The Caring for Communities Fund was established through a generous donation from Carole Crosby, JD, and Larry Wickless, DO. They envisioned a fund that would recognize and support the work of Osteopathic physicians working in clinics or supporting non-profit community initiatives addressing healthcare in underrepresented, underserved, or extremely rural locations.

Providing healthcare in rural or disadvantaged communities is critical to the success of healthcare in the United States. The lack of physicians and access to healthcare in these communities severely impacts efforts around disease prevention and treatment.

Eligibility

• US-based
• Qualified clinic, health center, or 501c3 nonprofit addressing specific, community health care needs
• Program or project must directly benefit patients, address a critical need, have clear and measurable goals
• Direct DO involvement in program development, operations, and program evaluation.
• Serving and treating a significant number of disadvantaged or desperate patient populations
• Treating patients for at least one year
• Improving the quality of life and health care access for the patients being served
• Promoting Osteopathic philosophy and principles when treating patients
• Using enhanced treatment modalities (exercise, diet, lifestyle, etc) to aid in managing disease
• Creating general public awareness at either the local, regional or national level
• Demonstrating efforts to eliminate practices that can cause disparate treatment of disadvantaged people

Learn more about our most recent Caring for Communities Grant recipient.