Arthritis Foundation Chapter Homepage - Metropolitan Washington Chapter

Welcome!

Our mission: To improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related diseases.

Commitment to a Cure Breakfast

Wednesday, September 24th

8:00 - 9:00 AM

Marriott Wardman Park Hotel

2660 Woodley Park Road, NW

Washington, DC 20008

Complimentary Breakfast

We hope you will join us for this powerful one-hour breakfast event. There is no charge to attend. The purpose of this event is to build awareness regarding the nation's most common cause of disability - arthritis. There will be an opportunity to make a donation; however, it is not required. Space is limited. Please call Christina Thomas at 202-537-6800, ext. 3016 to reserve your seat.

2008 Arthritis Foundation Golf Classic

The 2008 Arthritis Foundation Golf Classic was a huge success!

On Monday, May 19, 2008, over 150 golfers participated in the 2008 Arthritis Foundation Golf Classic. Held at the beautiful River Creek Club in Leesburg, VA, our golfers enjoyed a great day of golf with the scenic Potomac River as the backdrop.

Registration began at 9am as the golfers arrived in sweet anticipation of a spectacular day of golf. Handshakes and hugs flowed freely as this tournament has become a happy reunion for our golfers. They were able to reconnect with old friends and business contacts that most haven’t seen since last year’s tournament. At 10am sharp the golfers loaded into the carts and onto the greens they went. Though it was a little windy throughout the day, the golfers didn’t mind!

After a long, lazy day of golf, the tournament concluded with a delicious dinner and short program. And what is a fundraising event without a spirited live auction! Former WJLA-TV Sports Director Rene Knott flew in from St. Louis to serve as our auctioneer, and what an auctioneer he was! The laughter of our golfers could be heard around the Potomac as Rene taunted and teased the crowd. Thanks Rene!

Proceeds from the 2008 Arthritis Foundation Golf Classic help us to continue improving the lives for those living with the most common cause of disability in the US.

The Arthritis Foundation Metropolitan Washington Chapter would like to thank all of our sponsors for the 2008 Arthritis Foundation Golf Classic. We would like to especially thank our Title sponsors Freddie Mac and BB&T and our Presenting Sponsor Centerline for their continued support for this hallmark event. We would also like to thank all of our live and silent auction donors for their generous contributions. We would like to extend a huge "thank you" to our phenomenal golf committee members for their tireless efforts to ensure the success of our Golf Classic. Our golf tournament would not have flowed as smoothly as it did, from the begining to the end of the event, without the exceptionally competent River Creek staff. Lastly, we would like to thank all of our volunteers for taking time from your days to come and help out.

We would like to pay tribute to the late Jerry Langbauer for his vision for this golf tournament when he started this tradition 14 years ago. A very special thank-you is extended to the Langbauer Family for continuing their support for this event.

Save the date for next year's tournament to be held on Monday, May 18, 2009 at River Creek Club in Leesburg, VA. Please contact Katy Walker Ahmed at (202) 537-6800 Ext. 3018 or kahmed@arthritis.org to reserve your sponsorship for next year's tournament.

Meet our University of California Intern

DC Metro Chapter and University of California Team Up

Our chapter shares a rewarding partnership with the University of California DC Program.

Each academic quarter approximately 300 of the brightest UC students flock to our nation's capital to "learn and intern". UC students must apply for acceptance into this prestigious program and the application process can seem daunting to the average Joe. After writing essays, submitting letters of recommendation and being interviewed by a selection committee at each respective campus, students are notified of whether or not they were accepted. Once accepted, students live in Washington DC for 10 weeks, during which they must successfully complete a 25-page research project (of which they must conduct original research), attend mandatory research seminar classes and complete an elective course. On top of the already full-load, students must complete a full-time internship for the entire duration of the program. Whew!

We love our University of California interns. Besides their sparkling California sunshine-personalities that they bring with them, UC students are impressively dedicated interns who make valuable contributions to our office. Over and over again our interns tell us how much they appreciate their experiences here because they aren't just photocopying or making coffee runs; the work that they are given is rewarding and substantial.

