Cystic fibrosis is special cause for one Freeman student

Coby Kramer-Golinkoff (BSM ’13) isn’t your typical college student. In addition to handling his course load in business management and international development, the Freeman School junior is fundraising for the fight against cystic fibrosis. He hopes to save the life of someone very dear to him: his sister.

“My sister Emily has cystic fibrosis (CF), a life-threatening disease that affects her respiratory and digestive systems,” Kramer-Golinkoff says. “Emily works incredibly hard everyday to stay healthy and live as normal a life as possible, but over time CF diminishes her lung function. Her lungs now only work at a third of the normal lung function. My sister truly embodies strength, perseverance and optimism.”

A few months ago, Kramer-Golinkoff and his family, who are from Philadelphia, launched Emily’s Entourage to raise money and awareness for cystic fibrosis research. This semester, armed with some of the the skills he learned in professor of practice Ashley Keller-Nelson’s class on social media communications, he brought that effort to New Orleans.

“In December, I created a video that has been the core of our fundraising efforts,” Kramer-Golinkoff says. “We distributed our video solely through social media and encouraged people to not only donate but to spread the message.”

More than 500 students attended a fundraiser in April, purchasing more than 1,000 Emily’s Entourage tank tops and generating proceeds of more than $13,000. In addition, Tulane students Kendall and Libby Glazer, who started a line of jewelry called Stoney Clover Lane, are now selling a bracelet to benefit Emily’s Entourage. To date, the campaign has raised almost $200,000, with all proceeds going to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

“It has been unbelievable the way students have supported Emily’s Entourage and embraced our efforts,” Kramer-Golinkoff says. “I am so grateful to see such a huge portion of the student body come together and really make a difference. It shows the power that we have when we come together for a united cause.”

For more information about Emily's Entourage, visit emilysentourage.org or facebook.com/emilysentourage