AMA Foundation
AMA Foundation’s mission is "to advance health care through support of programs in medical education, research and service."
Tennessee has led the nation in Alliance contributions to the AMA Foundation consistently for two decades. In return, the AMA Foundation has provided over $3.7 million in scholarships, grants and awards to the state of Tennessee. To view the 2011 report, click here.
How do we do it?
Our primary vehicle for raising the much needed funds is the annual Holiday Sharing Card. This project originated in 1959, the idea of TMAA member Betty Ray. The concept was simple. Medical families would send one collective greeting card to all members of their medical community. The money saved by not buying multiple cards and stamps would go toward a tax-deductible contribution to AMA-ERF (now AMAF). The idea quickly spread across the nation to become the number one fund raising effort for AMAF.
How it works
Today’s donors have the opportunity to designate their gifts to one of three different funds:
•Fund for Better Health
•Development Fund
•Medical Scholars Fund
Physicians may designate a medical school and/or an endowment to receive the gift.
Participating Alliances obtain donations each fall. A printed holiday greeting card bearing the names of AMAF donors is mailed to the entire medical community as well as local and elected officials. TMA Alliance provides the cards free of charge to local alliances throughout the state. The local Alliance has the cards printed with their donor list and the cards are mailed during the holiday season. All proceeds go to the AMA Foundation and are tax deductible.
About the 2011 Sharing Card
We have been in Tennesee for ten years now and I never stop being amazed with the awesome natural beauty of north east Tennessee. Fortunately, there are also nature photographers who feel that awe and are able to capture that beauty on film with incredible skill. One such photographer, Harold Ross Jr, produced the image that will be on our AMAF sharing card this year. Harold is the son of Dr. Harold Ross and his wife, Alida, a long time member of the WUJ Medical Alliance. The image is of the Roan Mountain Balds, Roan Mountain, TN, after a heavy snowfall. This image may seem out of character as we swelter in 90 degree heat, but the sharing card is sent out in December to serve as a holiday greeting card for local physicians. The name of each physician who makes a donation is printed in the card and these same physicians will receive the card.
I look forward to distributing the card at Update 2011 to each of the local AMAF chairpersons. They will need each of us to help them in generating funds for this drive to support medical education scholarships, local health promotions projects, and general foundation support. We can do that by making sure that each physician in the counties represended by our local alliance is on the mailing list to request donations.
See you in September,
Dottie Pennington, AMAF Vice President 2011-12
To view a copy of my AMAF report presented at Update 2011, click here.
2011 AMAF Sharing Card
AMAF: Benefiting people and programs here in Tennessee
Scholars Fund: AMAF grants more than $1,000,000 annually to deserving medical students through tuition assistance, scholarships and educational awards. Read what some of Tennessee’s recipients have to say:
"This scholarship has eased my worries and allows me to concentrate solely on my education instead of the financial aspect associated with it. . . . I am grateful to have been honored with this scholarship."
"It could not have come at a better time, reducing a large source of stress, and freeing me up to focus my energy on becoming a better student and more prepared clinician as I attempt to transition into the medical community."
"As I have been invested in through your gracious gift, please know that I plan to, in turn, invest in the lives of patients under my care for years to come by providing them excellent medical care to the best of my ability.” their medical careers, as your organization has so generously done for me."
Fund for Better Health providing a boost to the Alliance’s health projects
In 2004 the Chattanooga/Hamilton County Medical Society Alliance received a grant for the development of "Food Fight: The Battle for a Better You" an interactive program targeting childhood obesity among middle school students. Co-president Rana Hill remarked,
"With 16% of children ages 6-18 overweight, the CHCMSA created a new health promotion targeting this at risk group. Winning one of the AMAF Fund for Better Health grants not only gave us a financial boost, it gave the project national recognition and validation."
For more information about the AMA Fund for Better Health click here.