Rony was our Spring '08 intern from UC Santa Barbara, and here's what she had to say about her internship:

"It has been such a pleasure working for the Arthritis Foundation Metropolitan Washington Chapter. Everything from the office culture, to meaningful tasks I was assigned to made the internship worthwhile and an amazing learning experience. Overall, the experiences I have gained here will remain with me forever and will be applied in future job endeavors."

Rony was recently selected as the Second Place recipient of the Robert Matsui Public Service Scholarship. Rony's internship experience with the Arthritis Foundation Metropolitan Washington Chapter created an everlasting advocate for arthritis. We applaud Rony for all of her hard work here and we wish her the very best of luck for a very bright future. We'll miss you Rony!

Internships are available through-out the year with our chapter. Internship positions include, but are not limited to: Special Events Intern, Development Intern, Public Health Intern and Political Intern. Please contact Jacquelyn Hair at (202) 537-6800 Ext. 3010 or jhair@arthritis.org for additional information. Our office welcomes you!

SAVE THE DATE!

The Arthritis Foundation Metropolitan Washington Chapter is pleased to host The Arts for Arthritis Gala on Saturday, November 8, 2008 at the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City. Presented by The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, this exquisite event features over 40 pieces of exceptional artistic treasures donated by Washington DC’s most celebrated artists. Celebrating its 6th anniversary, The Arts for Arthritis Gala is an exclusive evening for art aficionados to enhance their private collections.

Guests will enjoy a fabulous gourmet dinner, a premier live and silent auction, and hours of dancing to live music performed by Washington DC’s most sought-after bands.

Join us as we honor esteemed members of the community with the presentation of the prestigious Marriott Lifetime Achievement Award and The Lee C. Howley Prize for Research in Arthritis.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact Katy Walker Ahmed, Chief Development Officer, at (202) 537-6800 Extension 3018 or kahmed@arthritis.org to discuss the perfect sponsorship package for your company.

Carolinas Chapter Cycling Event

Challenges are what make us stronger! Join the Carolinas Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation for the challenge of a lifetime. Ride 40, 60 or 80 miles through the Blue Ridge Mountains on August 9th, 2008 in Banner Elk, North Carolina. For more information, contact the Carolinas Chapter at (704) 529-5166 or go to the
Ride Along the Blue Ridge website.

INSPIRE The Arthritis Foundation Community

We are proud to announce that we have partnered with ClinicaHealth to bring you a new Arthritis Online Community: Inspire! Members may participate in discussion groups, post personal profiles with an optional photo, and build a network of online friends. As a member, you may create a personal blog as well as read and comment on others.

We encourage you to register and become members of our new Online Community for people with arthritis and their friends and family members by going to http://arthritis.clinicahealth.com. Registration is FREE!
Features of ClinicaHealth Communities:

Identity Management
You will setup a profile on the site and, once you sign in, you will be identified by your screen name in the community. You will decide how much information you wish to share with others.

Privacy: HIPAA & COPPA
The safety of our members' information is very important to us, and everything in this Community is informed by health care privacy concerns. Online transmissions are protected via SSL, the same technology used to safe guard online bank transactions.

If you're looking for a safe place to meet people and discuss your health issues and/or to help others who may be searching for answers, click here to get INSPIRED!

Research Opportunities

Researchers in the Washington DC area are working hard to improve your lives and are looking for volunteers to participate in various studies.

Click on the News link to discover the opportunities available for your participation.

Local child with JRA featured in KidsPost section

9- year-old Eric Terry of Woodbridge shares his daily struggles of living with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis with the Washington Post's KidsPost.

To read the full article click here.

Calling all Interested Instructors

Are you interested in becoming a certified Arthritis Foundation Instructor?

Are you an instructor in need of recertification?

Arthritis Foundation Exercise Instructor Training

When: Monday August 11

Time: 9am-5pm

Where: The Fountains at Washington House in Alexandria, VA

Contact: Katie Sperberg at 202-537-6800x3339 to register or obtain further information

Need help or information? Give us a call!

If you would like information on the different forms of arthritis and/or related diseases,or you would like to find out about support groups,self-help classes or would like a referral to local arthritis professionals, give us a call. We are here to serve you, so don't hesitate to make a request.

Contact Metropolitan Washington Chapter

2011 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 6th Floor

Washington, DC 20006

info.mwa@arthritis.org

Phone: (202)537-6800
Toll-free:

Metropolitan Washington Chapter