 January 2003 • Volume 9 • Number 1 |
When the Academy announced in late August that it would no longer provide total funding for Tar Wars®, there was some concern over whether the tobacco-free education initiative would be able to secure full external funding by the mid-2003 deadline.
So there was a little sigh of relief in October when Schering announced a pledge -- $75,000 for fiscal year 2003 2004 -- and challenged other AAFP Foundation corporate members to do likewise.
And now, news that the board of trustees of the AAFP Foundation at its November meeting elected to pledge $75,000 per year for five years has brought another sigh of relief. The foundation has gone a step farther by sending a letter to all corporate members encouraging them to accept Schering's challenge and offering an incentive: Those who meet the challenge will receive an automatic upgrade in foundation membership status.
Foundation EVP Sandra Panther said that Tar Wars is an important public health initiative with goals that complement those of the foundation.
"Tar Wars represents a community-based program that meets our mission as a public charity to improve the health of all people," said Panther. "We are proud to have this opportunity to join with chapters in getting the message out."
More good news for Tar Wars: Janssen Pharmaceutica has committed $10,000 for the annual poster contest.
This is all positive news for Tar Wars. However, the budget battle is not over. Tar Wars has still not met the AAFP Board's goal to gain full external funding, said national manager Sarah McMullen. "The program is eagerly seeking partnerships from potential supporters and organizations that share in the goal of tobacco prevention and reducing youth tobacco use."
McMullen noted that the program reaches 400,000 youths annually, with far-reaching effects. The most recent evidence of its adaptability was the feedback of a presenter -- in Nepal. In fact, Tar Wars staff is so proud of this latest missive, they have put pictures from the presenter online at http://www.tarwars.org/x1384.xml.
FP Report is published by the
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Copyright © 2003 by
American Academy of Family Physicians.