OPAF NEWS: OPAF updates www.opfund.org

OPAF NEWS: OPAF updates www.opfund.org

Jeffrey S. Reznick, Ph.D.

11/6/2002

Friends,

As detailed below, OPAF has updated its web site - www.opfund.org - to
include pictures from all recent OPAF community programs, including
those held here in Washington, DC and in Chicago during the course of
the successful AOPA National Assembly...

The OPAF Washington DC Community Initiative

As part of OPAF's Washington DC Community Initiative, OPAF volunteers
have visited DC's Hospital for Sick Children regularly since last March.
The children who are staying at the hospital - all of whom have limited
mobility and benefit from orthoses and/or other assistive technology -
have enjoyed great fun through this program. Our regular work to bring
arts and crafts to the kids has provided them with a measurable degree
of social interaction and creative personal achievement, indeed
experiences that they might not otherwise have during the course of
their rehabilitation.

You can learn more about this program, and see recent pictures, through
our web site at:
<URL Redacted>

The OPAF DC Community Initiative made possible in part through our
partnership with the Hospital Volunteer Program of the Morris Cafritz
Center for Community Service of the DC Jewish Community Center (DCJCC).
Working together, OPAF and the DCJCC are aiming to raise public
awareness of the benefits that individuals with physical disabilities
receive from physical activity and assistive technology.

Thanks very much to Robyn Winston, RT, and Katie Purvis, RT, both of the
Hospital for Sick Children, for their help in organizing logistics
during the course of our ongoing afternoons at the hospital. Thanks also
to all of our recent volunteers - Erin, Jess, Catherine - for their
time, generosity, and enthusiasm.without you support OPAF's work in this
important area would not be possible. Thank you all!

Stay tuned, here on the list and on our web site, for some exciting news
about the future of OPAF's DC Community Initiative!

CHICAGO FITNESS FOR EVERYONE & OPAF-NAGA FIRST SWING

Thanks to every member of AOPA who helped to make the Fund's presence at
the 2002 AOPA National Assembly such a success. The support we received
will enable us to sustain our program growth well into the new year.
Thanks to everyone!

Through our partnership with Endolite North America, we offered a very
successful Fitness for Everyone clinic in Chicago. Nearly 25
practitioners, including PTs, COs, CPs, CPOs, and students, and 10
amputees, ranging in age from 13 to 81 gathered with a host of family
members/exercise partners for the day-long program of stretching and
strengthening exercises created and led by three-time Paralympic track
and field champions Todd Schaffhauser and Dennis Oehler. Assisting Todd
and Dennis in their instruction were Sarah Noonan, PT and Joe Ramicone,
CPO. Thanks to everyone, including our volunteers Kim Axelrod, Elsa
Reyes, PT and Chris Truskowski, PT, for their involvement in the
program!

Thanks very much to Endolite North America, to all practitioners and
therapists, and to AOPA and the O&P facilities that co-sponsored the
event, including Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics, Knite-Rite, Koebers
Prosthetic & Orthotic, Merrick-Hopkins Prosthetics Orthotics Company,
Orthotic and Prosthetic Assistance Fund, Inc., PEL, Scheck & Siress
Prosthetics, and SPS. Thank you all for helping to give wings to the
dreams of individuals who wish to set their own life goals.

Images from the Chicago Fitness for Everyone can be found at:
<URL Redacted>

Chicago also saw the continuation of our partnership with the National
Amputee Golf Association (NAGA) in the form of offering a free, two-hour
instructional golf clinic for individuals with physical disabilities.
All of the participants, amputees and physical therapist, found the
program rewarding and educational. Thanks very much to NAGA instructors
Bud Sanders and Dan Cox for teaching the Chicago clinic.

Robert Wilson, Executive Director of NAGA developed First Swing to
instruct therapists in teaching and encouraging physically challenged
individuals to learn, or re-learn, the game of golf. First Swing clinics
enable individuals to enjoy the unique, friendly atmosphere found on the
golf course and gain a greater sense of personal achievement.

Learn more about First Swing, and OPAF's expanded partnership with NAGA,
here:

Images from the Chicago OPAF-NAGA First Swing can be found at:
<URL Redacted>

Thanks to every member of the O&P community - and especially those of
our founders AAOP, ABC, and AOPA - for your continued support of OPAF
and its primary mission: enable individuals with physical disabilities -
especially those served by members of the orthotics and prosthetics
community - to enjoy the rewards of personal achievement, physical
fitness, and social interaction.

A summary of our achievements during the past year - in administration,
programs, fundraising, and publicity - are available through our web
site at:
http://www.opfund.org/announcements/OPAF2001-02.pdf

We hope you will take a moment to read this summary and learn more about
the many ways in which OPAF is representing O&P in community and
philanthropic circles. With these accomplishments as our foundation, we
are looking forward to a fruitful 2003. Thanks again for your support as
we grow to new heights and give wings to many more dreams in the
process.

Sincerely and with all best wishes,

Jeff and Tamara

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Jeffrey S. Reznick, Ph.D.
OPAF Executive Director and Senior Research Fellow

Tamara N. Bibby
OPAF Program Coordinator

Orthotic & Prosthetic Assistance Fund, Inc. (OPAF)
1666 K Street NW, Suite 440
Washington, DC 20006
Tel 202.223.2878
eFax 415.534.1857
Email <Email Address Redacted>
Web www.opfund.org

Support OPAF through our web site
www.opfund.org/support/