• The Arthritis Foundation is the source of help and hope for the nearly 70 million Americans who have arthritis. Formed in 1948, the Arthritis Foundation is the only national, voluntary health organization that works for all people affected by any of the more than 100 forms of arthritis or related diseases. Volunteers in chapters nation-wide help to support research, professional and community education programs, services for people with arthritis, government advocacy, and fund-raising activities.

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

Arthritis Foundation efforts center on the three-fold mission of the organization: research, prevention and quality of life. The Arthritis Foundation currently provides nearly $20 million in grants to nearly 300 researchers to help find a cure, prevention or better treatment for arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation’s sponsorship of research for more than 50 years has resulted in major treatment advances for most arthritis diseases.

• Self-help courses
• Water and land-based exercise classes
• Support groups
• Home study groups
• Instructional videotapes
• Public forums
• A wide variety of free educational brochures and booklets
• The national, bimonthly consumer magazine Arthritis Today
• Continuing education courses and publications for health professionals