1. Cody Dieruf Benefit Foundation
“Just Breathe” Program Proposal
Mission Statement
The mission of the Cody Dieruf Benefit Foundation (CDBF) is to raise awareness of cystic
fibrosis (CF) and provide financial and emotional support to local families living with CF. The
CDBF offers financial assistance for medical co-pays, medical travel, insurance deductibles, and
medically related out-of-pocket expenses. The CDBF also provides financial assistance for
extra-curricular activities that promote exercise (a necessity for keeping CF patients as healthy as
possible), as well as for educational and cultural opportunities to enrich the lives of those living
with CF. Importantly, the Foundation also strives to provide a network of emotional support for
CF families and individuals.
History
Cody lost her courageous battle with cystic fibrosis on April 28, 2005, at the young age of 23.
Her courage, grace and determination in fighting CF and living life to its fullest were - and
always will be - an inspiration. The Cody Dieruf Benefit Foundation was established in 2006 to
carry on Cody’s beautiful legacy by providing local support to those fighting CF. This
Foundation is reaching out to families who live with the same disease that took Cody’s life.
Functioning of the CDBF
The CDBF relies upon a heavy volunteer base, and therefore currently has no paid employees.
Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that primarily affects the lungs and digestive
system. A defective gene causes the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the
lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections. Over time, these infections cause permanent
and progressive lung damage which often necessities a double-lung transplant. The stress CF
places on the lungs over time also results in other medical problems, including heart failure.
Daily CF treatments consist of respiratory therapy, exercise, chest percussion, and inhaled
mucolitics and antibiotics. CF patients also undergo frequent hospitalizations from one to three
weeks at a time where IV antibiotics are administered and the patient’s health is “tuned-up.” In
addition to damaging the lungs, CF also prevents the pancreas from digesting food properly,
leading to under-nourishment. Those with CF must take dozens of enzymes each and every time
they eat to enable their bodies to absorb necessary nutrients from their food.
Program
The Just Breathe program assists local CF families by relieving the financial burdens of CF. This
program covers any out-of-pocket expenses including co-pays, medications, and durable medical
equipment, as well as exercise classes and educational and cultural opportunities to enrich the
lives of those fighting CF. The largest amount of funding in the program is for reimbursement for
clinic expenses. Due to our remote location and the unavailability of specialized CF care in our
community, all the CDBF families must travel to Billings and Denver for frequent medical
appointments an hospitalizations. The Foundation reimburses families for gas, lodging, food,
and other expenses associated with these appointments and hospitalizations. The Just Breathe

2. Program is the core program of the CDBF and has been funded solely by the support of the
community through local fundraisers and personal donations.
Northwestern Energy – Application for Donation
1. Cody Dieruf Benefit Foundation (CDBF)
2. P.O. Box 6044, Bozeman, MT 59771
3. (406) 581-9002
4. Ginny Dieruf, Executive Director
5. Federal Tax ID# 20-4498266
6. The Foundation’s purpose is health and human services.
7. The Foundation’s geographic area includes Bozeman, Montana and all communities
within a 100 mile radius of Bozeman. Bozeman and the surrounding communities
consists of most of these families. The Foundation’s long-term vision includes expanding
the Foundation’s geographic area to include all of Montana.
8. The only other known organization that assists those with Cystic Fibrosis in our area is
the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF), whose reach is nationwide. The CFF
focuses primarily on nationwide medical research and development of new drug therapies
for Cystic Fibrosis, so although the population it serves is similar its mission and purpose
is quite different from the CDBF, which provides direct financial and emotional support
to local CF families.
9. See attached “Just Breathe” Program Proposal.
10. Cystic Fibrosis is a progressive disease that currently has no cure. As such, as a CF
patient ages more intensive medical intervention is required and travel for
hospitalizations become more frequent. Additionally, CF often leads to a necessary
double-lung transplant which, even when the cost of the transplant itself is substantially
covered by insurance, necessitates additional, exorbitant out-of-pocket expenses to meet
insurance deductibles and for travel, lodging, and food costs for both the transplant and
the numerous pre and post-transplant medical visits. Transplants also require significant
time off work for parents or caregivers, which cause extreme financial burdens to most
families. For these reasons, and because new children are being born with CF every day,
there is no specified “timeline” for this ongoing and continual program. As such, our
goals for this program are to continue to support the current financial needs of our CF
families, while growing our medical fund reserves so that we are in a strong financial
position in the future to assist families in obtaining a life-saving transplant.
11.The majority of the funds in the Just Breathe Program go toward assisting local CF
families pay the costs of travel, lodging, and food for necessary medical appointments

3. and hospitalizations in Billings, Montana and in Denver, Colorado. Funds are also
granted to CF families to help cover the high cost of medical deductibles that must be met
each and every year, and for medications that insurance does not fully cover.
Additionally, because exercise is key to keeping CF patients as healthy as possible, the
Foundation supports activities that promote exercise and physical well-being such as
taekwondo, sports camps, gym memberships, and dance classes. The Foundation also
supports educational and cultural pursuits which enrich the lives of children and young
adults who struggle each day to be healthy and who, without a cure, are facing a
shortened life expectancy. These important extracurricular activities are often out of
reach for many CF families, who are struggling day to day to keep up with mounting
medical expenses, unpaid time off work for clinic visits and hospitalizations, and
household bills. As such, the Foundation strives to ease the financial burdens on CF
families and provide an avenue for those with CF to engage in activities that promote
their health and general well-being.
12. The Foundation currently serves 17 families and 19 individuals with CF in the Gallatin
Valley and surrounding communities. Each of these families struggles daily with keeping
their loved ones healthy and meeting the financial challenges presented by CF. It is not
so much the number that we serve as it is the lives, as this disease has no cure. As stated
above, this need is continual and growing due to the progressive nature of cystic fibrosis.
In addition, there is currently one young man in our area of service that is nearing the
need for a double lung transplant.
13. $30,000 to $35,000.
14.
15.
16. NWE has paid for sponsor table at our last 8th Annual Live and Silent Auction and also
in the past has sent us $500.00 donation.
17.The CDBF and the Just Breathe Program is funded almost exclusively by the support of
the community through local fundraisers and public donations.
18. The Foundation has not received past support from the United Way, and does not have
any current plans to request such support.