Agency Details:

Arthritis Foundation - HI - Honolulu

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

Description:
The Arthritis Foundation is a local and national advocate working to advocate for and protect those with arthritis and strengthen public policy through the Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act.

The Arthritis Foundation provides information and referral, free educational materials on arthritis types and treatments and quality of life issues to help people live successfully with arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation also provides community education seminars, support and education groups, community speakers and wellness displays.
The Arthritis Foundation offers wellness classes such as the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program a land-based exercise program, Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program (warm water exercise) and the Arthritis Self-Help Course through our community partner sites. Together with Shriners Hospital, the Arthritis Foundation provides Camp Mana’olana, a camp for children afflicted with arthritis and an annual Juvenile Arthritis Conference for the children and their families.

The Hawaii Branch annually hosts two fundraising events to support local programs and services and vital arthritis research. May is National Arthritis Month and the Hawaii Branch holds the Arthritis Walks on Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. The Arthritis Walks are a family, company, and community event which promote awareness of arthritis, and stresses the importance of physical activity. The gala wine tasting event, “Reds, Whites & Blues” is held each fall. The event features gourmet food, wines, music and a silent auction. All proceeds support the work of the Arthritis Foundation in Hawaii.

History:
Organized in 1948 as the Arthritis and Rheumatism Foundation, the organization's name was changed in 1964 to the Arthritis Foundation. The following year the American Rheumatism Association (ARA) merged with the Foundation and became a section. In 1965, an additional professional society was established within the Foundation as the Allied Health Professions Section. In 1980, its name was changed to the Arthritis Health Professions Association (AHPA). The American Juvenile Arthritis Organization (AJAO) was established in 1981 as a membership group within the Foundation, and in 1991, AJAO became a Council of the Foundation. In January 1986, the ARA became a separate, independent organization and now is known as the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). In January 1994, the AHPA became a division of the ACR, and its name was changed to the Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals.

Contact person: Dianne Ward, Executive Director, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (808) 596-2904

Address:

615 Piikoi Street, Suite 1109 Honolulu, HI 96814 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.arthritis.org

Directions:

We are located at the corner of Piikoi St. and Kapiolani Blvd., next to Sleepland. Nearest Bus Stop: many bus lines to downtown, 1 minute walk

Last updated on March 10, 2010