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Chiropractors: A Good Cause
Support your profession and expand your life’s mission through charitable giving.
By Pamela A. Keene
The sayings “It’s better to give than receive,” “Give a little bit,” and “Pay it forward” remind us to support our favorite charities, but did you know that there are many ways to donate to chiropractic organizations? From grassroots scholarship funds to well-organized lobbyists, the choices for supporting chiropractic are limitless.
At Life University, they talk about four levels of citizenship—offering your opinion; casting your vote; supporting an activity through your time, effort or money; and devoting your life to a cause. How you give can fit the same pattern. If you want your giving to be more than a charitable high, then give to something you truly believe in. On a deeper level, you’re committing to being a philanthropic citizen and extending your own vision and mission through another organization, which may have even more resources than you. It’s more than handing out your money—the charities you choose to support should reflect your personal philosophies and values. And, you should be able to be as general or specific with your donation as you want.
“People give because they understand how the money will be used and because they believe in an organization,” says Barry Nickelsberg, vice president for university advancement at Life University. “Alumni want to acknowledge what they learned at the institution and to assure that future generations will have the tools they need as well.”
Support Your School
“Donations to a college or university that reflect your chiropractic values are a natural choice,” Nickelsberg says. “You have the knowledge about the institution, the faith in its philosophy and connections to assure that your support is being used as you intend.”
The colleges and universities need funding to keep up with technological advances and new education information. “Alumni make it possible for education in the profession to continue,” says Nickelsberg. “Remember, however, that most people don’t give money away to avoid taxes; that’s a fallacy. They give because they understand that the money will be used as it’s intended.”
Websites provide information about how to contribute, what programs are available and where your support will be used. Donations are used for scholarships, research and community education, and most donations are tax-deductible.
Chiropractic Associations
Every state has one or more chiropractic associations. If you are active in your state organizations, you can donate directly. However, there are several national groups that accept donations for a variety of uses—from governmental affairs to research:
n American Chiropractic Association, acatoday.org
n World Chiropractic Alliance, worldchiropracticalliance.org
n International Chiropractic Association, chiropractic.org
n World Federation of Chiropractic, wfc.org
“If you’re making a donation, check to see if you can designate what the funds will be used for,” says Angela Kargus, of the American Chiropractic Association. “If you are not familiar with a particular organization, do some research. Then earmark your contribution.”
Pediatric Chiropractic causes
In 2001, Olivia, the 4-year-old daughter of chiropractor Warren Pyne and his wife Gretchan, was killed in an accident while on a family vacation. “Lulu [Olivia] always wanted to be like her daddy, a chiropractor, ever since she could talk,” says Gretchan. “She would love to go into the office with her daddy.” After her death, Lulu’s family searched for ways to help understand the tragedy. Ed Casper, D.C., a classmate of Warren’s suggested starting a scholarship fund in her memory. To make a donation to the Olivia Lynn Pyne Scholarship Fund, visit lulubellebooks.com.
The non-profit Oklahaven Children’s Chiropractic Center is conducting its Have-A-Heart 2007 Campaign during the week of Valentine’s Day, Feb. 13-17. Chiropractors can support this organization that specializes in pediatrics and increasing patient awareness about the benefits of chiropractic at the same time. Campaign materials include a video and brochures about the center, plus hearts to display donor patients’ names in waiting rooms, patient exam rooms and hallways. chiropractic4kids.com
The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association provides education, training and support for research about chiropractic care in pregnancy and throughout childhood. It offers seminars, newsletters and networking for chiropractors as well as continuing education, certified and diploma programs for the pediatric specialist. icpa4kids.com
For 50 years Kentuckiana Children’s Center has been providing chiropractic care to children with special needs regardless of their ability to pay. Currently the center’s client base is 85 percent Autism Syndrome and associated disorders, 10 percent Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome and developmental delays and 5 percent wellness care. The center’s operating budget is funded by private donations, local grants and fundraising activities, such as their annual “Fore the Kids” Golf Marathon and Golden Conference. ?kentuckiana.org
Funds for Public Education ?and Research
Public Education and scholarships also attract significant support from chiropractors. Two organizations work under the umbrella of the American Chiropractic Association: The National Chiropractic Legal Action Fund (acatoday.org), which advocates for freedom of choice and access to health care on behalf of chiropractors and their patients; and The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (foundation4cp.com), which is currently working on a five-year multi-million dollar educational marketing campaign aimed at consumers.
