Affirming its Support for Underserved Patient Populations, APTQI Donates $30,000 to Three Distinguished Charities

APTQI annual donations will support charitable missions around the globe

Washington, D.C. ––The Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation (APTQI) today announced its support of One World Surgery, Operation Walk Chicago, and FONHARE by donating $10,000 to each charitable organization, respectively. The donations will be used to support ongoing humanitarian and health development projects being spearheaded by these organizations both in the United States and around the world.

“Operation Walk Chicago, FONHARE, and One World Surgery are exemplary organizations that epitomize the kind of health and wellness advocacy that APTQI and its members admire and cherish,” said Nikesh Patel, PT, DPT, Executive Director of APTQI. “We hope our contributions will go a long way in buttressing the shared mission of these groups: to empower deserving patients everywhere, regardless of race, color, class or creed.”

As a nonprofit dedicated to addressing the global health crisis of unmet surgical and primary care needs, One World Surgery positively impacts the lives of thousands of deserving patients every year. APTQI’s donation will support One World Surgery’s ongoing surgical and primary care missions to its facilities in Honduras, as well as future missions to clinics in the Dominican Republican, which are scheduled to begin in 2021.

“We are so grateful for our partnership with APTQI and their dedication to providing exceptional care to transform lives globally. Physical therapy is a vital part of our care plan to help our patients feel better, faster, and APTQI is making this dream come true,” said Claire Cunningham, One World Surgery Chief Executive Officer.

In a similar spirit of international service, the Fondation Hatienne de Rehabilitation (FONHARE) is a grassroots non-profit organization committed to providing physical and cognitive rehabilitation services to patients living across Haiti, regardless of economic background. Since the organization’s formal establishment in 2011, FONHARE and its staff have grown into a distinguished public voice on disability education and the importance of safeguarding the rights of individuals living with disabilities in Haiti.

“APTQI’s support of FONHARE will further empower our organization’s medical and educational mission to treat and support those living with a disability, both now and in the future,” said Ivens Louius, PT, OT, President & Founder of FONHARE.

The third recipient of APTQI’s 2019 charitable giving, Operation Walk Chicago, provides free hip and knee replacement surgeries to individuals who otherwise lack the financial resources to receive such treatments. From Vietnam to Nepal, Ecuador to India, the medical humanitarian missions supported by this organization has a profound impact on underserved communities across the globe.

“Operation Walk Chicago appreciates the generosity of APTQI in supporting our mission to provide quality surgical care to underserved populations who otherwise do not have the ability to access the treatments they need,” said Victoria Brander, MD, Founder and Co-Director of Operation Walk Chicago. “We look forward to continuing our work with the physical therapy community, which has contributed greatly to our organization’s success.”

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