OREF Highlights

In 1994, Thomas M. Coffman, then President and CEO, developed a plan to create an endowment program to secure permanent funding for grants whileencouraging large gifts. Mr. Coffman approached a small group of surgeons, asking each of them to make a commitment to OREF of $20,000 or more. With thesecommitments, Mr. Coffman established the Alfred R.Shands Jr., Circle, OREF's highest-level recognition society for donors who have contributed $20,000 or more in cash gifts, or $50,000 or more in deferred gifts such as trusts, bequests and insurance policies.

Today, contributions from Shands Circle members form the basis for the growing OREF Endowment. The OREF Endowment consists of a general fund for OREF that is directed by the Board of Trustees, as well as 29 other funds for specific causes that benefit the larger orthopaedic community. Shands Circle members may designate all or a portion of their commitment to one or more of the established endowment funds, or to the general OREF fund. As of January 1, 2007, the approximate cash value of the OREF Endowment was $22.1 million. Additionally there are deferred contributions totaling $41.8 million (insurance, CRTs, bequests, etc.).

RETURN TO OREF HIGHLIGHTS

"I think we should all look carefully at what we're doing and realize that much of what we do today is based upon research that's been done by others. I certainly felt the commitment to try to ensure that research could carry on in the future and that's why my wife and I arranged to assign an insurance policy to OREF."

David B. Coward, M.D.
2004 Endowment Fund Donor