Georgia’s Foundation for the Advancement of Chiropractic Education was founded by William Harris, D.C., in Roswell, Ga. Through his foundation, he has become the biggest donor to the chiropractic profession, exceeding $10 million. For more information on sending a donation, e-mail eaglesfounda@mindspring.com.
Since 1980, the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER) has funded nearly $10 million in research. As the oldest research-funding organization for the chiropractic profession, FCER funds and/or manages grants, fellowships and research residencies. fcer.org
The National Institute of Chiropractic Research was founded in Minnesota in 1987 by Arlan Fuhr, D.C., a 1961 graduate of Logan College of Chiropractic. This non-profit institute raises funds for fundamental scientific, clinical and historical research and scholarship in chiropractic; it also offers a limited number of grants. Fuhr is the co-inventor of the Activator adjusting instrument. He was the recipient of the earliest known federal grant for chiropractic scientific research: $50,000 from the National Institutes of Health, Small Business Innovative Research Grants Program in 1985. nicr.org
Organizations that promote political activism also accept donations. The World Chiropractic Alliance was founded in 1989 to represent subluxation-based doctors, publishing position papers and taking political action. The World Chiropractic Alliance monitors insurance companies and advocates for provider and patient rights. For information, visit worldchiropracticalliance.org.
Power in Numbers
Many charitable organizations work by pooling resources. The New Renaissance world project “Love Has No Color,” is bringing chiropractic care to Native Americans living on reservations, by supporting the undergraduate and chiropractic education for Brandi Charette from the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana. She’s currently studying at Life University. New Renaissance has also committed to building a Family Wellness Chiropractic Clinic on the reservation. thenewrenaissance.org
Joseph Strauss, D.C., FCSC, founded The Foundation for the Advancement of Chiropractic Education in Pennsylvania. “It’s important for chiropractors to donate to various organizations in their profession,” says Strauss. “Charitable organizations are often able to have more impact and can do things that individuals can’t. By donating, you can make a bigger difference.”
What It Means to Give
Giving has always been very personal to me. When my ?19-year-old daughter Alexis passed away, she was a second year design student in L.A. Art was her love, her passion. The scholarship I created gave people who contributed a way of saying to me that they loved and cared for me and Alexis. Plus, each year the recipient of the scholarship writes me an emotional letter after experiencing Alexis’ life on video. It helps me to keep her present in my life. Giving should be emotionally fulfilling.
—Dr. Guy Riekeman, president of Life University
Chiropractic Charities
Learn more about the charities featured in this article on the Web or by phone.
?AmericaChiropractic Association?acatoday.org; (703) 276-8800
?Foundatiofor the Advancement of Chiropractic Education?eaglesfounda@mindspring.com
?Foundatiofor Chiropractic Progress?foundation4cp.com; (866) 901-F4CP
?Foundatiofor the Advancement of Chiropractic Educatio(Penn.)?f-a-c-e.com; (800) 397-9722
?Foundatiofor Chiropractic Educatioand Research?fcer.org; (800) 622-6309
?International Chiropractic Association?chiropractic.org; (800) 423-4690
?International Chiropractic Pediatric Association?icpa4kids.com; (610) 565-2360
?Kentuckiana Children’s Center?kentuckiana.org; (866) KID-4KCC
?Love Has No Color World Project?thenewrenaissance.org; (800) 525-3879
?National Institute of Chiropractic Research?nicr.org; (602) 224-0296
?OklahaveChildren’s Chiropractic Center?chiropractic4kids.com; (405) 948-8807
?Olivia LynPyne Scholarship Fund?lulubellebooks.com
?World Chiropractic Alliance?worldchiropracticalliance.org; ?(800) 347-1011
?World Federatioof Chiropractic?wfc.org; (416) 484-9978
©2006 Today's Chiropractic