Giving Season is Here: Consider a Donation to the PA Foundation

Help Us Empower PAs

December 2, 2019

By Lynette Sappe-Watkins, CFRE, Executive Director of the PA Foundation

This is a season of traditions! We all have them. Whether yours include the warm glow of candles, the smell of fresh baked goods, or “Elf on the Shelf,” it’s a time to celebrate giving, sharing, kindness, and compassion. The philanthropic community’s tradition is to kick off the charitable giving season by celebrating and raising funds on #GivingTuesday – tomorrow! This year, please join me, our PA Foundation leaders, and your fellow PAs in making a contribution to support your PA Foundation. We encourage all PAs to make a donation, no matter the size – even $5 makes a difference.

[Donate now to the PA Foundation]

The PA Foundation relies on PAs like you to invest in our mission. When you give, you make an investment in other PAs who are focused on improving health and wellness locally and globally. We are purposefully focused on empowering PAs – those who are practicing, as well as PA students who are preparing to address the future of patient care. We believe PAs can use their clinical expertise and compassion to improve health. We need you, your peers, and future PAs to support the PA Foundation’s efforts with your time, your talents, and your donations. Gifts to the PA Foundation often start small and grow over time. We’re thankful for the meaningful contributions of thousands of PAs just like you. Here’s an example of what you’re supporting when you make a #GivingTuesday or end-of-year donation to the PA Foundation:

Student Scholarships
More than $2.3 million in scholarship funding has gone to PA students since the PA Foundation’s scholarship program began. The number of PA programs grows each year, and so does the number of PA students seeking scholarship assistance. In 2019, more than 650 students applied for scholarships through the PA Foundation. With donor support, we awarded $36,000 to 27 students from 25 different PA programs in 18 states!

Mental Health Outreach and Substance Use Disorder Programs
Addressing healthcare issues of national concern are an important part of the PA Foundation’s programming. Through our Mental Health Outreach Fellowship, PAs are engaging with their communities to reduce stigma and train community members to help people experiencing mental health crises using Mental Health First Aid. Additionally, through projects like the PA Student Substance Use Disorder Symposium and online guide and the Allied Against Opioid Abuse initiative, the PA Foundation provides resources to equip PA students to address substance use disorder in their future practice and empower PAs to help prevent misuse of prescription opioids.

Grant Programs
We award grants to support community-based projects designed to improve health outcomes. The PA Foundation’s IMPACT Grants give PAs and PA students opportunities to test innovative ideas that incorporate PA-led models of care in the healthcare delivery process. Our Global Outreach Grants promote sustainable healthcare around the world, from North America to Africa, Asia, and beyond. These are PA-led projects that often include students and interprofessional healthcare teams. This year we provided grants totaling close to $28,000 through our Global Outreach Grant and Robert K. Pedersen Global Outreach Grant programs.

It is important to us that we are good stewards of your donor dollars. That’s why we involve PAs in the PA Foundation’s decision making. All of our grants, awards, and fellowships are developed and reviewed by PA volunteers. We believe our work positively impacts the PA community at large, PA students, and patients. Please make giving to the PA Foundation a personal holiday tradition, and give a gift that helps us bring health and care to a world in need.

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