Center for Chronic Illness

Mission and Description

The Center for Chronic Illness (CCI) promotes well-being and decreases isolation for those impacted by chronic illness through support and education. CCI envisions a world where those living with chronic illness feel less alone and receive the connection and support needed to live as well as possible with their health challenges. CCI serves patients and their loved ones impacted by autoimmune diseases, rare diseases, invisible illnesses, physical disabilities, and chronic pain conditions. 

CCI provides support and education for the chronic illness community through our three core programs:

• Free, virtual support groups
• Health education webinars
• Continuing education for mental health and other healthcare providers. 

This year during GiveBIG WA, we’re continuing to shine a light on the women in our community impacted by chronic illness. At the Center for Chronic Illness, we know women are disproportionately affected—60% live with at least one chronic condition, and 78% of autoimmune patients are women. Many experience more severe pain and face greater functional challenges than men.

Historically, women have been excluded from medical research, their symptoms dismissed as “hysteria.” These outdated attitudes still affect care today—especially for women of color and transgender women, who face systemic bias, mistreatment in the medical system, and harmful delays in care.

Around 80% of those we serve at CCI are women. Through our support groups—Living with Chronic Pain, Living with Perinatal Chronic Illness, Parenting with Chronic Illness, and others—we offer a safe space for connection, support, and advocacy.

Chronic illness impacts every part of life. Your donation helps provide the support, education, and community that allows these women to live as well as possible.

Your Impact

During GiveBIG WA 2025 and through May 14th, the date of our Supporting Women with Chronic Illness luncheon in Seattle, any contributions made from those in our community will be doubled through our 1:1 Board Match up to $5,000! This means every dollar you give will have twice the impact, helping us continue to provide the programs, resources, and connections that make a real difference in the lives of women facing chronic illness.

Recognition

The Center for Chronic Illness would like to recognize their generous donors who continue to help build the foundation of this organization and make it possible for those living with chronic illness to receive much needed, free, emotional support. The Center for Chronic Illness would also like to thank their fantastic board of directors for their continued service, enthusiasm, and support of the Center for Chronic Illness mission and organizational values. We would also like to recognize our compassionate and talented support group facilitators for their energy and compassion in leading our support groups. Finally, we would like to thank all of the attendees of our programs for your understanding, empathy, and support of one another - without you, our community would not exist.