Blog

Raising Awareness of Congenital CMV in New Jersey

Meet 2018 Public Health Awareness Mini Grant Recipients Allison Goldschlag-Reinking and Laurie Navin of The Central Jersey Family Health Consortium, and learn more about their project to implement a comprehensive educational program about congenital CMV in their region.

What I Took Away from the CMV Public Health & Policy Conference

Author: Kristen H Spytek Our community of parents, advocates, early interventionists, state health employees, clinicians, researchers, scientists, and stakeholders, were well-represented in Burlington last week, and what was extremely encouraging to me, is that both individually and together, we all continue to operate on full cylinders at the very epicenter of what we’re each trying to ultimately do – save babies and prevent birth defects due to congenital CMV.

Compete 4 CMV Spotlight: Rob Pickus

Meet Rob Pickus. Rob is father to Noah, born with congenital CMV. He's an experienced runner and fundraiser. We're excited to have him as part of the inaugural Compete 4 CMV - NYC Marathon team! 

Board Member Spotlight: Sara Doutre

Author: Sara Doutre Meet Sara Doutre. Sara is a co-founder of National CMV Foundation and she brings real-life advocacy expertise and experience to the group. She is also a mother of three and runs her own business, Doutre Consulting, specializing in Education Policy. 

Raising Awareness of CMV in Arizona

Meet 2018 Public Health Awareness Mini Grant Recipient Melissa Selbt, MPH, Executive Director of The EAR Foundation of Arizona, and learn more about her project to educate and evaluate CMV policy within her state. 

Football Fundraising Ideas

Fundraising tips and ideas just in time for football season!

Board Member Spotlight: John Spytek

Author: John Spytek Meet John Spytek. John co-founded the National CMV Foundation in July 2014, with his wife, on behalf of their daughter, Evelyn Grace. This issue is deeply personal for him and he brings a real sense of tenacity to the group, stemming from his experience in professional sports. 

The Birth Deck: Q&A with Sara Lyon

Author: Kristen Spytek & Sara Lyon It’s OK to feel contradictory emotions simultaneously. Life is dualistic, it is dark and light at once, it is pain and beauty in the same instant. Having gratitude and anger in the same breath is normal and honoring that reality is extraordinary. When we encounter great challenges and allow ourselves to feel everything without judgement or resistance, we can thrive in the aftermath. 

The Ohio CMV Advocacy Project

In May, National CMV awarded the public health awareness mini grant pilot to The Ohio CMV Advocacy Project. We’d like to share their experience in hopes of inspiring others to begin advocating for CMV awareness, on behalf of and in partnership with National CMV, in their state.

Team Member Spotlight: Kristel Jacobson

Author: Kristel Jacobson Meet Kristel Jacobson. Kristel joined the National CMV team as Manager of Special Events in March 2018, and boy are we lucky to have her! Kristel's background and expertise in the non-profit space will help catapult our organization to better compete with other well-known, national, health-related groups!