OPAF THANKS O&P COMMUNITY FOR SUPPORT AT 2004 ACADEMY MEETING

OPAF THANKS O&P COMMUNITY FOR SUPPORT AT 2004 ACADEMY MEETING

Julie Besaha

3/24/2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2004
Contact: Julie Besaha
OPAF Program Coordinator
(202) 223-2878

OPAF THANKS O&P COMMUNITY FOR SUPPORT AT 2004 ACADEMY MEETING

Thanks to every member of the Academy who helped to make the OPAF's
presence at the 2004 Annual Meeting such a success. The support we
received will enable us to sustain our program growth into 2004 and
beyond. Thanks to everyone!

Hole in one for OPAF

On Wednesday, February 25th, golfers braved the cold rain at the Golf
Club of New Orleans at Eastover (www.eastovercc.com) to support OPAF and
its official representation of O&P in community and philanthropic
circles.

In regular competition, first-place honors went to the team of Bill
Penney (Spinal Technology), John Rose (College Park), Jim Tierney
(Spinal Technology), and John Tierney (Spinal Technology).

Dan Cox (College Park) won the longest drive contest, sponsored by Ohio
Willow Wood. John Tierney (Spinal Technology) won the closest to the pin
contest, also sponsored by Ohio Willow Wood. John McGill (MITE, Inc.)
won the longest putt, sponsored by Otto Bock Healthcare, and Dion
Welling (Boston Brace International) won the straightest drive,
sponsored by Becker Orthopedic.

Thank you to all tournament sponsors. Without your support this event
would not have been possible. Thanks to our hole sponsors for their
generosity: Ohio Willow Wood, Becker Orthopedic, Southern Prosthetic
Supply, Otto Bock Healthcare, College Park, Spinal Technology, Kingsley
Manufacturing, and Freedom Innovations. Thanks also Otto Bock Healthcare
and Bracemasters for their contributions to our gift bags.

The Fund also extends thanks to our volunteer committee who planned this
event: OPAF President Don Hardin (Otto Bock Healthcare) and OPAF
Immediate Past President Joel Kempfer, CP, FAAOP (Kempfer Prosthetics
and Orthotics)-and the entire staff of the Golf Club of New Orleans at
Eastover. Thank you all for helping to make this event fun for everyone!

Join us again at the next Thranhardt Golf Classic, to be held in
Hollywood, FL on Monday, September 20, 2004 in conjunction with the AOPA
National Assembly. Complete outing details and registration information
will be available in the coming weeks in the AOPA National Assembly
preliminary program, on the OPAF web site at www.opfund.org, and through
the O&P listserv. Alternatively, you may receive registration
information by contacting OPAF directly by telephone (202) 223-2878 or
by email at <Email Address Redacted>

Going, Going, Gone!

We appreciate the support of everyone who donated items to our
always-popular silent auction, including: Anatomical Concepts; Barr
Foundation; Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.; Chris Truskowski; Corvette Museum;
Dale Earnhardt, Inc.; Dr. Chuck Dietzen; Friddle Orthopedic Appliances;
Gay Molnar; Holiday Saks; Jerry Springer Show; John G. Shedd Aquarium;
NY State AAOP; OTS; PEL Supply; Prosthetics Research Specialists; Second
City; Silipos; Southern Prosthetics Supply; Team Rahal; and Chris
Truskowski.

Congratulations to all our high bidders: Paul Bendall; Bill Beiswenger;
Mike Cannon; Steve & Annis Dickerson; Jennifer Fayter; Ron Goldstein;
Joel Kempfer; Jeff Kingsley; Harry Layton; Janet Lazar; Santiago Munoz;
Shannon Schwenn; Hector Torres; Chris Truskowski; Justina Vickery; and
Tony Wickman.

This Silent Auction would not have been possible if not for the tireless
efforts of OPAF Vice President Michael Burton (Prosthetics Research
Specialists) and his wife, Robin Burton (Prosthetics Research
Specialists).

Thank you again - everyone - for helping to make the Academy's Annual
Meeting a successful event for OPAF. As we develop our initiatives
throughout 2004, please know how very much we appreciate your ongoing
support.

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OPAF is a 501(c)(3) public charity, the official philanthropy of the
U.S. orthotics and prosthetics community, established in 1995 by the
Orthotic and Prosthetic National Office. Dedicated initially to
providing financial and in-kind support to the 1996 Paralympics, OPAF
now generates its own initiatives through partnerships with individuals,
organizations and institutions engaged in raising public awareness of
disability and improving the quality of rehabilitation medicine, science
and technology.

As a community-focused nonprofit organization, OPAF aims primarily to
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.

All contributions to OPAF are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of
U.S. law, and annual sponsorships of OPAF, its programs, and its
fundraisers are available to every individual, institution, and company
inside and beyond the O&P community. For more information about
sponsorship opportunities contact OPAF at 1666 K Street NW, Suite 440,
Washington, DC 20006, Tel. (202) 223-2878, email <Email Address Redacted> , or
visit <URL Redacted>

For complete information about current OPAF programs, please visit
www.opfund.org.