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NephCure on NBC's Celebrity Apprentice

The NephCure Foundation is a featured charity during this season of NBC’s hit series “The Celebrity Apprentice.” “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Teresa Giudice has designated the kidney disease non-profit as her charity beneficiary if she wins prize money on the broadcast network prime time series, which airs Sundays (9-11 pm ET).

NephCure is a national 501 (c)3 non-profit based in Berwyn (suburban Philadelphia), PA, whose mission it is to fund research that seeks the cause, cure and effective treatments for the kidney disease Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and Nephrotic Syndrome.

Giudice, one of the most the provocative cast members for the popular Bravo reality hit,  chose NephCure as her beneficiary of the potential $250,000 prize for winning Celebrity Apprentice because of her relationship with a Melville, NY-based family whose eight-year-old child is suffering from the kidney disease FSGS.

“Children are suffering from these diseases and there is no cure,” said Giudice. “NephCure is a dynamic organization that helps patient families living with FSGS and Nephrotic Syndrome. I am honored to be associated with NephCure and hope that my involvement in “The Celebrity Apprentice” leads to hope for the thousands of patients who are suffering from these diseases.”

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“We are excited that Teresa is playing for NephCure on The Celebrity Apprentice,” said NephCure Executive Director Henry Brehm. “We are all thankful for everything she has done to help bring awareness to the kidney disease FSGS and Nephrotic Syndrome. We are extremely interested to see how successful she is on the show and how the season plays out.”

Watch the announcement from Wednesday morning on "Today." Click on the video below.

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Nephrotic Syndrome and FSGS are conditions that affect the tiny filtering mechanisms in the kidney.  The result is that beneficial protein is spilled from the kidney into the urine and lost.  Over time this condition can result in renal failure and the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant.  The cause for Nephrotic Syndrome and FSGS is not known, and there is no cure.

Over 5,600 people are diagnosed with FSGS each year and it is the leading cause of kidney failure in children.

Because of privacy laws, The NephCure Foundation has a unique challenge in finding families affected by Nephrotic Syndrome and FSGS. Therefore, in addition to fundraising for research, The Nephcure Foundation devotes much of its efforts to identifying and educating patient families. Further information for families or potential supporters can be obtained at www.nephcure.org or by contacting Nadia Stadnycki at nstadnycki@nephcure.org.

Giudice is one of 18 celebrity contestants in this is the fifth installment of “The Celebrity Apprentice” and 12th season of “The Apprentice” series. 

This season, celebrity contestants compete, not for a job with the Trump Organization, but for the greater goal of raising money and awareness for their charity of choice.  The last person standing will be chosen as the Celebrity Apprentice and have the honor of delivering a $250,000 bonus check to his or her designated charity. Designated charities may also benefit from tasks, challenges and projects that have fundraising objectives.

Every week, the celebrity contestants will work in two teams, each under the guidance of a designated project manager, to compete in business-driven tasks around New York City, using their fame, along with their proven business acumen, to win challenges.  Contestants are subjected to long hours, grueling deadlines, intellectual challenges, personality clashes and intense scrutiny under the careful watch of Donald Trump and his advisors.  

Certain challenges encourage contestants to reach out to their network of celebrity contacts for assistance or donations, leading to surprise