2025 Travel Assistance Program
JA Family Summit - Salt Lake City, Utah
July 10 –13, 2025
Applications submitted after 5 p.m. EST on Friday, February 28, 2025, will not be considered.
The Arthritis Foundation is pleased to offer limited financial assistance to those wishing to attend the 2025 JA Family Summit who meet certain criteria. Travel assistance 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).Please review the following important information regarding the travel assistance program BEFORE completing your application.
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Important Dates
2025 JA Family Summit begins Thursday, July 10 and ends Sunday, July 13, 2025, at Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City in Salt Lake City, Utah.
General Information
- Priority will be given to first-time attendees, families who have not received travel assistance in the past and to those who demonstrate a financial need. Families and young adults who have received travel assistance in the past will be scored based on involvement with the Arthritis Foundation community and impact (through advocacy, local JA initiatives and events).
- A committee of Arthritis Foundation volunteers will anonymously review applications from across the country. No member of the travel assistance selection committee may apply. Arthritis Foundation staff are not eligible to receive travel assistance.
- Personal information provided in the application will remain confidential from the review committee. The information will be redacted from all application materials during the review and selection process.
- Travel assistance is not guaranteed for all applicants as there is limited funding available.
- Recipients may be granted travel assistance from the Arthritis Foundation ONCE per calendar year.
Eligibility
Family Travel Assistance
- Travel assistance is 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 related childhood rheumatic diseases and their immediate family members.
- Travel assistance is for a family of up to 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 assistance is available to young adults (ages 18 to 30) with arthritis or related rheumatic diseases. The application should be completed by the young adult.
- Young adult travel assistance is 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.
- Travel Companions must be available to provide support for the duration of the summit and while traveling. They must be willing and be able to assist with a variety of needs including medication, transportation, personal care, special accommodations, etc. Please note, an additional room will not be provided for travel companions.
Travel Assistance Funding
- The overall average cost to the Arthritis Foundation for the JA Family Summit is $3,500 per family and $1,500 for a young adult. Travel assistance only covers partial expenses, which allows more families to attend the JA Family Summit. Travel assistance does not cover the costs of additional meals, transportation to/from airport, airline baggage fees, or expenses related to additional members of the family.
- Applications are anonymously reviewed by volunteers from across the country.
- Assistance is granted without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability or national origin.
Travel Assistance covers the following expenses:
Family Travel Assistance
Event registration, hotel accommodations (1 standard room for 3 nights’ lodging — Thursday, Friday and Saturday) and transportation (airline or gas card + hotel parking; up to 4 people).
Young Adult Travel Assistance (ages 18 to 30)
Event registration, hotel accommodations (1 standard room for 3 nights’ lodging — Thursday, Friday and Saturday) and transportation (airline or gas card + hotel parking).
- The Arthritis Foundation will pay for the expenses listed above directly. No money will be directly distributed to travel assistance recipients.
- The event registration fee includes all planned activities and six meals, including: Thursday opening dinner, Friday breakfast and lunch, Saturday breakfast and dinner and Sunday breakfast. Additional meals are not included.
- Lodging includes one standard room that sleeps up to four people at the JA Family Summit hotel.
- Transportation could include coach-class airfare/train fare for up to four people or a gas card to cover mileage. Airline/train tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.
- Travel assistance recipients will receive gas cards to cover mileage expenses. Gas card rates will be determined based on round-trip mileage and cannot exceed the cost of a round-trip flight. Commercial air travel is generally the most economical and practical means for round-trip distances over 350 miles. Travelers should use the most direct route when calculating round-trip mileage. Refer to the rate chart below.
2025_Travel_Assistance_Map_FINAL.pdf
- 50–150 miles: $75.00
- 151–250 miles: $125.00
- 251–350 miles: $175.00
- 351–450 miles: $225.00
Notification Process
- Notifications will be sent to all applicants (whether they were selected or not) to the email address provided in the application at the beginning of April 2025. Applicants who do not receive notification by April 15 should contact [email protected] regarding application status.
- If selected, travel assistance 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. Recipients will have 30 days to return the completed commitment form to confirm travel assistance.