| For 60 years, the Arthritis Foundation has been a | | | | Health in order to raise funds for research. Every year, |
| leader in the prevention and control of those 100+ | | | | almost 150,000 people get questions answered by |
| diseases, helping to improve the lives of many | | | | both email and phone. |
| individuals across the United States. By spearheading | | | | There are 150 chapters of the this special Foundation |
| the prevention, research and efforts improve the | | | | across the nation to help individuals with programs |
| quality of life of sufferers, this organization has been | | | | based in their communities for the prevention and |
| able to actively implement that three fold mission on a | | | | treatment of the 100+ forms of this disease. By |
| daily basis. | | | | seeking out cures, treatments, preventions and causes, |
| The Foundation provides much needed grants to | | | | this voluntary agency is the largest health agency in |
| researchers to continue their efforts in trying to find a | | | | the nation dedicated to such a broad channel of |
| cure as well as better services for treatment and | | | | services. |
| prevention. They have been able to aid the effort in a | | | | Raising funds for this effort is an enormous task, and |
| large way to provide advances in treatment for most | | | | the Arthritis Foundation has stayed true to fighting the |
| of the 100 varieties of arthritis diseases. | | | | battle for awareness. Driven by volunteers, this |
| There are many kinds of services that are community | | | | organization makes all of its decisions through those |
| based across the nation that help to make living with | | | | volunteers on a committee also. There are |
| this disease easier. Some of these services that the | | | | professionals that lend their expertise as paid staff for |
| Foundation includes: public forums, water and | | | | the foundation who support the efforts of volunteers. |
| land-based exercise classes, continuing education and | | | | As an addition to the working with Public Policy, Public |
| publications for professionals, self-help courses, | | | | Health and Research, the AF has partner organizations |
| instructional video tapes, Arthritis Today, and other | | | | who help in this fight. The Centers for Disease Control |
| educational booklets and brochures. | | | | and Prevention, Association of State and Territorial |
| As advocates, volunteers for the Arthritis Foundation | | | | Health Officials, and the AF have developed the |
| are able to represent the 46 million Americans who live | | | | NAAP, or National Arthritis Action Plan, to help diminish |
| with this disease each day in their national and local | | | | the challenges that the public health faces because of |
| governments. This has allowed the establishment of a | | | | this disease. |
| national institute for arthritis in the National Institutes of | | | | |