In this Season of Giving, an understanding ofthe dynamics of giving and the Think First philosophy of fundraising may be of interest to you.

Charitable organizations in the United Stateswere given over $190 billion during 1999. Ofthat number;

• 84% was given by individuals and throughbequests

• Corporations gave 6%

• Foundations gave 10%

During that same time frame, there wereapproximately 640,000 charitable organizationsin the United States, competing for funding dol-lars, according to Guide Start: The Donor’s Guide tothe Charitable Universe. Thus, the economic factorsof supply and demand must be considered.

Think First National Injury PreventionFoundation has established a Fundraising Planwhich provides the framework for our pro-grams to succeed and flourish in an atmospherewhere there are so many organizations who areworthy and deserving of support.

Six sources of support are identified, and pro-

vided here, along with comments for your con-sideration:

• Neurosurgeons & Other IndividualsThink First is privileged to have an approximate 5,000member constituent base—the envy of most other charitable organizations. The support of this group isessential for funding of operational expenses.

• FoundationsNeeded to fund major program initiatives and upgrades.

• CorporationsProvides corporate public relations opportunities andoperational and program support

• Planned GivingProvides long range financial security for Think Firstand tax benefits to the donor

• Special EventsProvides funding, awareness of programs and associa-tions that lead to new friendships and sources of support

• Board of DirectorsSupport that confirms and acknowledges credibility andworthiness of Think First to external sourcesThere is a place for every friend and supporterwithin the Plan, and we encourage you toconsider your place and allow our programsto challenge and engage your participation.

Fall/Winter 2001 Volume 10, No. 4

1

Think First…Use your mind to

protect your body.

A Publication of Think First, National Injury Prevention Foundation2001/2002

Calendar of EventsConferences

Meetings

December 3-5Mobilizing for a SafeUSA Leadership Conference to

Reduce Violence & Injury – CDC

Atlanta, GA

January 26Interim Executive

Committee MtgRolling Meadows, IL

March 18-21National Lifesavers

ConferenceDenver, CO

April 6-11AANS Annual Meeting

April 6-8Think First Committee &

Board MeetingsChapter Directors Workshop

Chicago, IL

April 18-212nd Annual Think First

Cloister Classic Sea Island, GA

June 3-810th Annual Johns Hopkins

Principles & Practice of Injury Prevention

Baltimore, MD

August 8-102nd Annual Childhood

Injury Prevention Conference

San Antonio, TX

September 21-26CNS Annual Meeting

Think First Committee &Board MeetingsPhiladelphia, PA

For additional information, contact the Think First

National Office.

Ever wonder about the composition of theThink First Board of Directors? You have? Letme tell you more…

The By-Laws of Think First provide for 35Board Members, of which 29 are currentlyfilled. The Board seeks a well-balanced compo-sition and has adopted four categories of pre-ferred Board Member composition. Those cat-egories are as follows:

Category 1: Neurosurgeons (12)

Category II: Influential Individuals (12)

Category III: Professional Expertise (6)

Category IV: Program Related Personnel (5)

The Board meets twice per year in conjunc-tion with the Annual Meetings of the AANSin the spring and the CNS in the fall. EachBoard Member is expected to serve on twoCommittees.

Committees, you say, what Committees? Thereare 5 standing committees: Executive , Finance,Marketing & Public Relations, ProgramAdvisory, and Resource Development. Specialsub-committees are established as needed,such as the current Efficacy Sub-Committee.

And speaking of Board Members, we have fivenew ones: Think First welcomes Andrew J.Bala, Jr., ABS Med Inc; and four Think First StateChapter Directors—Debby Gerhardstein, RN;Nena Ray, LPN; Molly Terrano; and DorothyZirkle, RN, MSN. Our gratitude and best wish-es to retiring Board Members Ann Burton; JohnFoster; Terry Henry; Jeffrey Lobosky, MD;Jennifer Mooney; and Sherry Owens.

A complete listing of Think First BoardMembers can be found on page 4.

Charitable Giving:A Message from CEO Bill Biebuyck

Think First Board of Directors:A Profile

2

Prevention Pages

While not a special event in the traditionalsense, the on screen theater ad project had thelook and feel of a “premiere” for many ThinkFirst chapters. Through the generosity of PeterBrown, CEO of AMC Entertainment and theNational Cinema Network, an ad was devel-oped and distributed for showing at AMCTheaters during a 3 week period in August andSeptember. The ad was seen on over 600 AMCTheater screens throughout the United Statesand Canada. The project’s purpose was toenhance name recognition and generate interest in the injury prevention education programs. So, did it work? An increase in visi-tors to the Think First web site was indicated,and many Think First chapter personnelreported overhearing some interesting movieaudience conversations.

In a related effort, the national office is currently working with the AANS to develop aPSA print ad for distribution to national family

oriented publications. The ad will feature a hel-met safety message and should begin beingseen within the next six months.

