“Through my own life experiences, I know how much happiness that sports activities, both as a player and fan, can bring a person. Judy and I wanted to help create this center at Michigan through our family foundation to ensure that children and adults who love sports can enjoy them to their fullest with reduced risk of injury and impairment. Educating them and providing the best medical advice available helps make this a possibility.”

—Fred Wilpon (BA ’58)

Support the Center

A message from our Director

Ron Zernicke

Injury prevention is a key—but under-emphasized—component for maintaining quality of life and reducing the burden of disability and pain in society. Musculoskeletal conditions cost our society more than $250 billion per year. One out of every seven Americans has a musculoskeletal impairment, and more than 50% of all injuries are to the musculoskeletal system. Currently, 46 million Americans have arthritis and that number is expected to increase to more than 60 million by 2020.

The University of Michigan Bone & Joint Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Center has the opportunity to address these major public health issues and impact the functional mobility and quality of life of many.

The Bone & Joint Center was launched late in 2006 with the goal of leveraging the University’s world-class strengths in sports medicine, orthopaedic surgery, kinesiology, biomedical engineering, epidemiology, and clinical/translational research and education. The Bone & Joint Center is supported by researchers and senior leaders from the School of Medicine (especially the departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation), Division of Kinesiology, School of Engineering, School of Public Health, University of Michigan Health System, and by the generous contribution and support of the Judy and Fred Wilpon Family Foundation.

Together, this interdisciplinary team is taking on the challenge of generating and disseminating new knowledge about the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries. The vision of the Bone & Joint Center is to create lifelong musculoskeletal health, emphasizing physical activity and exercise across the lifespan.

I welcome you to our website and invite you to learn about the Bone & Joint Center. Please contact me or anyone at the Center with questions or suggestions. Your interest and support are vital to the continuing development and success of the Center and its programs.

Ron Zernicke, PhD
Director

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How to Make a Donation

There are many ways to give, and picking the right plan can extend the impact of your gift beyond what you had imagined. We can help you select one of many different ways that is meaningful to you and can make a difference in what we do to help others achieve lifelong optimal health. Some of the giving choices available that may best suit your interests include:

We invite your questions and encourage you to contact the Bone & Joint Center development officer for more information on these and other ways you can support the important work we are doing.

TO DONATE ONLINE: In partnership with The University of Michigan’s Office of Development, we offer you a secure way to give to the Bone & Joint Center, completely online.

By clicking on the "Give Online" button, a second browser window will open, and take you to a secure web server.

To DONATE BY MAIL: To donate by mail, you may call us at 734-930-7070 or make your check payable to:
Bone & Joint Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Center
Lobby A
Domino’s Farms 24 Frank LIoyd Wright Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48106
e-mail: bjiprc-um@umich.edu
Phone: 734-930-7070

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Fundraising

The Center is grateful to individuals and groups willing to expend their time and effort on an event to raise money and/or awareness about our institution and work.

Thank you for your interest in raising funds for the Bone & Joint Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Center (Bone & Joint Center). Your gift of time and effort in raising funds for this special effort in keeping people healthy throughout their lives is critical to lifelong optimal health for our society.

Before you plan your event, please review the Fundraising Guidelines, and submit the Fundraising Application for review no later than eight (8) weeks prior to the proposed event. Until written approval is received, please do not solicit contributions for your event or use the name University of Michigan Bone & Joint Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Center for any purpose. Please allow five (5) working days from the receipt of your application for a written response.

