Travel Assistance Program

The Travel Assistance Program was created to combine all the Arthritis Foundation’s previous travel award assistance programs into one program. The goal of the Arthritis Foundation Travel Assistance Program is to provide adults with arthritis, families living with a child with a form of juvenile arthritis and caregivers with the opportunity to attend in-person Arthritis Foundation national meetings without incurring a significant financial burden. This process is designed to create a fair and equitable approach to helping individuals and families to experience face-to-face programming and networking opportunities provided at an Arthritis Foundation national meeting. Moving forward, families and individuals may receive a travel assistance award for one national Arthritis Foundation meeting per calendar year. Meetings include JA Family Summit and Advocacy Summit.

2023 JA Family Summit Travel Assistance Application

The Arthritis Foundation is pleased to offer limited financial assistance to those wishing to attend the 2023 JA Family Summit and to those who meet certain criteria. The 2023 JA Family Summit travel assistance program applications are open to both children/teens and their families (up to four people in the same household) and young adults with up to one companion (ages 18 to 30). Travel awards only cover partial expenses. They do not cover the costs of additional meals, transportation to/from airport, parking fees, airline baggage fees, room upgrades or expenses related to additional members of the family.

Registration is now closed.

Please review the following important information regarding the travel assistance program BEFORE completing your application.

2023 JA Family Summit Travel Assistance Program Application Details

The Arthritis Foundation has a limited number of travel awards available to families and young adults who demonstrate a need for financial assistance to attend the JA Family Summit and to those who meet certain criteria. The JA Family Summit travel assistance program process is managed out of the Arthritis Foundation’s home office.

• Priority will be given to first-time attendees, families who have not received a travel award in the past and to those who demonstrate a financial need. Families and young adults who have received a travel award in the past will be scored based on how much they are engaged with the Arthritis Foundation (through advocacy, local JA initiatives and events).
• The overall average cost to the Arthritis Foundation for the JA Family Summit is $4,500 per family and $1,650 for a young adult. Travel assistance only covers partial expenses, which allows more families to attend the JA Family Summit. The awards do not cover the costs of additional meals, transportation to/from airport, parking fees, airline baggage fees, room upgrades or expenses related to additional members of the family.
• A committee of Arthritis Foundation volunteers will anonymously review applications from across the country; no member of the travel award selection committee may apply for an award; Arthritis Foundation staff are not eligible to receive travel assistance.

TRAVEL ASSISTANCE DETAILS

FAMILY TRAVEL ASSISTANCE

• Travel awards are available to families of children/teens with arthritis or related childhood rheumatic diseases. The application should be completed and submitted by the parent/guardian.
• Eligible applicants include children/teens diagnosed with juvenile arthritis or a related childhood rheumatic disease and their immediate family members.
• The travel award is for a family of four living in the same household; if you choose to bring additional family members, you are responsible for all additional expenses.

YOUNG ADULT TRAVEL ASSISTANCE

• Travel awards are also available to young adults with arthritis or related rheumatic diseases (ages 18 to 30). The application should be completed by the young adult.
• Young adult travel awards are designed only for young adults with arthritis or related rheumatic diseases. If you require a travel companion, please indicate that when applying, along with an explanation. Requests will be reviewed, and one travel companion may be approved to travel with you.

The following criteria/guidelines have been established for awarding travel awards in 2023.
During the application process, you can select a combination of the types of travel assistance listed below.

Type	Family Travel Assistance
Option One	Registration (up to 4 people) or Single Registration ($275 value)
Option Two	Registration and lodging ($900 value)
Option Three	Registration, lodging (1 standard room)/3 nights lodging and transportation (airline and/or mileage only; up to 4 people; up to $4,500 value)
Type	Young Adult Travel Assistance (ages 18 to 30)
Option One	Individual Registration ($200 value)
Option Two	Registration and lodging ($800 value)
Option Three	Registration, lodging (1 standard room)/3 nights lodging and transportation (airline and/or mileage only; up to $1,500 value)

• Applicants will be assigned to the least expensive mode of transportation. If you are unable to attend that location, applicants must submit justification to be taken into consideration. This allows us to help minimize expenses and offer awards to more families.
• All applicants will fill out the same application, regardless of selected location.
• Priority will be given to first-time attendees, to those who have not received a travel award in the past and to those who demonstrate a financial need. Families and/or young adults who have received a travel award in the past will be scored based on how much they are engaged with the Arthritis Foundation (through advocacy, local JA initiatives and events).
• The Arthritis Foundation will pay for the above listed travel award benefits directly. No money will be distributed directly to travel award recipients (with the exception of mileage reimbursement).
• Registration fee includes all planned activities and four meals including: Thursday opening dinner, Friday lunch, Saturday dinner and Sunday light continental. Additional meals are not included.
• Lodging includes 1 standard room at the JA Family Summit hotel that sleeps up to four people.
• Transportation could include coach-class airfare/train fare for up to 4 people or mileage reimbursement. Mileage reimbursement follows the current IRS volunteer rate of .52/mile up to a $500 maximum. Airline/train tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable, whichever will be least expensive.
• Travel awards DO NOT cover airline baggage fees, transportation to and from the airport, parking fees, room upgrades, meals or costs associated with additional family members.
• The family travel award is for a family of four; if you choose to bring additional family members, you are responsible for all additional expenses.
• Travel awards are available to young adults (ages 18 to 30) with arthritis or related rheumatic diseases.
• Travel award recipients will be required to complete an online commitment form stating they will attend all sessions, get involved with the Arthritis Foundation locally and submit a "thank-you" letter to be shared with donors following the event.
• All information in this application will be kept confidential.
• All applicants will be notified, whether they have received an award or not, by April 29, 2023.