Despite significant headwinds, primarily due to disruptions in the Federal government, the Peggy Lillis Foundation has made considerable progress. We had to put some goals on the back burner until the national ecosystem is more favorable. Still, we prioritized providing much more care to people actively battling and recovering from C. diff infections. We’re proud of all we accomplished. We are also grateful to our sponsors, donors, and volunteers, without whom we could not have achieved so much.

Strategic Direction

In 2025, PLF launched a new 2025–2026 Strategic Plan to guide the organization’s next phase of growth. The plan consolidates PLF’s work into three strategic pillars—Education, Patient Support, and Policy & Advocacy—with an increased emphasis on partnerships and development to ensure long-term sustainability and program expansion in the United States and abroad.

Volunteer Engagement & Growth

To strengthen volunteer impact and engagement, PLF restructured its volunteer program into three distinct groups: the Advocates Council, a Peer Support Network, and our new Speakers Bureau.

This structure allows volunteers to contribute in ways aligned with their skills and interests, while expanding PLF’s capacity for advocacy, education, and awareness. Sixteen new volunteers joined PLF in 2025, collectively contributing their time, expertise, and experience to advance the fight against C. diff.

C. diff Policy, Advocacy & Education Leadership

In April, PLF hosted our annual Summit and Lobby Day in Washington, D.C., bringing together advocates, experts, and policymakers, including:

• 10 educational talks and workshops led by national experts, including “C. difficile: A Big Problem for Little Kids” with Dr. Stacy Kahn of Boston Children’s Hospital and “The C. diff Dilemma: How Hospital Policies and Environmental Contamination Keep Infections Alive” from Bobby Warren of Duke Center for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Prevention.
• 18 trained Advocates met with Congressional offices from twelve states. The discussions focused on proposed cuts to public health agencies, Impacts on access to care and innovation, and rising diagnostic costs related to tariffs

This event strengthened PLF’s presence on Capitol Hill and amplified patient and caregiver voices in policy conversations.

Advancing Public Awareness of C. diff Through Data

Building on a 2021 awareness survey that showed 60% of Americans had never heard of C. diff, PLF commissioned a new national survey through YouGov.

• Results showed a 6% increase in the number of Americans aware of C. diff (approximately 20 million) over four years.
• Additional findings highlighted gaps in awareness of antibiotic-related risk factors and disparities in awareness across demographic groups.

These data provide an updated benchmark to inform future education and outreach efforts.

Patient & Caregiver Education

In November, PLF hosted the webinar “Household Hygiene for People With C. diff.” Our featured speaker, Cathy Egan, PhD, delivered practical, evidence-based guidance for infection prevention and recovery to the 112 individuals registered, reflecting strong demand for patient-centered education.

Scientific Engagement & Research Advancement

PLF hosted its second annual C. diff Scientific Symposium on November 21 as a virtual event. This year’s Symposium featured 20 presenters, including three patient testimonials, who covered topics including transmission, adjunctive therapies, and emerging treatment options.

Participation and engagement exceeded 2024 benchmarks:

Following the event, 300+ attendees rated the Symposium 9.6 out of 10, demonstrating exceptional satisfaction and perceived value. You can watch the Symposium on YouTube.

Looking to 2026

As we prepare for the holiday season, we’re looking forward to some much-needed rest and excited for our goals in 2026. We look forward to building on this year’s successes by:

• Revising and expanding our patient education resources, including our Care and Nutrition guides
• Releasing new patient support materials on antibiotic use post-C. Diff, pediatric C. diff and post-infectious IBS
• Continue growing our Peer Support Network so we can assist even more C. diff patients 
• Host a series of educational webinars for patients and clinicians, including international perspectives
• Push for earlier access to the best treatments for C. diff and recurrent C. diff

Of course, we could not have achieved so much this year without the support of our sponsors, donors, and volunteers. You can help us start 2026 strong by donating today.