NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - February 06, 2014) -  The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) is delighted to announce that Emmy Award winning political commentator and TV host Bob Schieffer will serve as Honorary Chair for Take Steps in 2014. A patient himself, Mr. Schieffer understands the importance of raising funds and awareness for digestive diseases.

"I've been dealing with colitis since 1974 and we still don't know all the reasons why people get these terrible diseases," Mr. Schieffer said. "I support the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America because they are leading the way in the search for cures and the Take Steps Walk is a fun and easy way for people to make a difference."

"Bob has always been a friend to CCFA and we truly appreciate his supporting our walk program in this way," said Richard J. Geswell, President & CEO, of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. "As a patient and renowned broadcaster, he is giving a voice to the 1.4 million American adults and children who are affected by these digestive diseases. In this role, Bob has the ability to help raise the profile of these debilitating diseases."

Born in 1937, Bob Schieffer began his tenure at CBS as anchor for the Sunday broadcasts. He served 23 years as anchor for the Saturday edition of the CBS Evening News (1973-1996) and also anchored the popular public affairs show Face the Nation which he continues to appear on beginning in 1991. He has won six Emmy awards and was named Broadcaster of the Year in 2002 by the National Press Foundation. His career has been almost exclusively devoted to national politics, and he is one of the few journalists to cover all four major Washington national assignments: the White House, The Pentagon, United States Department of State, and United States Congress.

Bob Schieffer is the author of four books, including Face the Nation: My Favorite Stories from the First 50 Years of the Award-Winning News Broadcast (2004) and Bob Schieffer's America (2008).

Known collectively as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis affects 1 in 200 people. They are painful, medically incurable diseases that attack the digestive system. Crohn's disease may attack anywhere along the digestive track, while ulcerative colitis inflames only the large intestine (colon). Symptoms may include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fever, fatigue and weight loss. Many patients require numerous hospitalizations and surgery. Most people develop the diseases between the ages of 15 and 35; however the incidence is increasing in children.

About Take Steps
Take Steps is the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America's national walk program. These walks raise funds for critical research and increase awareness of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, painful and unpredictable digestive diseases. Thousands of people will gather this year at 170 Take Steps walks nationwide to join the fight against Crohn's and colitis. The walks are family friendly festivals with activities for everyone including games, music, and great food. Funds raised through Take Steps will help transform the lives of those impacted by these diseases, and support CCFA's critical research, education, and patient support programs. Walk with us today: get started at www.cctakesteps.org. Take Steps is supported in 2014 by Abbvie, our platinum sponsor.

About the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) is the largest voluntary non-profit health organization dedicated to finding cures for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). CCFA's mission is to cure Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults who suffer from these diseases. The Foundation works to fulfill its mission by funding research, providing educational resources for patients and their families, medical professionals, and the public, and furnishing supportive services for those afflicted with IBD. For more information, visitwww.ccfa.org, call 888-694-8872, join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ccfafb and www.facebook.com/ccfatakesteps, or follow CCFA and Take Steps on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ccfa and www.twitter.com/takesteps.