Held on August 13, 2001, The First AnnualClubhouse Caron Charity Classic served tointroduce Think First to many new friends andgenerate funds for the national injury preven-tion education effort. This golf tournamentfundraiser was organized by Think First BoardChairman, Michael Caron, MD, his wife, TheresaCaron, Ed.D, and Michael Vai, Managing Partnerof The Clubhouse Oakbrook in Oak Brook,Illinois. Twenty two foursomes teed off forinjury prevention education at Willow CrestGolf Club at Oak Brook Hills Resort, andenjoyed a well deserved and delicious awardsdinner at day’s end at The ClubhouseOakbrook.. No course records, but thoseMulligans were in record demand! Thanks to allwho participated as a foursome or as a sponsor!

Dear Think First,

Thank you for giving us helmets. We reallyneeded helmets to ride our bikes. I was scaredfor us to get hurt. My mom was going to buyme one, but she had to buy a house with thatmoney. We’re going to move on Friday.Thank you because my birthday is comingup. This is the first thing I wanted for mybirthday. I will sleep with my helmet everysingle night. Thank you. Brittany, age 6

Letters like this reinforce to all of us that injuryprevention education does have an impact.Those of you on the “front lines”, chapter levelpersonnel, neurosurgeons, are encouraged toshare any personal observations, anecdotes,thank you letters, and success stories, resultingfrom program presentations with the nationaloffice. Our other readers would also enjoyhearing that Brittany and so many childrenjust like her can look forward to many birthdays to come.

Dr’s Michael and Theresa Caronwith Michael Vai, Managing Partner, The Clubhouse Oakbrook

The American LegionChild Welfare Foundation

I Will Sleep With My Helmet Every Single Night

Dedicated to the Betterment of Children, The AmericanLegion Child Welfare Foundation (ALCWF) wascreated in 1954 to contribute to the physical,mental, emotional and spiritual welfare of chil-dren and youth through dissemination ofknowledge. Through their support of Think FirstNational Injury Prevention Foundation, thatknowledge has resulted in injury prevention forthousands of girls and boys over the past sever-al years. And, The ALCWF remains dedicatedand committed to continued support of ourefforts. A generous grant of $50,000, sponsoredby the Sons of the American Legion, was recent-ly awarded by The ALCWF to distribute theThink First for Kids curriculum in 2002.

The ALCWF first became involved with theinjury prevention education efforts of ThinkFirst in 1997. William Pease, Executive Secretary,commented that child safety is a priority for theFoundation - Think First and The ALCWF are a realneat mix. According to Mr. Pease, the ALCWFBoard was impressed with the outstanding qualityof the materials as well as the distribution networkavailable through the system of chapters.

It is our pleasure to recognize the generosity ofThe American Legion Child Welfare Foundationfor their commitment to children.

Donor Spotlight: The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation

Special Events Update

Exciting program content, a wealth of thingsto do and places to see! And here’s the best part—the State ChapterDirectors Sub-Committee is planning theWorkshop, so it is sure to be especially rele-vant and interesting. Details soon! Mark yourcalendars now for April 6-8, 2002.THE BEST Is Yet TO COME, no wait, that’s yet another Frank Sinatrasong…...What we meant to say, er,... sing, was

CHI-CA-GO Is Your Kind Of Town….

Fall/Winter 2001 Volume 10, No. 4

Think FirstFAST FACTS

Int’l Chapters 7

State Chapters 23

Local Chapters 154

Satellites 55

States with the mostThink First chapters:

California 18

Michigan 17

Think FirstPROGRAM

PARTICIPATION

2000: 1 millionkids & teens

2002: 3 millionGoal kids & teens

2005: 5 millionGoal kids & teens

8.2 million kids& teens educated

since inception

3

Think FirstSAFE FOR LIFE

Think First for Kids1st-3rd Grades

Think First for GAP Kids

4th-6th Grades

Think First forTeens

7th-12th Grades

My Kind of Town CHI-CA-GO Is My Kind of Town, CHI-CA-GO is...OK, it was FrankSinatra’s kind of town, but if you are a Think FirstChapter Director, CHI-CA-GO can be yourkind of town, too. The Think First NationalOffice looks forward to welcoming Directors toour “hometown” of Chicago in April 2002. TheChapter Directors Workshop promises to beone of our most dynamic Workshops ever!

Helmet Your Head, San Antoniois an innovative programdesigned to enlist community-wide support and raise aware-ness about the importance ofwearing a helmet while bicy-cling, riding scooters,rollerblading, or skateboard-ing. The Think First Program atMethodist Children’s Hospital of South Texas, theTexas Neurosciences Institute, Humana, andAlberston’s grocery stores teamed up to developthis incentive program that rewards children fordeveloping a “helmet habit.” In-store displays,publications, radio and TV ads encouraged chil-dren to pick up a packet of information at theirlocal Alberston’s pharmacy. The packets includ-ed a pledge card and other informational mate-rials. Once the child wore his helmet six times,the pledge card was signed by the parent and

child and returned to Albertsonsfor a free cookie. The pledge cardalso served as an entry form forweekly, monthly, and grand prizedrawings. With the help of Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, SouthwestAirlines, six local Clear ChannelCommunications radio stations,and the San Antonio Automobile

Association, Helmet Your Head, San Antonio tar-geted both adults and children, as it is essentialfor parents to understand their ability to modelsafety habits for their children.

