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How to Donate to CSAM

Mail Contributions to:

Community Supported Anthroposophical Medicine, 1825 W. Stadium Blvd. , Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Tel.: 734-222-1491, Fax: 734-222-1492    CSAMMED@earthlink.net   

The C-Share Concept

(Building a Sharing Community) 

Health care as a step toward true Community.  Community in support of personal health.

The Share Concept is a creative initiative to raise $1.5 million toward the Rudolf Steiner Health Center.  Consistent with the founding principles of CSAM, it is a tangible manifestation of the inter-connection between health care and community. 

The basic outline is to make available 1000 “C-shares” so as to allow for a broad base of up to 1000 “founders”, each offering a modest, minimum contribution of $1500. 

--Multiple share purchasing is encouraged for those with financial means. 

--Instead of relying on fewer, exceptionally wealthy donors, C-shares will allow a large number of people in a moderate-income bracket to participate.

--The contribution (minimum $1500.00) may be paid over a 2-year period.

--Contributions may be made by cash, check or credit card, or in the form of securities.

Each founder will choose either to:

1)      Offer the entire contribution as a tax deductible sum,  OR

2)      Receive 1% off of a two-week stay at the Rudolf Steiner Health Center annually, for life.

If the daily cost of receiving care in the Center is estimated at $395, a 1% discount for two weeks would be $54.  This may seem like a small amount, but consider the result if a group of founders gathers together to offer their percentages to a co-worker, family member or other person needing financial support at a time of health need.  If a company, co-op or corporation were to buy 100 shares, they could send someone with full support each year.  Or any other lesser amount of shares would enable someone to receive partial support, perhaps making the opportunity more possible for them.  Some founders may choose to give their discount back to CSAM to be put into a support fund.

As a reminder to potential founders:

v       A commemoration plaque with founders’ names will be permanently displayed in the entranceway of the Rudolf Steiner Health Center.  Each founder will also be presented with a framed Founder’s Certificate.

v       It will be clear to all patients who enter the hospital that one thousand other people who know the benefits and effectiveness of Anthroposophical treatment have each patient’s well-being at heart.

v       For the rest of their lives, founders will know they played a key part in laying the foundation for an initiative that will touch and change the lives of many people.  Their contribution:

-- gives the internal reward of knowing that one has contributed to the community as part of the giving-receiving cycle of life,

                        --increases others’ exposure to Anthroposophy,

                        --offers a viable option for truly holistic medical care as well as a model for health and healing,

                        --supports the well-being of each patient and all those who care for him or her.

The heart of all thriving communities from the beginning of time has been the sharing of resources for the common good.  There have always been some members with certain unique skills and advantages, so that through their individual effort they offer benefits to the whole that are otherwise not possible.  Some had their physical strength, others their wisdom or talents, others their ability to communicate.  But each gift had value to the whole.  This is still true today.  Each founder will know that his or her contribution directly supports other members of the community in their well-being.  After attaining a higher level of health, those members will now be able to offer their gifts back to the community.  Sometimes we need to receive generosity and community support in order to truly know it and then offer it to another. 

The Fine Print:

At present, the founding C-share holders may choose either a tax deduction on their donation or a “dividend” in discounted services, not both.  The purchaser will choose at the time of purchase.  CSAM makes no representations about possible tax liability the C-share holder or the recipient of transferable “dividends” may incur.  CSAM is not liable for issuance of services in conditions where such services cannot be rendered for whatever reason.  On dissolution of the entity CSAM has no liability to restore to the purchaser the value of the C-Share.

Select text below, copy, then paste to MS Word or another Word processor.

Then print  and mail with your check to:

Mary Lou Fritts-Williams’ story

I’m writing to ask a favor of you.  As you may know, two years ago I was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer.  At that time the oncology team working on my case recommended an aggressive approach to treatment: whole body irradiation and bone marrow transplant.  Given my experience and my prognosis, I opted to finalize my living will and to accept minimal conventional intervention supplemented by complementary alternative medical treatments.

Without belaboring the details of the past 24 months, I must testify to the changes wrought in my life and health - changes that have literally transformed a 99 pound hospice candidate into an individual physically, psychologically, and spiritually renewed.  I owe these changes to the skill and compassion of Drs. Quentin McMullen and Molly McMullen-Laird who believe that healing requires care of the whole person and involves joint efforts of both doctor and patient.    I thank God every day for their presence in my life and for the options my diagnosis has provided - chief among which is the opportunity to bring to your attention the aspirations of my physicians and their associates.

Presently these good doctors are actively engaged in the development of a facility modeled on the Ita Wegman and Lukas Kliniks of Switzerland and the Vidar Klinik in Sweden.  They envision an Ann Arbor therapy center that would provide space for treatment, research, and training of medical personnel and would completely support a wholistic healing philosophy of mind, body, and spirit working in harmony.

While none of us would deny the analytical and therapeutic accomplishments of modern day medicine, I’m sure you will agree  there remains a critical need for patient care that focuses on the entire human being - that strives for complete healing fostered by warmth and compassion.  Sherwin Nuland, M.D. was, perhaps, one of the first to voice these same reflections:

“It is time to turn our thoughts to a new model, in which such considerations as psychological and environmental studies share the stage with immunology and genetics and the bacteriology laboratory.  It is in this direction that the next image of medicine will be found.  When we arrive at it, we will have fulfilled the expectations of both our Hippocratic forebears and their Cnidian counterparts.  In the melding of their two philosophies lies the future of healing.”  Doctors, 1988

The time has come to give form to visions.  Funding for this therapy center will not come from government or pharmaceutical companies, or HMOs.  It can only come from us.  Please consider this request carefully.  What manner of care do you desire for yourself and your family?  Be generous and focus on the vision: better health for all and a caring, kind, and nurturing medicine.

Molly F. McMullen-Laird, M.D.   

Dr. McMullen-Laird specializes in Internal Medicine.  She received her medical degree from  Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana Dr. McMullen-Laird completed her internship and residency at Reading Hospital in Pennsylvania. She served on active duty as a flight surgeon for the U.S. Air Force in Bitburg, Germany before spending a year working at the Ita Wegman Klinik in Arlesheim, Switzerland. 

Quentin R. McMullen, M.D.

Dr. McMullen’s specialty is Internal Medicine.  He received his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr. McMullen completed his internship and residency at Reading Hospital and Medical Center in Pennsylvania.  He served in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Bitburg, Germany for four years.  Following his military service, he trained at the Filderklinik in Germany and at the Lukas Klinik in Switzerland.

______________________________________________________________________________

Selected Naming Opportunities

            Pharmacy                                      10,000           

            In-patient room                               5,000           

            Therapy rooms                               5,000           

            Grounds/gardens                           1,000          

Any and all contributions are gratefully accepted.

Please see accompanying information about C-Shares.

Make checks payable to CSAM. Thank You! 

Community Supported Anthroposophical Medicine (CSAM) is a unique and innovative response to current health care needs.  CSAM is a 501(c)[3] not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing patient care, education, and research in health care through anthroposophically extended medicine.