American Kidney Fund Honors Retiring Congress Members and Alonzo Mourning

ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 16, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The American Kidney Fund (AKF) hosted a reception and awards ceremony at the Conrad Hotel in Washington, D.C., to honor retiring members of Congress and basketball Hall-of-Famer Alonzo Mourning for their contributions to kidney health advocacy. The event, held during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference, aimed to raise awareness about chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney health disparities, particularly affecting Black communities.

Three retiring Congressional Black Caucus members received the inaugural Kidney Health Awards for their dedication to kidney health initiatives. Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-IL) has long focused on addressing health disparities, including his work on bipartisan legislation to improve kidney health outcomes. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL), the outgoing chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, has been a key leader in reforming the organ transplant system and addressing health disparities. Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D-U.S. Virgin Islands) worked to advance policies to reduce health disparities and introduced a congressional resolution supporting the designation of the last Tuesday of April as APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD) Awareness Day.

Alonzo Mourning, a kidney health advocate and former NBA star, was honored with the Kidney Health Award for his commitment to raising awareness and educating the public about AMKD. Mourning was diagnosed with kidney disease after earning a gold medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics and later learned his condition was AMKD, a genetic form of kidney disease that can progress rapidly. He has shared his story across the country to empower others to take charge of their kidney health.

LaVarne A. Burton, President and CEO of AKF, emphasized the importance of kidney health for all communities.

According to the American Kidney Fund, Black Americans are at a higher risk of developing kidney failure than white Americans. Despite making up nearly 14% of the U.S. population, Black Americans account for nearly 30% of kidney failure cases. AKF is dedicated to improving health outcomes in kidney disease and focuses on reaching people from racial and ethnic minority groups who are more likely to be impacted by end-stage kidney disease. AKF's Kidney Health for All® serves as a hub for education and outreach, addressing early detection, disease management, financial assistance, clinical research, innovation, and advocacy.

The organization's work to educate and raise awareness about APOL1-mediated kidney disease is supported by Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Alonzo Mourning is a paid spokesperson for Vertex Pharmaceuticals.