American Kidney Fund Hosts Town Hall with Congressman Glenn Ivey to Empower Marylanders to Take Charge of Their Kidney Health

ROCKVILLE, Md. (April 25, 2025) The American Kidney Fund (AKF) is honored to partner with Rep. Glenn Ivey from Maryland Congressional District 4 for a Know Your Kidneys® Town Hall on Saturday, April 26. 

During this event, attendees will learn about kidney disease, with a special focus on a rapidly progressing type of genetic kidney disease called APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD) ahead of AKF's second annual AMKD Awareness Day on April 29. 

While everyone has two copies of the APOL1 gene, people of West or Central African ancestry are more likely to have APOL1 gene variants (mutations) that cause AMKD. People who are African American, African, Afro-Caribbean, or Hispanic/Latino who inherited certain variations of the APOL1 gene have an increased likelihood of developing AMKD. This type of kidney disease can develop even at a young age, and it can advance faster than other kidney diseases.

"Unfortunately, AMKD is not yet widely recognized or diagnosed," said AKF President and CEO LaVarne A. Burton. "We established AMKD Awareness Day in April 2024 to address this lack of awareness on a national level, and it is community events like this Town Hall that will help to ensure we reach people who can benefit from the information. We are grateful to Rep. Ivey for joining us and helping people better understand their risk for kidney disease, and how they can take steps to know their kidneys and live their healthiest lives."

The Town Hall will take place at the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center in Largo, Maryland from 12 to 1:30 p.m. in Room 300-302. In addition to Rep. Ivey, attendees will hear from people in their community about their kidney disease journeys, a local nephrologist and a genetic counselor. They will also have the opportunity to have their questions answered and receive an AKF AMKD Awareness Day T-shirt (while supplies last). 

While RSVPs are not required, they are strongly encouraged. Find out more about the event and RSVP.

Find out more about AMKD and join AKF in being APOL1 Aware on April 29.

AKF's AMKD Awareness Day activities are sponsored by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, with additional support provided by Natera. AKF is joined by dozens of other organizations supporting AMKD Awareness Day, a full list of which can be found on KidneyFund.org/APOL1Aware.