Mission of the Pedorthic Foundation

The Pedorthic Foundation was established in 1975 to assist the pedorthic community and people who use pedorthic services, by increasing awareness of pedorthics and by supporting research, scholarships and charitable activities.

Activities

During the coming year, the Foundation plans to:

Begin development of pedorthic clinics to serve recipients in need. These clinics will also enhance pedorthic awareness and create a framework for further research.
Provide limited grants for research to advance pedorthics.
Recognize through awards people and companies that make significant contributions to pedorthics.
Assist individuals seeking pedorthic careers with information, scholarships and opportunities to network and build professional contacts.

Financial Support

The Foundation's activities are supported by donations from the pedorthic community, including practitioners, footwear manufacturers, suppliers to the profession and referral sources.

In addition tax deductible gifts are received from the general public. If you or a family member or friend have been helped by pedorthics, please consider giving back to pedorthics in a way that allows the Foundation to help others. To make a donation, click here.

Background

The Pedorthic Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable foundation. Over the years, the Foundation has provided "bridge funding" to numerous researchers whose work focuses on human mobility and locomotion, and given thousands of dollars in scholarship assistance to people committed to becoming practicing pedorthists.

The field of pedorthics (peh-DOR-thiks) began to emerge during the 1950s, as doctors and researchers sought ways to help military veterans and polio patients regain as much mobility as possible. These practitioners gained assistance from the footwear community, which responded by developing new technologies and devices that modified shoes and other footwear, making footwear a therapeutic component in treatment overseen by a medical team.