UNOC Acquires UpperEx.Com LLC

The UpperEx National Outreach Coalition (UNOC), Minneapolis, Minnesota, has acquired ownership of UpperEx.com LLC through a donation made by Eric Westover, founder and CEO of UpperEx.Com and UNOC. Westover's donation, valued at approximately $20,000, includes the UpperEx.Com website, online magazine, and web store, along with all other assets and intellectual property. This transfer of ownership allows the not-for-profit UNOC to have an LLC aspect, according to Westover.

"This is a natural progression in the evolution and growth of the UNOC as the leading advocate and voice for those affected by an upper-extremity limb difference," Westover said. "Donating UpperEx.Com is the right thing to do. It furthers the mission of the UNOC in serving the upper-extremity amputee community and gives the UNOC additional avenues to deliver information to stakeholders and constituents in an established media package."

UpperEx.Com was founded in October of 2004 and published its first issue in May of 2005 to 20 subscribers. Today, UpperEx.Com reaches more than 3,000 people from 30 different countries each month. After a redesign of the website in 2006, it has grown to include video tips and tricks, current news, events, resources, and a one-of-a-kind online glove swap.

"UpperEx.Com was never a means for profit," Westover said. "It has always been about providing information, helping others, and giving back to a community that helped me. The UNOC sprang from the people I met and the stories I heard traveling around the country in support of UpperEx.Com. It made me realize that there wasn't an organization out there advocating specifically for those affected by an upper-extremity limb loss or difference."

The transition is slated to be completed by the end of the summer. The only noticeable difference will be a melding of websites and a consistent organizational branding platform.

For more information, contact UNOC: 800.573.6329 x1; e-mail: info@UpperEx.org; www.UpperEx.org