Miraclefeet: Prevenindo deficiências desnecessárias ao redor do mundo causadas pela falta de tratamento para pé torto

1. Fundraising. Our biggest barrier to success is our ability to raise funding. We have just been given a pledge that will cover our administrative and fundraising costs for the next three years, including hiring a Director of Development. We are developing a comprehensive fundraising strategy to attract a broad base of small donors, inspired to give the gift of walking for a $250 donation, as well as continuing to focus on high net worth individuals and foundations.

2. Resistance to change. Orthopedic surgeons like doing surgery. Even when they are given strong evidence that a non-surgical technique provides a better outcome, there can be resistance. In addition, there are often institutional and structural impediments such as higher reimbursements for surgery and the prestige that doing surgery bestows on doctors. miraclefeet works with a local medical director, usually someone who has already become a Ponseti disciple, and partners with local medical establishments, such as the national orthopedic societies or the government agencies that oversee prevention of disability. These partners act as influencers and can persuade local colleagues and institutions to change.

miraclefeet’s model depends on partnerships at every level.

Each national program is created from national, state and local partnerships with doctors, public and charitable hospitals, medical associations, Ministries of Health, NGOs, and parent’s groups. miraclefeet pulls together a consortium of partners based on local interest and conditions, from the Mexican Society of Pediatric Orthopedics and Office of the Vice President of Ecuador, to the local Rotary club in Nicaragua. In all locations miraclefeet depends on partnerships with dedicated local doctors and hospitals. It is through these multiple partnerships that a network of clubfoot clinics is created to form a national clubfoot programs.

miraclefeet also partners with other NGOs to collaborate and integrate clubfoot initiatives. Ponseti International Association (PIA) provides training for miraclefeet’s programs to ensure we are delivering the latest and highest quality medical expertise to our clinics. miraclefeet works with CURE International in India, and is in discussions to develop joint programs with STEPS in South Africa and HRDC Hospital in Nepal.

miraclefeet is partnering with PIA, CURE and University of Iowa’s Biomedical informatics department to develop a global clubfoot patient database, and with North Designs and Objet who are providing pro-bono design services to create low-cost clubfoot brace.

Initial funds came from board members and personal friends and family. These early donations allowed miraclefeet to launch pilot programs in Sao Paulo, Brazil. After the initial proof of concept, miraclefeet was able to attract funding from high net worth individuals, especially those affected by clubfoot, and from small family foundations who were interested investing in a new, focused organization to target a problem that is largely unaddressed. Since then miraclefeet has been able to attract some small corporate donations, Rotary club funding and additional funding from a major foundation, The Oak Foundation, who has a strong interest in prevention of childhood disability.

Recently, miraclefeet has been pledged a very significant anonymous donation that will allow the organization to cover administrative and fundraising costs for the next 3 years. miraclefeet has secured funding from a corporate/family foundation for the Mexico national program.

Hospital Samaritano Foundation in Brazil is considering fully funding the Brazil National program. In addition, the Draper Richards Foundation is currently considering miraclefeet as a potential Draper Richards fellow which would provide additional funding over the next 3 years.