The Orthotic & Prosthetic Assistance Fund, Inc. (OPAF), serving with distinction as the Official Philanthropy of the U.S. Orthotic & Prosthetic community, works to provide programs, clinics and events which promote health and fitness for those served within the O & P field. From our founding to support the 1996 Paralympic Games to today's First Clinics, we are reaching out to the physically challenged and working with them in areas of adaptive recreational sport. To that end, we offer the OPAF Select Accomplishments for 2007.
- Hosted 18 clinics across the US and into Canada, over three times the number in previous years, including First Volley, First Swim, First Swing and First Dive Clinics
- Initiated First Dive, an adaptive intro to scuba clinic for amputees and those with physical challenges
- Created the O & P Meetings Calendar on the OPAF website, a single location to view a comprehensive list of upcoming meetings with the O & P community.
- Our flagship program, First Volley, was named the United States Tennis Association's National Community Service Award winner for 2007 for Adaptive Tennis
- Began and strengthened relationships with other like minded organizations across the country, working with the disabled in adaptive recreational sports. These groups include Upper Extremity National Outreach Coalition, Amputee Coalition of America, National Ability Center, Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association, University of Utah Recreational Therapy Dept., University of North Carolina-Wilmington Recreational Therapy Dept, Limbs for Life program "Kicking For Kids Who Can't", Florida Disabled Outdoor Association and USTA Wheelchair and Adaptive Tennis.
- OPAF's newsletter, "Opportunities, Possibilities And Fun" has grown from a modest subscription number of 175 to over 600 subscribers in less than a year
- Launched the OPAF Blog to keep internet subscribers and browsers up to date on OPAF events
- OPAF and First Volley named the USTA Middle States Organization of the Year for 2007
- Held First Bid, a Live and Silent Auction fundraising event in conjunction with the Academy Scientific Symposium. Single most successful fundraising event in OPAF's recent history
- Hosted two Thranhardt Golf Classics in conjunction with the national meetings
- Recipient for the second year in a row of a $20,000 grant for First Volley from the United States Tennis Association Tennis & Education Foundation
- Held a Strategic Planning Session with the OPAF Board of Directors and Advisory Board members to work on future direction and goals
- Received 120 donated tennis racquets from Billie Jean King and World Team Tennis for distribution to adaptive tennis participants
- Created and held to our First Balanced Budget in recent history
OPAF day-to-day business is conducted by a staff of one and a very active Board of Directors and Advisory Board as well as paid instructors for First Clinics
Comments