2025 marks the 70th anniversary of the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan! Since 1955, the NKFM has been on one mission: preventing kidney disease and improving the quality of life for those living with it.
To celebrate this milestone, we’re taking a journey through time with our Throwback Thursday series on social media, where we are showcasing historic moments in kidney health and NKFM’s history.
Stay up to date with our historical posts on our Facebook and Instagram, or scroll to see our archive below!
50 years celebrating March is Kidney Month! While a lot has changed since 1975, our commitment to our mission is stronger than ever.
We’re throwing it back to September 1978 when legislation was passed that requires the Secretary of State to ask driver’s license applicants if they want their name on the Organ and Tissue Donor Registry! Almost 50 years later, the NKFM still stands behind this life-saving legislation.
April is Donate Life Month, and we encouraged everyone to register to become an organ donor at giftoflifemichigan.org/become-a-donor, so you can wear that donor heart on your ID with pride and help save lives through the gift of donation.
Twenty nine years ago, in April 1996, history was made at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Two close friends became part of a history: the first cross-racial, living kidney transplant in Michigan.
At the time, it was one of only two dozen such transplants in the entire country. This photo was taken the day before their life-changing surgery.
April 7-13 was National Public Health Week.
At the NKFM, we’re proud to champion healthier lives through prevention, education, and support.
For 70 years, we’ve worked to prevent chronic kidney disease and improve the quality of life for those living with it.
National Volunteer Week was April 20-26, and we spent the week celebrating the incredible individuals who give their time, energy, and heart to support the fight against kidney disease.
Thank you to every volunteer who has helped us make a difference, one person, one act, and one step at a time, for the past 70 years.
For years, our Kids Camp at YMCA Camp Copneconic has provided children with chronic kidney disease the opportunity to enjoy an exciting summer camp adventure in the great outdoors, complete with recreational activities and new friends.
Imagine days filled with fun activities and making lifelong memories with fellow campers who truly understand. From outdoor adventures to creative arts and crafts, there’s something for everyone!
Our dedicated team of medical volunteers is on hand 24/7 to oversee our campers and attend to their medical requirements – including medication administration and dialysis if needed throughout their stay.
Throwing it back to past Michigan Kidney Walks at the Detroit Zoo.
Kidney Walks have been an integral part of our fundraising world since 1996! At one point there were more than 10 Kidney Walks across the State of Michigan.
70th Anniversary Kidney Bean artwork that was created at the 2025 Michigan Kidney Walk at the Detroit Zoo!
We are proudly displaying it in our Detroit Office.
Did you know that the first dialysis machine was invented in 1943? This groundbreaking invention by Dutch physician Willem Kolff changed the future of kidney care, offering hope and life-saving treatment to those with kidney failure.
Fast forward to today and dialysis has come a long way. As we celebrate 70 years of serving Michigan, we’re proud to continue our mission: to prevent kidney disease and improve the quality of life for those living with it.
In June 1966, a Michigan father gave his son the gift of life through a kidney transplant. At the time, transplants were rare, risky, and usually between family members and with uncertain outcomes.
Today, thanks to decades of research, better matching, and improved medications, kidney transplants are safer and more successful than ever.
This moment in history helped pave the way for the life-saving care that millions receive today.
For the past 70 years, the NKFM has been there every step of the way, advocating, educating, and pushing for better treatment.
The NKFM’s commitment to advocacy has spanned generations and is still going strong.
From statewide CKD prevention strategies to advocating for the Living Donor Protection Act, and bringing dialysis to the masses, we’re proud to amplify decades of impact in the fight for dialysis and transplantation access.
Pictured is a moment from a Lansing Donor Rally during the late 1970s – early 1980s!
We recently found this old pin (more than 10 years old) at our Ann Arbor office!
70 years of the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan have come and gone, but our mission remains the same: to prevent kidney disease and improve the quality of life for those living with it.
Who remembers our Chili Cookoffs? With college football and cooler weather rolling in this weekend, it feels like the perfect time to showcase this cozy memory!
Our chili cookoffs brought the community together for good food, friendly competition, and supporting kidney health.
70 Years of Impact – KHI Team
From screenings to statewide strategy, the Kidney Health Initiatives (KHI) division at NKFM is changing lives.
The Summer We Turned 70
Since 1955, the NKFM has been committed to preventing kidney disease and improving the quality of life of those living with it. From dialysis to transplants to prevention programs, we’ve been here every step of the way.
70 Years of Impact – HEP Team
For seven decades, the NKFM has been empowering Michigan communities to take charge of their health.
The Health Empowerment Programs are an example of how we meet people where they are with flexible, personalized support that makes healthy living possible for everyone.
Flashback to the 1970s where on September 4, history was made at U-M’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital when baby Karla Kimsey became the smallest infant to receive a kidney transplant there.
Her surgery was a milestone in pediatric transplant care, paving the way for future advancements that continue to give children and families hope today.
The NKFM is proud to honor moments like these that shaped kidney health in Michigan.
As we celebrate 70 years of the NKFM, we’re flipping through the pages of our history … literally.
These snapshots from our 1979 Kidney Khronicle magazine remind us how far we’ve come in advancing kidney health, supporting patients, and building healthier communities.
From printed newsletters to digital storytelling, our mission has stayed the same: to prevent kidney disease and improve the quality of life for those living with it.
For 70 years, NKFM has led with data, dedication, and heart. Our Data Analytics Team helps transform numbers into stories.
See how this team evolved from admin support to data stewards leading the way in prevention and innovation!
Since 2012, the NKFM’s DPP has helped thousands of Michiganders take control of their health, prevent type 2 diabetes, and live stronger, healthier lives.
See how this life-changing program began and continues to grow.
