The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics (ABC) donated $1.5 million to the Orthotics and Prosthetics Foundation for Education and Research.
“In any new endeavor, someone must always be the first. The O&P Foundation will be eternally grateful to ABC and its board of directors who decided to commit substantial resources and be the first major donor to the O&P Foundation. This donation will catalyze efforts to transition to a sustainable endowment model and allow the O&P Foundation to raise levels of awareness beyond that of the O&P community.
“Through the O&P Foundation’s education, research, and professional awards programs, this donation not only strengthens the future of our profession, but empowers the next generation of practitioners and researchers to contribute to the highest quality of practice in orthotic and prosthetic rehabilitation,” said Chris Fairman, CPO, chair, O&P Foundation.
The Orthotic and Prosthetic Education and Research Foundation (OPERF) and the Center for Orthotic and Prosthetic Learning and Outcomes/Evidence-Based Practice (COPL) merged in 2022 to form the O&P Foundation.
“The decision to sunset two well-established foundations in the pursuit of new opportunities through the creation of a singular O&P Foundation could have raised some concerns. ABC’s generous donation gives rise to a new horizon, one in which the vision for the O&P Foundation comes into focus with the same clarity as held by the founders. We could not be more thrilled and invite all members of the O&P community to be a part of our vision,” said Shane Wurdeman, PhD, CP, FAAOP(D), immediate past chair, O&P Foundation, and past chair, COPL.
“From the inception of the idea to create a single O&P Foundation there has been a consistent partnership with the leaders of ABC. Within a year of seating the inaugural O&P Foundation board, leadership efforts have led to a robust infrastructure to begin the process of establishing a fund to sustain the O&P Foundation in executing its mission and actualizing its vision.
“I am very pleased with ABC’s decision to offer this meaningful initial financial support to show how the O&P community can coalesce to support the growth we have envisioned for the O&P Foundation,” said Don Katz, MHA, CO, past chair, O&P Foundation, and past chair, OPERF.