Our helmets off (figuratively only, of course) to localneurosurgeon, Tom Kingman, MD and ThinkFirst Coordinator Jennifer Northway for theirefforts in organizing the project and building astrong base of community support. Helmet YourHead—a simple but so very effective strategy forsaving lives.

The State Chapter Directors Sub-Committeecontinues to organize and define their roles asboth ambassadors for the Think First nationaloffice, and mentors for local chapters. Under theleadership of Chairperson, Dorothy Zirkle, thegroup has begun to inventory local Think Firstchapters throughout the United States andCanada to facilitate communication with thenational office and among the chapters, toencourage an exchange of ideas among chaptersfor effective programming, and to lend assistancein development of new chapters.

The ultimate goal of the Sub-Committee is toinsure that all states identify a State ChapterDirector and that Think First programs are avail-able in all schools. The Sub-Committee membersare also available to provide presentations tonational or regional organizations who share aninterest and commitment to injury prevention.Finally, by a recently adopted resolution of theCouncil of State Neurosurgical Societies, the Sub-

Committee has been assigned the responsibilityof keeping neurosurgery informed about theThink First efforts via presentations to the indi-vidual state Neurosurgical Societies. To aid theSub-Committee in their efforts, the Think FirstBoard of Directors recently established a Boardposition to accommodate the membership of theSub-Committee’s Chairperson.

There are 23 state chapters and 154 local chap-ters. If your local chapter has not yet been con-tacted by a State Chapter Director Sub-Committee member, we urge you to initiate thatcontact through Dorothy Zirkle, SharpHealthcare, Grossmont Hospital, 5555 GrossmontCenter Drive, La Mesa, CA 91942. Telephone:(619) 644-4661, e-mail: dorothy.zirkle@sharp.com

State Chapter Directors Sub-Committee: Think First Ambassadors & Mentors

Chapter Spotlight

Prevention Pagesis a free publication ofThink First, National InjuryPrevention Foundation,a non-profit organization,provided for friends, supporters, and Think First chapter personnel.

PublisherBill Biebuyck

EditorLois Murphy

Contributors to this issue also includeJoAnn King-Sinnett, Melissa Watts and Dorothy Zirkle.

Copyright©2001 by Think First, National Injury Prevention Foundation

4

Think First Board of Directors

5550 Meadowbrook DriveSuite 110Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

Phone: 800-THINK-56e-mail: thinkfirst@thinkfirst.orgWeb Site: www.thinkfirst.org

Founded by:The American Association ofNeurological Surgeons &Congress of Neurological Surgeons

ChairmanMichael J. Caron, M.D.Hinsdale, IL

Vice ChairpersonLee LarsonPrinceton, NJ

Past ChairpersonVacant

SecretaryAlbert R. BuscainoHollywood, FL

TreasurerJon GroteluschenAiken, SC

Medical DirectorMichael S. Turner, M.D. Indianapolis, IN

Chairmen EmeritusRoy BlackAustin, TX

E. Fletcher Eyster, M.D.St. Helena, CA

Chief Executive OfficerWilliam A. Biebuyck, Jr.Rolling Meadows, IL MembersCecilia AbbeyKansas City, MO

P. David Adelson, M.D.Pittsburgh, PA

Russell Amundson, M.D.High Point, N.C.

Andrew J. Bala, Jr.Westmont, IL

James BucherRichfield, CT

David Cavanaugh, M.D.Shreveport, LA

Donna CavanaughShreveport, LA

Lynn Fitzgerald, M.D.Houston, TX

Debby Gerhardstein, RNWinfield, IL

Christopher Getch, M.D.Chicago, IL

Michelle Gibler, MSColumbia, MO

David HableRaynham, MA

Fran InmanCity of Industry, CA

Theodore R. Jacobs, M.D.Manchester, NH

Pam LungmusHighland Park, IL

Nena Ray, LPNIndianapolis, IN

Photos courtesy of Helmet Your Head San Antonio

Thought About Your Estate Planning ?

Proper Estate Planning is critical to guide the distribution of assets that youhave built during a lifetime of hard work. To insure that you have an effec-tive estate plan, review it often with your advisor. Don’t have an estate plan?Do not delay! Plan for the ones you love and the charitable organizations youbelieve in. In many cases, including a charitable organization in your estateplanning offers tax advantages that can maximize gifts to your family.

Andrew SherwoodNew York, NY

Charles Tator, M.D.Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Molly TerranoChico, CA

B. Gregory Thompson, M.D.Ann Arbor, MI

Eric TimkoThornwood, NY

Donal TobinBoston, MA

Jack Wilberger, M.D.Pittsburgh, PA

Dorothy Zirkle, RN., MSNLa Mesa, CA

Current Board Members Al Buscaino and Nena Raywith CEO Bill Biebuyck and former Board Member,Paul Bremer, President of Bremer NeuroDevices.

Develop a “Helmet Habit”