Index:
Volunteer Opportunities
Office Volunteers
Internships
Chicago Board
Volunteer Recognition Dinner
Volunteer Spotlight
Meet the Doc

It All Begins With You

Volunteers play a vital role in our efforts to accomplish our mission. Most likely you yourself have arthritis or someone you know does. By volunteering with us you will be helping 50 million Americans with arthritis and related diseases live fuller, healthier, more active lives.

Here are some examples of how you can help:

• Join the Speaker’s Bureau and help educate your community.

• Join the planning committee for a special event.

• Volunteer to help the day of a special event.

• Volunteer as an Arthritis Foundation representative at a local health fair.

• Work at our office helping with daily administrative tasks.

• Become a leader in a local support group.

Volunteer opportunities are different for each location. Please contact our office to receive specific information on how you can make a difference in our community.

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

Volunteer Opportunities

Illinois needs volunteers in the areas listed below. You may indicate interest in more than one area. For more information call our Peoria office at (309) 682-6600 or the Chicago office at (800) 735-0096.

Arthritis Education Program for Children

Get involved in educating our youth, either 3rd-6th grade or high school students at a school in your community! An informal training will be offered at the chapter office in order to familiarize you with the curriculum that takes about an hour and a half to teach. Topics cover issues such as arthritis education, disability awareness, health education, and character education. If you are interested in becoming trained as a volunteer for this project, please call (800) 735-0096.

Special Events

Join a planning committee or just come out and help day-of. Events that need volunteers include:

Arthritis Walk, Black Tie Gala (Chicago only), Golf, Joints in Motion (Chicago only) and Jingle Bell Run.

Have fun while you help raise funds to support programs and fund research!

Office Volunteers

You would have regular office schedule and hours. Office tasks include stuffing envelopes, managing major mailing projects and labeling literature. Contact Linda Hoy to become a regular office volunteer at 312.880.4747.

Internships

Unpaid internships are available in the development and communication departments. Junior and senior level college students are welcome to apply for semester internships for college credit. Interns receive detailed training in the field, and a strong professional experience at add to their resume. Interns are treated as a part of the staff team -- no filing, no envelope stuffing. Schedules are flexible to meet the needs of students and volunteers.

Development Department Intern

Assist development staff in all aspects of special events planning: logistics, sponsorships, volunteer management, promotion and more.  The ideal candidate is detail oriented, enthusiastic and looking for a professional experience in special events planning within the non-profit sector.

Email Sharon Tatom Garcia at statom@arthritis.org or call (312) 372-2080 x 24.

Communication Department

Assist with media relations: write and send press releases, write radio and television PSA's, manage PSA's, manage media list, pitch stories and manage media follow up. This is the perfect opportunity for students with PR or Communication degree programs. The ideal candidate has taken introductory PR course work and has written a press release in class.

Email Sharon Tatom Garcia at statom@arthritis.org or call (312) 372-2080 x 30. You will be asked to submit a resume and press release sample.

Chicago Board

The Chicago Board is a leadership council of the Heartland Region comprised of Chicagoland professionals and community leaders who share a common passion to make a difference in the lives of people with arthritis through fundraising, advocacy and public health.

Chicago Board

Volunteers… Priceless Treasures

Thank you for attending this year's Volunteer Recognition Dinner. See the photos

Outstanding volunteer awards were given throughout the evening as well as Outstanding Exercise Instructor of the Year and  Exercise Site of the Year.

Volunteer Spotlight

Gracie Wheeler Scandrett

Weekly Office Volunteer, Day-of Event Volunteer, Gala Auction Committee Volunteer, Volunteer Extraordinairre

"It has been said that time flies when you are having fun and since 2005 I have come to agree. Some of my fondest moments in Chicago have been spent serving as a volunteer for the Arthritis Foundation. Finding a cure for arthritis is very important to me as it impacts many Americans including my  own family. Volunteering for such a cause has afforded me many opportunities like greater awareness, establishing new friendships and gaining additional skills. Indeed, these experiences have positively shaped my life and how I view service. To gain so much in so little time is a gift, and one that I wish for the millions of sufferers of arthritis."

 

Thank you, Gracie! 

 

Meet the Doc

Daniel G. Torres, MD, FACP, FACR
Board Certified in: Internal Medicine and Rheumatology
(708) 763-2536 office
dgctorres@sbcglobal.net

Dr. Torres is a practicing rheumatologist in the Chicagoland area.  A native of Puerto Rico, he is fully bilingual.  His heritage is a blessing, as 30-40% of his patients are Hispanic.  It is very natural to speak with patients in his native tongue.  Dr. Torres attended both college and medical school in Puerto Rico, and then completed his residency at the University of Pittsburg.  He studied rheumatology at Case Western Reserve before moving to Chicago in 1995.  Dr. Torres has been affiliated with the Arthritis Foundation since this move and is a member of the Speakers Bureau.

There is not a large Hispanic population where Dr. Torres practices in Oak Park, IL, yet many patients travel from the surrounding city and Melrose to see him.  He says his background comforts them.  In general, many of his patients do not have a full understanding of arthritis.  They need better access to disease awareness and specialist referrals to learn about proper maintenance and treatment. 

Tips for new patients:
•    Control the amount of weight bearing down on joints.
•    Exercise to strengthen the muscles surrounding joints.
•    Many medications are available to cut down pain.

Trends Dr. Torres sees with Hispanic patients:
•    The need for knowledge and resources regarding arthritis.
•    A tendency to jump around between doctors rather than see a specialist.
•    Preference for Spanish speaking physicians.