  1. The Bone & Joint Center will help with your fundraising event in the following ways:
    • A letter of authorization to validate the authenticity of the event and its organizers will be provided.
    • Event planning tools, such as event vendor lists and checklists, and on a limited basis, guidance and advice for event planning will be provided.
    • We will need to review promotional materials and, if appropriate, approve the use of and provide camera ready artwork (the Bone & Joint Center logo) for approved promotional materials.
    • The name University of Michigan Bone & Joint Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Center may be reproduced on signs, banners, publications, literature, or printed materials only after consultation with the BJIPRC Office of Development.
    • The BJIPRC Office of Development will review, recommend revisions and approve the promotional materials, including but not limited to, use of logo, advertising, letters, brochures, flyers and press releases prior to production and distribution.
    • The Bone & Joint Center may be identified as the beneficiary of the event, and events should be promoted as such; (e.g. “The Golf Outing to benefit the University of Michigan Bone & Joint Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Center.”)
    • We will assist in designating your contribution to the Bone & Joint Center to a specific area of interest, such as research, equipment, or a specific program within the BJIPRC.
    • We will post the event on the Bone & Joint Center website, and other calendar listings as appropriate, with your contact information.
    • We will provide information regarding current research at the Bone & Joint Center (specific to the type of injury, joint or musculoskeletal disorder for which you are fundraising) for distribution at the event or for public relations efforts conducted by the sponsoring organization.
    • Small giveaways may also be provided.
  2. Depending on Staff Availability, the Bone & Joint Center May be Able to Provide:
    • A Bone & Joint Center representative to participate in a check presentation at the event.
    • A Bone & Joint Center representative to set up a booth/table at the event to answer basic questions.
    • A letter of thanks (not a gift receipt) to event’s donors.
    • A speaker or a recommendation of a speaker for your event.
    • Under certain circumstances, provide written tax receipts to donors who make checks payable to “University of Michigan BJIPRC.”
  3. Sponsorships
    • The Bone & Joint Center reserves the right to review sponsorship proposals and packages for appropriate use of the BJIPRC name, as well as language regarding charitable deductions.
    • Please keep in mind, when approaching businesses and corporations for assistance with events that many local organizations may have already been involved in fund raising for the Bone & Joint Center and may not wish to make additional donations. To find out if a particular business has been approached for support, please call the BJIPRC Office of Development at (734) 930-7070.
  4. Volunteer Assistance
    • It will be the responsibility of the event sponsors to recruit, train, and thank any volunteers needed for the event.
  5. Raffles/Drawings
  6. Event Expenses
    • Event sponsors will be liable for all event expenses. If the event expenses exceed revenue, the Bone & Joint Center will not be liable for the expenses.
  7. Insurance/Permits
    • The event organizer or host should obtain all necessary permits, licenses, and insurance.
  8. Liability
    • The University of Michigan Bone & Joint Center is not financially or otherwise liable for the promotion or staging of special events. The University of Michigan Bone & Joint Center cannot be held responsible in any way for casualties and/or situations that occur at your special event.
  9. Receipting and Tax-Deductibility of Charitable Donations to the University of Michigan Bone& Joint Center
    • If your organization is a 501(c)(3), please make a check from the net proceeds payable to the University of Michigan Bone & Joint Center within 30 days after the last day of the Fundraising event.
    • If your organization is not a 501(c)(3), please contact Mary Jo Grand (998-6895) or mjgrand@med.umich.edu for further guidance on how to proceed.
  10. Indemnity Clause
    • The event sponsors or hosts agree to indemnity and hold harmless the University of Michigan Bone & Joint Center or the University of Michigan and its affiliates, from all claims and liabilities that may arise from any acts or omissions of its agents, volunteers, or employees, or from any claim by it or anyone else relating to the quality, performance, or failure to perform during the specified time period of the event.
  11. As policy, the Bone & Joint Center cannot perform the following activities or functions for events it does not directly sponsor:
    • Extend our tax exemption.
    • Issue receipts for donations not made directly to the BJIPRC.
    • Provide insurance coverage or secure permits.
    • Provide mailing lists of donors, physicians, clinicians, research teams, employees, or volunteers.
    • Provide Bone & Joint Center letterhead for your use.
    • Provide banking, funding, or reimbursement of expenses.
    • Solicit sponsorship revenue for your Fundraising activities.
    • Guarantee attendance of Bone & Joint Center, faculty, physicians, clinicians or patients at the event.
    • Provide auction services or systems.

Thank you for reading our guidelines. Please complete the Fundraising Event Application Form.

For additional information, please contact Sherri Sprey, Bone & Joint Center, 734-930-7070 or by email at ssprey@umich.edu.

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The Value of Endowment

Your gift toward endowment assures the continued growth and success of the Center. Your gift is an investment in our future, one that provides important support for the next generation of research discoveries and treatments that will help people of all ages enjoy optimal health.

Your endowment gift to the Bone & Joint Center may support:

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Philanthropic Partners

Fred & Judy Wilpon

Fred Wilpon is chairman and chief executive officer of the New York Mets, co-founder and chairman of the Board of Sterling Equities, and co-founder and chairman of the Brooklyn Baseball Company which owns the Brooklyn Cyclones, a minor league team. As principal owner of the Mets, Wilpon has helped manage the franchise to become a major contender in Major League Baseball.

He is also senior partner of SportsNet New York, a regional sports network serving the New York metropolitan region in partnership with Comcast and Time Warner. Wilpon played baseball at U-M until an arm injury cut short his career, but a scholarship grant enabled him to continue his studies at Michigan. Wilpon and his wife, Judy, earned Bachelor of Arts degrees from U-M in 1958.

The Bone & Joint Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Center was established by Fred and Judy with a commitment through their family foundation. “This gift from Fred and Judy is a perfect example of our alumni expressing their passion for Michigan through their generosity. We are grateful for this support and the many ways the Wilpons’ gift will affect so many facets of the University,” said President Mary Sue Coleman.

The leadership gift to U-M Kinesiology and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery created the Center, which focuses on enhancing lifelong optimal health by preventing injuries and promoting physical activity for people of all ages and abilities. The interdisciplinary center brings together specialists in such disciplines as kinesiology, orthopedic surgery, bioengineering, public health and sports medicine to generate new insights into the root of injuries and the means to prevent them.

In many cases, sport-related injuries bring on degenerative joint disease and other mobility impairments that take their toll over a lifetime. By current estimates, nearly half of these injuries could be prevented.

“Through my own life experiences, I know how much happiness that sports activities, both as a player and fan, can bring a person,” Fred Wilpon said. “Judy and I wanted to help create this center at Michigan through our family foundation to ensure that children and adults who love sports can enjoy them to their fullest with reduced risk of injury and impairment. Educating them and providing the best medical advice available helps make this a possibility.”

For more information on how you or your organization can make a difference as a Philanthropic Partner of the Center, please contact Center director Ron Zernicke, Ph.D, at 734-930-7070, or email Ron at zernicke@umich.edu.

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