BRI’s work took on new meaning for Kirk Nelson when his wife, Patty, was diagnosed with a rare disease called autoimmune dermatomyositis. 

“I’d heard of BRI,” says Kirk, CEO of AAA Washington. “And the more we researched my wife’s condition, the more comforting it became that a local organization was working toward cures for diseases like hers.”

Kirk is proving that individual supporters can make a big difference at BRI: He recently joined our board of directors, and he spurred AAA to make a generous donation at this year’s Illuminations Luncheon. 

“One of our guiding principles is to care for our community,” Kirk says. “Supporting BRI aligns with that because autoimmune diseases impact many colleagues and their families.”

He’s also furthering AAA’s support by encouraging their Washington-based employees to become research participants for the Sound Life Project. 

“Autoimmune diseases are so common and so debilitating, which means BRI’s work has the potential to have a huge impact,” Kirk says. “We’ll do anything we can to help.”