Atlanta, Georgia (November 13, 2010) – Jabian Consulting helped Georgia PKU Connect set the stage for future growth by leading its board in a strategic planning retreat. Together, the group refined the organization’s core mission and vision and set its priorities for 2011 and beyond. Jabian’s Fred Jewell, Executive Director, and Michael Lan, Senior Manager, planned and led the process, in which the group created an organizational structure based on nonprofit best practices and the group’s specific goals.
Georgia PKU Connect, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of those with phenylketonuria (PKU), a genetic metabolic disorder that can cause severe neurological complications. PKU causes an inability to process the amino acid phenylalanine, which is present in most foods. Left untreated, PKU can lead to mental retardation. PKU can be controlled when treated consistently with a very strict diet, allowing individuals with the condition to develop normally.
Founded in 2008 by three Georgia mothers of children born with PKU, the organization set out to support individuals with PKU and their families through camaraderie, education, advocacy and research. It has grown through grassroots support, originally cultivating a following through a Yahoo group online. It recently found itself at a point where it was ready to move forward with a more strategic focus.
Kristen Vanags, president of Georgia PKU Connect, said, “the group feels energized and motivated by the session. Fred and Michael helped us think strategically about where we need to go. We are very excited about where the organization is headed. Jabian has been a great supporter, and the strategy they helped us develop today will truly make a difference for the PKU community.”
“Georgia PKU Connect is a young organization that has done remarkable things to connect PKU patients in Georgia with each other and with organizations that can help them. Members of the board have also been successful in advocacy efforts at the national level,” said Jewell. “It was an honor to work with such a motivated group and help them pull together a plan that can make them even more effective.