L to R: California School of Podiatric Medicine 2009 Alums: Drs. Christy King, Karson Howard, Judianne Walker, Nam Lee, James Johnstone, and Nathan Higa.
The California Foundation for Excellence in Podiatric medicine is a non-profit public benefit corporation and is not organized for the private gain of any person. It is a 501©(3) California Corporation separate entity and was organized on January 20, 1982, and filed with the Secretary of State. It is organized under the Non-profit Public Benefit Corporation Law for charitable purposes, and began with original donations to the then California College of Podiatric Medicine (CCPM) with less than $50,000. The charitable purposes of the corporation are to promote and assist the educational activities of the California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt University (formerly California College of Podiatric Medicine) and the College of Podiatric Medicine at the Western University of Health Sciences.
The bylaws of the California Foundation for Excellence in Podiatric Medicine (CaFFE) were reviewed in 1996 and were revised in 2009 along with new articles of incorporation, and an agreement between the California Foundation for Excellence in Podiatric Medicine and Samuel Merritt University and California School of Podiatric Medicine.
The original Board of Governors from 1982 were:
- Heather Barton, JD, Chair
Cy Lane, DPM, Vice Chair
Tom Amberry, DM, Emeritus
Charlie Johnson, DPM, Parlimentarian/Emeritus
Dave Jacobson, DPM
Earl Cherniak, DPM, Secretary/Treasurer
Randall Sarte, DPM
Board of Governors, 2002-2003 were:
Randall J Sarte, DPM, FACFAS, Chair
Ann Shearer, Vice Chair
Mel Barton, DPM, Secretary/Treasurer
Douglas M. Taylor, DPM, A & A Liaison
John Pagliano, DPM
Mr. Don Anderson
David Mullens, DPM, JD
Board of Directors, 2003-2008 Founders:
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Randall J Sarte, DPM, FACFAS, Chair
David Mullens, DPM, JD, Vice Chair
Mel Barton, DPM, Treasurer
Douglas M. Taylor, DPM
Richard Viehe, DPM
Aaron Meltzer, DPM
John Pagliano, DPM
Don Anderson, DPM
Jeff Spenko, DPM
Don Green, DPM
Heather Barton, JD, Chair, with her early demise was the person who had the vision to develop this fund into what it is today, with the help of her husband, Dr. Mel Barton, who has taken the reins of investments. He has had the secretary/treasurer responsibilities since Heather’s passing. Both have been a wonderful example of unselfish devotion to the purpose of the FFE and scholarship of our students in the State of California and have invested over $30,000 towards two $1,000 scholarships/year for a student who is underprivileged financially or a single parent who is pursuing an education at the California College of Podiatric Medicine.
The various other scholarships have been started by friends, alumni, family, corporations, businesses and members of the Podiatric community for various bequests over the years and for restricted funds for scholarships. We have given substantial scholarships to our students at the College of at least $25,000 to $45,000 per year consistently, since inception.
Our yield for our investments has been approximately 5-13% and is diversified for safety and growth. The Board of Governors has not utilized any of the money for anything but scholarships and a stipend for the treasurer per year for duties performed.
With the creation of our 2008-2009 bylaws, the Foundation for Excellence in Podiatric Medicine added the designation of the California Foundation for Excellence in Podiatric Medicine to differentiate itself from other Foundations in Podiatric Medicine. Also to include all facets of our profession and insure that all of California is represented, the Foundation’s Board has expanded to include California Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA), the Alumni and Associates of the (CCPM) California School of Podiatric Medicine (A&A), and the Founders of the Foundation for Excellence in Podiatric Medicine (FFE) the current officers and Board of Directors.