Have crohn's or colitis? we may be able to help!
WE EXIST SOLELY TO HELP PATIENTS OFFSET MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IBD!
We applaud organizations that are committed to education, advocacy, and research and development and those dedicated to finding a cure. We don't want to reinvent where others have created a path. We want to build the bridge!
Our non-profit organization was founded in 2013 by a group of individuals who realized a major gap in the IBD community - to help patients and their families living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) offset the high cost of medical and non-medical related expenses. Bottoms Up works to build the bridge to eliminate this gap!
Our Mission
Our mission is to work with hospitals and physician offices to establish Bottoms Up Patient/Family Support Funds to help patients and their families offset health care and other expenses associated with living with IBD. We are dedicated to ensuring that all adults and children can afford their infusions, prescription drugs, medical supplies, rent, utilities and more while seeking remission. Remission is possible!
Guiding Principles
Our commitment to the IBD community is as fierce as a Titan! We will operate with the following principles as our driving force:
• Highest Ethical Standards
• Inclusion
• Compassion
• Excellence in Leadership
• Commitment
• Collaboration
Community Involvement
We take a grassroots approach, working with city and town leadership to create community-based events that will become annual traditions for years to come. We achieve positive results by forming committees comprised of the local business owners, residents, elected officials, and others to engage the community. Proceeds from our events are in support of local hospitals and physician offices in and around the area where the event takes place to help the local IBD community.
Executive Director
Our executive director, Dawn Zavalishin was named to Women We Admire's Top 100 Women Leaders of Connecticut for 2022. She is also the founder of Bottoms Up and hopes to help patients and their families living with Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis focus on what matters most - remission. Dawn has been living with IBD for over 30 years and has a clear understanding of life with both ulcerative colitis (diagnosed at age 17) and Crohn's Disease (diagnosed at age 31).
Board Members
Our board members and volunteers range from physicians, entrepreneurs, lawyers, teachers, local business owners & staff, students and the list goes on. We are so grateful to everyone for their support!
View IRS Filings
To view our IRS filings, please visit the IRS Website - Bottoms Up Organization. EIN: 46-3939232
Board Members
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Executive Officer
Dawn Zavalishin is the Founder and Executive Director of Bottoms Up, Ms. Zavalishin is an entrepreneur and has owned and operated several successful small businesses prior to founding Bottoms Up. She has worked with several Fortune 50 companies and held key roles in both public and private sectors. She was recently awarded as one of the honorees in Women We Admire's Top 100 Women Leaders of Connecticut for 2022.
Board Member
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Executive Officer
Founder and CEO of Pursant, LLC in Chicago, IL, Mark Herbick is a serial entrepreneur. His businesses have employed from a dozen to 1,400 employees. He's a though leader involved in hundreds of engagements and transactions and has logged experience from Wall Street to boutique firms.
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Financial Officer
Our Chief Medical Officer, Andrew Shrout brings over 20 years of insurance carrier experience in Strategy, Product, and Operations, including an expertise in enterprise transformation, large-scale technology implementations, and reviving latent business units. He is currently President at Bluefire Insurance in Irving, Texas. Andrew holds a BS in Finance from Georgetown College and an MBA from the University of Colorado.
Board Member
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Financial Officer
Shari Ann Madho is the Managing Attorney of Legal Advocates, LLC. In 2006, she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. In 2007, she began attending law school at Quinnipiac University School of Law, graduating in 2010. Although her symptoms had gotten progressively worse since her diagnosis, she did not let it deter her from her ultimate career goal of being an attorney. She is currently admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut, State of New York and District of Columbia. She was named “Woman of the Month” by the Professional Organization of Women in Excellence Recognized (“POWER”) magazine.