entire birdshot community for your continued support.