About Limbs For Life
Our Mission
The Limbs for Life Foundation is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to providing fully functional prosthetic care for individuals who cannot otherwise afford it and raising awareness of the challenges facing amputees.
Each year more than 150,000 individuals join a list of over 4 million existing amputees in the US. Disease, trauma accidents, birth defects, motor vehicle accidents, and warfare are the primary causes of the loss of a limb. When a person becomes an amputee, they are faced with staggering emotional and financial lifestyle changes. Fortunately, high-tech prosthetic devices that restore a person’s basic skills and independence are available. The problem is that many amputees lack the financial resources to obtain adequate prosthetic care.
That’s where the Limbs for Life Foundation steps in. Our goal is to provide a financial bridge between low-income amputees and the quality prosthetic care needed to restore their lives. Since the foundation began in 1995, we have helped over 7,700 amputees obtain the prosthetic care that enabled them to move forward with their lives.
Our History
The Limbs for Life Foundation was founded by John Sabolich, an emeritus board member. The Foundation was designed to bring restoration to the lives of amputees who cannot afford costly prosthetic care. By providing financial assistance, these people have the opportunity to return to a productive job and normal lifestyle.
About Us
Limbs for Life awards full prosthetic care to approximately 700 people per year. The nationwide average for an above-knee prosthesis is $16,500 and $7,000 for a below-knee prosthesis. Through the foundation, we are able to purchase an above-knee prosthesis for $2,000 and a below knee for $1,500. We are capable of doing this for two reasons: the prosthetic facilities donate their time and labor and we provide the componentry that is donated to us from the manufacturers. Additionally, Limbs for Life distributes an average of 3 million dollars worth of prosthetic limbs to clinics in developing nations each year.
We help on average 230 financially in the United States and on average help 300 overseas. Total Limbs for Life Foundation annually financially helps approximately 500 amputees.
How We Do It
Limbs for Life is capable of changing the lives of over 700 amputees per year on average. This is made possible through the cooperative efforts of many prosthetic facilities and their prosthetists, and the following programs at Limbs for Life: Prosthesis Fund, World Limb Bank, Therapy Network, and education through Public Speaking Engagements.
There are many pieces that must come together to create the whole picture of restoration for an amputee. We would not be able to see the amazing change in people’s lives if it weren’t for the network of dedicated prosthetists and physical therapists who donate their time, labor, and energy to help our patients. Their willingness to serve and passion to see people restored to health is invaluable to our organization!
Another piece of the puzzle that makes Limbs for Life such a success are those individuals who donate their used limbs to the World Limb Bank. With these used, but functional components, we are able to reach hundreds of amputees in developing countries such as Turkey, Mexico and Africa. Parts are shipped to qualified non-profit organizations that work in these countries and are able to build new limbs, very inexpensively, with the components we provide. Every donation made to our organization is used to benefit the life of an amputee, whether here in the United States or abroad.
Finally, the monetary donations from individuals, businesses, and corporations are the lifeline of our organization. We simply would not be able to meet the needs of so many people without generous donations to our Prosthesis Fund. Annually, we hold several fundraisers and benefits to raise awareness, as well as dollars. We simply cannot say enough about the kindness of our donors for volunteering their time, their money, and their constant support.
