Message from the President
This year marks a turning point in the history of the Rheumatology Research Foundation as we expanded the breadth of our funding programs and successfully completed our largest fundraising initiative to date. The momentum continues to accelerate the course of rheumatology research and training to improve the health of people with rheumatic disease.
In 2016, the Journey to Cure campaign to raise $60 million was successfully completed and went over goal by $1.4 million. This overwhelming success strengthened our awards program, which directly invests in rheumatology recruitment, education, and research. It would not have been possible without the support of the rheumatologists, health professionals, patients, families, and corporate institutions who donated to the Foundation this year and whose continued support is vital to our mission.
The Foundation is dedicated to fiscal responsibility and transparency, one of the many reasons that it continues to be ranked among the best charities in the nation year over year. The numbers reflected below are for Fiscal Year 2016 (July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016). I invite you to learn more about the impact of our awards, the source of our funding, and the members of our community who make possible the journey to end rheumatic disease.
Eric L. Matteson, MD, MPH
President, Rheumatology Research Foundation
Chair, Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota