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Pasadena Philanthropist Donates Matching Funds of $500,000 To Establish Endowment For Operation Walk
Pasadena Independent May 30, 2017
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Carolyn Miller, Pasadena area philanthropist and civic leader. – Courtesy photo
Los Angeles-based NGO Performs Joint Replacement Surgeries for People in Need in U.S. and Internationally
Carolyn Miller, Pasadena area philanthropist and civic leader, will donate up to $500,000 in matching funds to Operation Walk, a Los Angeles-based non-profit medical humanitarian organization that provides joint replacement surgeries to people in need in the United States and internationally.
Founded by Dr. Lawrence D. Dorr in 1995, Operation Walk has performed hip and knee replacement surgery for more than 10,000 individuals in Cuba, China, Nepal, the Philippines, Guatemala, Peru, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Mexico, Ecuador, Tanzania, Vietnam, India and the United States.
Dr. Dorr and Operation Walk have recruited orthopedic teams in Denver, Chicago, Indiana, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Utah, Massachusetts, New York and Canada to join their humanitarian surgical efforts, enabling thousands more individuals have successful surgeries to regain mobility, their livelihoods and pain-free lives.
In addition to his Operation Walk leadership role, Dr. Dorr practices at USC Keck Hospital and is a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine.
Ms. Miller was introduced to Operation Walk 20 years ago when her late husband, Charles D. Miller, then Chairman & CEO of the Avery Dennison Corporation and a patient of Dr. Dorr, was asked to serve on the organization’s initial Board of Directors. Ms. Miller joined the board shortly thereafter. She was elected President of the Board of Directors in 2016.
“Dr. Dorr’s idea of helping people around the world with life-changing hip or knee replacement surgeries seemed daunting, but Chuck and I believed he was a true visionary who had the character and heart to take on such a challenge,” Ms. Miller said.
“And we were not mistaken. I have watched Dr. Dorr over the past 20 years perform complex surgeries, lead teams into countries with less than satisfactory medical facilities, build new teams, expand to new countries and change thousands of lives. What has impressed me most is seeing Dr. Dorr and his team in the field during the 10 missions on which I have volunteered. I have witnessed firsthand how Operation Walk judiciously uses its funds,” she emphasized.
“That’s why I am committed to matching funds up to $500,000 donated to Operation Walk during 2017. Our goal is to raise $1 million to establish an endowment that will see Operation Walk into the future,” Ms. Miller stated.
Operation Walk overhead is minimal – only 11% — as no one gets paid for their time or duties including orthopedic surgeons, nurses, physical therapists, anesthesiologists, internists and others —it is truly volunteer-based.
“Funds raised go towards in-country team support and patient needs. Medical team members even pay their own airfare—that’s how tight an operation the organization runs,” Ms. Miller said.
Operation Walk has matured into an international organization with 14 chapters in the USA, two in Canada, and one in Ireland, with one being planned in Denmark.
Ms. Miller is a longtime resident of Pasadena, CA, and supports numerous arts, education and medical organizations in Southern California. Dr. Dorr is also a longtime resident of Pasadena.
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