OPAF Select Accomplishments for 2007

The Orthotic & Prosthetic Assistance Fund Inc. (OPAF), serving as the official philanthropy of the U.S. orthotic and prosthetic community, has released a list of its select accomplishments for 2007. "OPAF works to provide programs, clinics, and events that promote health and fitness for those served within the O&P field," said Robin Burton, OPAF executive director "From our founding in 1996 to support Paralympic Games to today's First Clinics, OPAF is reaching out to the physically challenged and working with them in areas of adaptive recreational sport."

• Hosted 18 First Clinics--including First Volley^TM, First Swim^TM, First Swing^TM, and First Dive^TM clinics--across the United States and Canada, which is over three times the number of previous years, according to OPAF.
• Initiated First Dive, an adaptive introduction 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 within the O & P community.
• Received a 2007 Community Service Award for Adaptive Tennis from the United States Tennis Association (USTA) for our flagship program, First Volley.
• Began and strengthened relationships with the following organizations, which, like OPAF, work with the disabled in adaptive recreational sports: Upper Extremity National Outreach Coalition; Amputee Coalition of America; National Ability Center; Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association; University of Utah Recreational Therapy Department; University of North Carolina-Wilmington Recreational Therapy Department; Limbs for Lifeprogram, "Kicking for Kids Who Can't"; Florida Disabled Outdoor Association; and USTA Wheelchair and Adaptive Tennis.
• Grown the subscription number of OPAF's newsletter, Opportunities, Possibilities and Fun, from a modest subscription number of 175 to more than 600 subscribers in less than a year.
• Launched the OPAF blog to keep Internet subscribers and browsers up-to-date on OPAF events.
• Received honors for 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.
• Received a $20,000 grant for First Volley from the USTA Tennis and Education Foundation for the second consecutive year.
• 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.