The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Make Believe Tea Party is a letter-writing campaign where we provide you with the invitation, donation envelope, CF story, and a tea bag to include as part of your outreach to help raise lifesaving funds for valuable cystic fibrosis research. The invitations are adorable, and the only time and financial commitment we ask of you is to put it in the mail to your mailing list of people with a capacity and invested interest of giving minimal donations. Mailing lists will not be added to our database, upon your request.

Groups that have had great succes with this virtual fundraising program include sororitites and fraternities, church groups, alumni organizations, women's organizations, healthcare groups, and families looking to make a difference in their community and gain service hours. In return, these organizations see firsthand the power they have to make a difference.

Last year, Make Believe Tea raised $40,000 in the State of Illinois and this year the stakes are even higher. In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments funded by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Ninety cents of every dollar raised through the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation goes directly to our mission of enhancing quality of life for patients with cf.

There are more than 30,000 people living with Cystic Fibrosis, many who are children. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections. It also obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.

This is a year-round campaign, so the invitation can go out during the holidays or with an upcoming family or community event showing your invested interest in the lives of 30,000 children and young adults afflicted with this debilitating disease.

• Mailing Invitations: The ability to address envelopes and write personalized messages in the invitations. The commitment to provide stamps and mail the invitations.