The fight against eating disorders rages on. It is only Kitty Westin’s job description that has changed.

Earlier this month, the Anna Westin Foundation president announced that the foundation, dedicated to the prevention and treatment of eating disorders, had closed and transferred its assets to another program.

The Anna Westin Foundation has been absorbed by the Emily Program Foundation, a St. Paul-based organization that Kitty Westin believes mirrors her former foundation.

Westin said that the change will allow her to focus her efforts on what she does best- lobbying and speaking on the topic of eating disorders.

“I’ve been the Anna Westin Foundation for eight years,” Kitty said.

“There are parts of the foundation I love to do - going to Washington, D.C., speaking at colleges and conferences,” she continued. “Then there are the everydays - like bookkeeping - that I don’t like as much. I got tired.”

Westin and her family started the Anna Westin Foundation in 2000 after her 21-year-old daughter, Anna, lost a five-year battle with anorexia by committing suicide.

“We felt like we needed to find something good out of that,” she said. “We needed to talk about it, tell the story openly and honestly. Transform the horror, grief and rage into something positive.

“It grew from there in a pretty amazing way,” she added.

When Westin began, she admits she knew nothing about running a foundation. “I got up each morning and put one foot in front of the other,” she said.

Throughout her eight years with the foundation, Westin has testified before Congress; worked with legislators to create bills to support the treatment and prevention of eating disorders and associated mental health problems; won awards for her advocacy work; been named president of the national Eating Disorders Coalition; and has opened the Anna Westin House.

The Anna Westin house is a residential treatment facility in Chaska that provides long-term care for those suffering from eating disorders. “I’m most proud of the Anna Westin House,” she said. “Before that, long-term care wasn’t available in Minnesota.”

Though the foundation has closed, Anna Westin House will remain open, Westin noted. The Emily Program began running the residential treatment program last June.

Through that process, Westin developed confidence in the Emily Program and its ability to carry on the Anna Westin Foundation legacy.

“I trust that the Emily Program will maintain our mission and goals,” said Westin. “If I didn’t trust that, I wouldn’t have done this.”

“The Emily Program Foundation is incredible grateful and humbled to receive these assets,” stated Emily Program Foundation President Dr. Jillian Croll, in an e-mail.

“A number of the Emily Program staff, me included, have had the privilege of working with Kitty for years now to preserve Anna’s legacy in ways that improve the lives of countless others struggling with eating disorders,” Croll continued.

With the Anna Westin Foundation assets, the Emily Program Foundation hopes to increase eating disorder education and awareness, conduct research to improve the understanding of the development and prevention of eating disorders as well as support high-quality eating disorder treatment, Croll said.

“The Emily Program Foundation feels tremendous responsibility to continue to uphold the vision of the Anna Westin Foundation and to expand upon the incredible community support around this legacy,” Croll added.

 Westin and her family will continue to be involved, occupying two seats on the Emily Program Foundation Board of Directors. In addition, the organization will fund Westin’s lobbying efforts and speaking engagements.

“I feel so much comfort in knowing other people are getting help,” said Westin, adding that she continues to receive daily letters and stories of affirmation from people affected by eating disorders.

“To be part of that feels really good,” she said.

And Westin doesn’t think she’s the only one that would be proud of what her family has done. She believes Anna would give her nod of approval as well.

“Very often I feel her presence,” said Westin. “It keeps me going.”

-Mollee Francisco, staff writer