Greater Southwest Chapter

Arizona

Let’s Talk RA® Town Hall Meeting

An Honest Relationship with Your Doctor is Important to Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis

On Thursday October 22nd, the Let’s Talk RA® Town Hall Meeting was held at the Montelucia Resort in Paradise Valley, Arizona. This free event sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb brought together a patient, a Rheumatologist, and an Arthritis Foundation exercise instructor to highlight the important aspects of managing arthritis. Mark Katz, President & Co-founder of Your Care Partners, LLC was the emcee for the evening.

Through the three featured speakers, the audience learned tips on how to live better with Rheumatoid Arthritis. They discussed ways to talk with your doctor and also manage your health with exercise and nutrition. Dr. Warren C. Rizzo recommended that patients be honest, take notes, and keep a list of three or four important topics to consult with your doctor each visit. An instructive Q&A session followed, with questions regarding everything from the flu, to stress management. Donna Adler ended the evening by leading the audience through a series of Tai Chi and breathing exercises.

We want to thank all those who attended the Let’s Talk RA® Town Hall Meeting for 2009. If you would like to receive a Let’s Talk RA® Kit to learn more about communicating effectively, please click HERE.

Dr. Warren C. Rizzo speaks at the Let’s Talk RA® Town Hall Meeting.

Winterhoff Scholarship Launch!

The Greater Southwest Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of the Arthritis Foundation – Greater Southwest Chapter Winterhoff Scholarship. Since receiving a generous grant from the estate of longtime Tucson residents, the late Dr. and Mrs. Walter Winterhoff, this gift established a scholarship that is the first of its kind for undergraduate and graduate students with rheumatic diseases.

“The Greater Southwest Chapter is thrilled we are able to provide this opportunity to students,” explains Board Chair Carolyn Allen. “The Arthritis Foundation will help change lives and empower patients, whether it is their undergraduate or graduate education.”

Collegiate scholarships are being offered at each public university in Arizona – Arizona State University in the Phoenix Metropolitan area, Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, and the University of Arizona in Tucson. “This has been a collaborative effort and joint launch with all three universities. "A special thank you to everyone involved in this process,” said Vikki Scarafiotti, President Greater Southwest Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. The Arthritis Foundation – Greater Southwest Chapter Winterhoff scholarship will be funded by the Arthritis Foundation, but managed by each university.

These scholarships will commence in Fall 2010 and are renewable for up to three consecutive years. The deadline for applicant selections is March 1st, 2010, and applications are available now. Interested students should contact their Student Financial Aid Office. For more detailed information and where to apply, please click HERE or on our Scholarship Programs tab.

Tucson Walks on the Wild Side!

Frozen Treats for the Otters!

“Walk on the Wild-side” was held at the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona on October 17th. Families had an opportunity to have a unique behind the scenes tour at the zoo, meet other children with JA, welcome new families, and reconnect with some friends from past events. There were 12 families with a total of 61 people that attended this fun family Zoo Day!

During the tour families learned how the animals were fed, cared for by the medical team, and how their habitats were maintained. They discovered how much food an elephant eats a day, which animals like blood popsicles and how zoo keepers keep themselves safe handling the animals.

While visiting the animal hospital they saw a sick bird being treated and were able to meet a snake and see his x-rays showing that the snake has Arthritis too! Families were able to spend the rest of the day touring and visiting all the animals and displays at the zoo!

Zoo keeper Jed shows the tiger skull while the tiger paces in cage!

Jed shows off the polar bear treats (canteloupe with frozen sardines!),

as families watch and listen.

Behind the scenes tour!

Thank you to all who attended this event and to all those who give to our programs! If you would to support the work of the Arthritis Foundation, please sign up for our Jingle Bell Run/Walk on December 5, 2009. There is a Jingle Bell Run/Walk in Tucson, Prescott, and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Please click HERE for more information.

Our Mission

The mission of the Arthritis Foundation is to improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related diseases.

The Arthritis Foundation Greater Southwest Chapter, is dedicated to helping the more than 1.5 million people (or one in every five) including nearly 8,000 children, in Arizona, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas, who are affected by arthritis. We have three offices to help meet the needs of those we serve.

PHOENIX TUCSON NEW MEXICO/EL PASO, TX

Community Health Charities of Arizona

The purpose of Community Health Charities of Arizona is to raise funds on behalf of its member health charities through workplace payroll deduction campaigns - the most efficient and effective way of raising funds for charitable organizations. The affiliated health charities of Community Health Charities of Arizona are not United Way partner charities, which generally funds human and social service organizations, compared to our member health charities that are dedicated to finding a cause and cure for a specific illness, disability or disease.