Dear List,
In answer to the recent multiple posts for requests of a list of “charitable organizations” who may provide funding for prosthetic rehabilitation, please refer to the below comments.
The recent amputee requesting assistance, Mr.Morales, is a resident of Peru, and has been previously sponsored in 2001 for the Barr Foundation by a licensed prosthetist in South Florida. He is a amputee.
I have referred him to the initial ( BUAAF) Barr United Amputee Assistance Fund sponsoring prosthetist to determine if he can help.
The Barr Foundation’s current funding guidelines does not allow for multiple (repeat )sponsorships to the same individual since demand for our funding is so high and the absence of other funding organizations.
First time applicants are given priority. We receive over 50 domestic applications for funding in the USA and several hundred from abroad, each month.
Since other chairitable prganizations ,like the ( POF) Prosthetic Outreach Foundation and Limbs for Life, either restrict their services to USA residents or do not reimburse providers for their services, we know of no other non profit organization that can help in providing real prosthetic rehablitation for indivisuals whom have no funding.
Perhaps the ACA or the OPAF (Orthotic & Prosthetic Assistance Fund,
Inc.) who recently expanded their mission to “generate its own initiatives thru Partnerships with other individuals ,organizations and institutions” and whom are funded by ABC, AOPA and the Academy , may have an interest in participating in the Barr Foundation’s assistance efforts to help provide “direct need ” prosthetic rehabilitation funding thru our organization with such a pilot case as Mr. Morales or another qualified individual from the USA? Surely ACA could provide a portion of their annual revenue of $2.3 Million for “direct need prosthetic rehabilitation to qualified individuals?
Having yet another non profit organization, like ACA, whom receive public and private donations ” to exclusively raise public awareness and disseminate education programs” does absolutely nothing to allow a amputee, with no financial resources, to become successfully prosthetically rehabilitated and whole again. It seems apparent that providing public awarness that there is not adequate prosthetic coverage for amputees today has been understated and any advocacy efforts to better ensure that shortage be increased, are nill.
The demand for the Barr Foundation’s “direct need prosthetic rehabilitation”services is at an all time high, mostly due to the great demand of a growing amputee population, lack of alternate funding resources and our international exposure. If it were not for the participation of some 100 caring sponsoring prosthetists (seen at www.oandp.com/barr )whom discount their cost of services and over 30 current 2002 Where Hope Meets Help Donors (seen at www.oandp.com/barr )whom have assisted in discounting or donating prosthetic components for over 600 amputees , the Barr Foundation would not be able to make such an important impact to the amputee population.
If there are individuals,groups or organizations that would like to donate to this or another individual prosthetic rehabilitation, we could restrict those funds for his direct need of that specific individual while allowing the donor to not only make a genuine humanitarian gesture, but also gain tax donation benefits to a federally recognized and meaningful organization.
Please contact me if you have an interest.
Anthony T. Barr
President
Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr
[email protected]
561-394-6514
> Dear List,
>
> Occasionally I receive a message like the one below from someone in
> need
of
> some prosthetic assistance outside the USA. I know there are
organizations
> which might help, but I don’t have the web sites or addresses, this is
> out of my field. Please let me know if there is a list of any groups
> I could refer this gentleman to. Thanks in advance to all.
>
> Christina Skoski MD
>
> >Dear Christina:
> >My name is Alex Morales. I live in Peru and have 41 years.
> >I have Cancer when I was 17 years ago in 1978, and now I am using a
> >right orthopedic leg with desarticulated hip. Two years ago I
> >received a new orthpedic leg, and have the opportunity to walk with
> >only one cain. Two months ago, I have problems with my orthpedic leg,
> >it is half broken
> >
> >and now I have to use two cains again.
> >Here in Peru, it will cost more than US $ 1,200 to repair my
> >orthpedic leg. I will like to know if there is an opprtunity to
> >repair in USA with no cost.
> >I have a daughter that is 9 years old, and she is worried about me,
> >because she will like to walk with me with only one cain.
> >Best Regards
> >Alex Morales
