APTQI Donates $30,000 to Nonprofit Organizations Making a Difference

Annual donations will support charitable missions that promote diversity in the physical therapy workforce and help Southwest Florida recover from Hurricane Ian

Washington, D.C. –– The Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation (APTQI) today announced that it is donating $30,000 to two distinguished charitable organizations as part of its annual giving program. The Rizing Tide Foundation and the United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades in Southwest Florida will receive $15,000 each to support the powerful programs they lead to make the community healthier, more equitable, and more inclusive.

“Rizing Tide and the United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades are both incredible organizations and we are honored to support them,” said Nikesh Patel, PT, Executive Director of APTQI. “As they continue to make a difference—one by cultivating diversity and equity among the next generation of physical therapy leaders, the other giving back to Florida’s communities that have recently been ravaged by Hurricane Ian—APTQI is humbled by the positive difference they are making in the lives they touch.”

“We appreciate APTQI’s generous contribution and continued support for the next generation of BIPOC physical therapists,” said Dr. Heidi Jannenga, PT, DPT, ATC, founder and CEO of Rizing Tide. “America is a wonderfully diverse country, and it is essential that this diversity is reflected in our nation’s healthcare workforce. APTQI’s charitable gift will help increase the number of scholarships provided for Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students who come from underrepresented backgrounds.”

Rizing Tide is a scholarship program designed to empower a new generation of leaders in the physical therapy profession who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). Its vision is to broaden the reach, impact, and accessibility of physical therapy by advancing diversity and inclusiveness in the physical therapy workforce. Each year, the organization awards Crest scholarships to DPT graduates and/or PTAs attending a DPT bridge program, as well as Surge scholarships to students and/or physical therapists entering a residency program.

“We are extremely grateful for APTQI’s support during this difficult time,” said Jeannine Joy, President & CEO United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades. “With so many people impacted by Hurricane Ian in our community and struggling in the aftermath of the storm, there has never been a greater need for charitable giving to help strengthen our recovery efforts.”

The United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades Counties is a volunteer organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for all people in the Southwest Florida community. In addition to raising money for the Southwest Florida Emergency Relief Fund to help recovery efforts after Hurricane Ian, United Way Partner Agencies and initiatives include: The Alvin A Dubin Alzheimer’s Resource Center, Partners for Breast Cancer Care, Harry Chapin Food Bank, the Boys and Girls Clubs, and United Way 211, to mention a few. These agencies serve a diverse range of needs in our community such as nurturing children and youth, strengthening families, and meeting critical needs like helping the elderly and disabled live independently, and empowering communities by bringing health and human services to neighborhoods.

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