A Leg To Stand On (“ALTSO”), is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide children with limb disabilities in developing countries with free, high-quality, prosthetic limbs, orthotic braces, and appropriately fitted wheelchairs. ALTSO’s Co-Founder and Chairman, C. Mead Welles, tells Traders Magazine about the organization’s philosophy and its annual Roctoberfest events.
Please tell us about ALTSO. / When have you launched this organization? What’s your story?
I was inspired to form ALTSO during my travels in Southeast Asia. On one of those trips, I came across a group of boys who were begging for food and money. Among them was a boy with severely deformed legs. He couldn’t walk, so his friends were pulling him on top of a garbage lid. I was initially paralyzed by the sight and didn’t offer any assistance. However, that moment had a profound impact on me.
It made me realize how easily we take our own mobility for granted, and yet, it’s the foundation of our daily life and opportunities. It made me understand the importance of helping others when we can. So I set out to create a vehicle to bring the resources to the need and that was the start of A Leg To Stand On. In 2003, we opened our inaugural program in India, and since then, we’ve been able to provide assistance to over 22,000 children. It’s been an incredible journey, and we’re proud of the impact on so many peoples lives that we’ve made.
What’s your organization’s philosophy?
We believe mobility is more than movement, it’s a basic human right. Mobility is not just about getting around, it’s about giving these kids the chance to go to school, live independently, one day secure employment, and break the cycle of poverty. But the benefits don’t just stop at mobility, we are also giving these children self esteem, the ability to be like all the other children and for those that want it, the ability to avoid being the center of unwanted attention. Every child deserves access to top-notch mobility care. The perfect example of our philosophy in action is Bhupendra, one of ALTSO’s first patients whom we started treating at 8 age with his first prosthetic limb. We have treated Bhupendra with dozens of our Joshi prosthetic limbs (an average cost of only $250 per limb) to keep him moving as he grew. Today, as the first entrepreneur in his family, he is able to help himself, his family, and his community.
What’s the CoolKids Club? / How do kids become members of this Club?
The CoolKids Club is our group of loyal advocates who help keep fuel in ALTSO’s engine in order to continue providing services to the children we treat. We call our beneficiaries ‘CoolKids’ as each of the children we serve is so much more than their disability. We like to focus on their unique attributes, likes, and dreams for the future. As quickly as a child outgrows their shoes, our CoolKids will outgrow their mobility aids. ALTSO is committed to providing children not just initial mobility treatment, but the ongoing treatment needed as they grow, through the age of 21. Our most loyal supporters are members of the CoolKids Club and give monthly to make sure we can keep that promise.
How many countries do you work with and are you planning to expand your coverage?
We currently operate 12 programs in 11 countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Romania, Pakistan, Somaliland, and Uganda. We’re planning to continue expanding our geographic reach throughout the developing world so that we are best positioned to serve the most vulnerable children who would otherwise never receive care.
Please tell us about your annual Rocktoberfest events / Are these always at the same cities? If so, how do you pick the location? / How many people do usually attend?
I have played the drums since I was 12 years old and guitar since I was 18, so music has always been an important part of my life. When I launched Octagon Asset Management, I named my first hedge fund “The Octave-1 Fund” after a musical octave. In the early 2000s, I kept musical instruments at my office and investors who also played instruments would come by for “Hedge Fun Happy Hour” — jam sessions. One day, an investor of ours, Chris Heasman, suggested we perform in front of our peers in the industry to help raise awareness and funds for ALTSO. We did and it was a great success. We decided to invite other bands made up of hedge fund and finance professionals to perform with us at a larger event, which we called “Hedge Fund Rocktoberfest”. Fast forward 20 years, we are now hosting Rocktoberfest annually every October in Chicago and New York. We even took it to London a few times! This year’s events are set to host nearly 800 people in Chicago and 1200 in New York.
Can you name some of the acts that will be performing at those events?
We have a great lineup for you this year! Our performers are not just amazing musicians, they’re big ALTSO supporters. On the New York bill, we are honored to have Achieves Most, The ALTSO All Stars New York, Billswitch Engage, The Cause, New York Rock Exchange, and Private Key. And that’s just on the main stage. Both events feature a main stage and an acoustic room. In Chicago, our main stage acts included The ALTSO All Stars Chicago, August Son, Blue Sky Highway, Matthew Scharpf’s Strangers and Saints, Oddsmakers + Ginger, and The Operators. Chicago’s event took place last week and was a blast. NY is much larger and has a bigger event energy, so that should be lots of fun as well.
You’ve started doing Rocktoberfest two decades ago. What has been the progress since the launch? Can you provide any numbers?
Our community has grown significantly over the last 20 years. What started as a small fundraiser in New York has turned into one of the most anticipated events in the financial and philanthropic world in New York and Chicago. These events are as fun as they sound. When we started, we raised a few hundred thousand dollars and now we are closing in on a million to help provide mobility care.
What are you hoping to achieve this year?
This year’s events mark a significant milestone in ALTSO’s journey: we are celebrating our 20th Anniversary. Besides celebrating our dedicated community of advocates, many of whom have stood by ALTSO for two decades, we’re looking to bring in a new generation of ALTSO supporters to help serve a new generation of CoolKids. We believe every child who needs mobility care should get it, and there’s still a lot of work to do: an astonishing 9 in 10 children living with disabilities in the developing world cannot afford treatment. With the success of this year’s events, we’re aiming to make a bigger impact and help even more kids get the mobility care they deserve. We couldn’t do it without the generosity of our wonderful supporters!
Learn more about ALTSO here: https://www.altso.org
