The mission of Friends of Ostomates Worldwide-USA (FOW-USA), a volunteer, non-profit organization, is to provide ostomy supplies and educational resources at no cost to ostomates in need around the world.
Why We Are Needed
Ostomates in developing countries may not be able to get affordable supplies, and may have to manage their ostomy using plastic bags, metal cans, rubber gloves, or rags or towels. Their quality of life is poor, and skin care is a major issue. Ostomates may be rejected by their families, friends, and people in their communities. They may not be able to participate in school or work. With access to proper supplies we are able to help these ostomates improve their health and improve their quality of life.
FOW-USA receives thank you’s from around the globe, confirming that our mission of sending ostomy supplies to those in need worldwide is definitely being realized. Read on to see this mission in action.
Meet Our Team
FOW-USA is managed by a Board of Directors who volunteer their time. Together with the volunteers at our warehouse in Louisville, KY, these members coordinate with individuals and organizations all over the world to get supplies to people in need.
Officers and Directors (Click Here)
Officers
President
Jan Colwell
Vice President
Ann Favreau
Secretary
Shelly Miller
Treasurer
Andy Pucher
Immediate Past President
Cindy Barefield
Warehouse Manager
Carol Heideman
Directors
Craig Glazer
Mickey Heideman
Rachel Hendee
Lynne Kramer
Ashley Mann
Mackenzie Rauch-Pucher
Ruth Salinger
Julia Valente
Google Support
Nancy Schuller
Industry Partner Advisors
Tod Brindle
Heather Budorick
Marisa Steele
FOW-USA by The Numbers
Our Partners
Because so many needs exist around the world, we partner with other groups who do similar work as ours, including the International Ostomy Association and its regions, and similar groups in Canada. FOW-USA has funded memberships to the World Council of Enterostomal Therapists and teaching seminars held by Lions for Stoma Care.
Groups
The United Ostomy Associations of America, Inc. is a national network for bowel and urinary diversion support groups in the United States. Its goal is to provide a nonprofit association that will serve to unify and strengthen its member support groups, which are organized for the benefit of people who have, or will have intestinal or urinary diversions and their caregivers.
www.ostomy.org
Friends of Ostomates Worldwide Canada is a non-profit organization operated solely by volunteers. Since 1986, FOW Canada has collected and sent over 50,000 KG of ostomy supplies and literature to more than 52 needy countries.
Ostomy 101 Inc. was established to connect patients to the tools, resources & information they need to live successfully with an Ostomy. Ostomy 101 Inc., a nonprofit, is a no cost solution used by clinicians to reinforce clinical teaching, empower & Inspire patients, reduce clinic workload, reduce hospital readmission and limit ER visits. Ostomy 101 Inc. is dedicated to empowering & equipping ostomy patients WORLDWIDE. Patients in 39 countries and 27 languages use Ostomy 101.
Ostomy 101 Inc. developed Ostomy 101 Mobile App so everything a person needs is in the palm of their hands. The app helps provide:
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Ostomy Surgeries Explained
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Clinician led Ostomy Education Videos (English & Spanish, Adult & Pediatric)
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Telemedicine Appointments with a Certified Ostomy Nurse (WOCN)
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Ostomy Lifestyle Videos, Blogs & Podcasts
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Free Manufacturer Samples & Coupons
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Ostomy Pouches & Accessories
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Free Recovery Programs
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Free Virtual Support Groups, Classes & Events (70% of users are NEW ostomates)
Ostomy 101 Mobile App is the most popular nonprofit ostomy app in the world providing accessible information and support!
The National Council on Aging provides excellent information on how to manage
or donate unused medical supplies.
The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society is a professional nursing society, which supports its members by promoting educational, clinical, and research opportunities to advance the practice and guide the delivery of expert health care to individuals with wound, ostomy and continence concerns.
Founded in 1978, the World Council of Enterostomal Therapists (WCET) is the only global organization of ET nurses, with members in both developed and emerging countries from all continents of the world. The organization’s mission is to lead the global advancement of specialized professional nursing care for people with ostomy, wound, or continence needs.
www.wcetn.org
LFSC is a worldwide humanitarian program whose aim is to spread the culture of “stoma care”. It is an “operational service” created to teach doctors, nurses and health authorities to change their attitudes regarding stoma patients. LFSC aims to bring “silent suffering” to light and to help the ostomates of needy nations regain self-confidence and the awareness that they can live a normal life.
The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons is the premier society for colon and rectal surgeons and other surgeons dedicated to advancing and promoting the science and practice of the treatment of patients with diseases and disorders affecting the colon, rectum and anus. More than 2,000 of the Society’s 3,800 members are certified by the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery.
We believe in patient-centered, high-quality, high-value health care. We achieve this care through professionalism, unique knowledge and skills, and the fellowship of the Society’s members.
Gay and Lesbian Ostomates (GLO) is a support group for the gay/lesbian, and bisexual ostomate (or other type of diversionary procedure), their partners, family, caregivers, and friends.
Email GLO at:
The International Ostomy Association Coordination Committee (IOA CC), is committed to the improvement of the quality of life of Ostomates and those with related surgeries, worldwide. IOA provides to its member associations information and management guidelines, helps to form new ostomy associations, and advocates on all related matters and policies.
www.ostomyinternational.org
Founded to provide opportunities for the continuing education of surgeons, the American College of Surgeons has had a deep and effective concern for the improvement of patient care and for the ethical practice of medicine. The ethical practice of medicine establishes and ensures an environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and tolerance. Discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, sexual preference, gender, race, disease, disability, or religion, are proscribed as being inconsistent with the ideals and principles of the organization.
The mission of Girls With Guts is to empower girls and women with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s Disease & Ulcerative Colitis) and/or ostomies to share their stories of confidence and to promote self-esteem. Girls With Guts strives to create a community full of empowered women and a network of support so that no one will ever have to feel isolated by their disease. Through Girls With Guts’ website and live events, we hope to bring people together and continue to advocate for IBD issues while spreading awareness.
The Australia Fund was established by the Australian Council of Stoma Associations to provide assistance to ostomates in countries where they have serious difficulties or hardships in obtaining or affording basic ostomy supplies, or where they lack adequate post operative care and support. The establishment of the fund was inspired by a proposal put to ACSA in 2001 by the late Mr. Heinz Wolff, then President of the International Ostomy Association, who suggested that Australian ostomates who receive excellent support should help those who are less fortunate. The proposal was supported by Mr. Gerald Barry the ACSA President at the time, who became the inaugural Chairman and, with the help of some dedicated volunteers and the endorsement of ACSA, set up the Fund in its present form.
The Fund seeks to provide effective practical assistance to disadvantaged ostomates anywhere in the world by donating basic ostomy appliances, training Stomal Therapy Nurses and other medical professionals in stoma care and fostering the development of local self-help facilities.