A small history of tremendous heart.

Imbued with a strong desire to improve the lives of many, the family of Frederick B. and Susan T. Sontag established The Sontag Foundation in March of 2000 to strengthen and channel the family's charitable giving. With Susan's diagnosis and treatment for brain cancer, we've experienced firsthand the frustration of dealing with a disease that is not well understood by the medical community or well known by the general public. To read Susan's address at the Society for Neuro-Oncology's annual meeting in November 2006, click here.

The decision to focus on another field of concern came from a similar personal experience. Much is known about osteoarthritis, though very little is known about the crippling form of the disease-rheumatoid arthritis. After Rick's mother was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at age 35, Rick and the rest of the family watched her slow deterioration over the remainder of her lifetime. To honor her memory, we've partnered with Arthritis National Research Foundation to seek better understanding and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Our charitable giving has also extended to organizations addressing vital social concerns–especially helping people become more self-sufficient–benefiting our home community of Northeast Florida.