ChiroCongress Cares' Legacy of Leadership Fund
The mission of the fund is to raise and distribute resources for scholarships to chiropractic students. Each year a scholarship is named for a leader, past or present, in the profession. Each year, a leader, past or present, in the chiropractic profession is selected and recognized for their contributions to chiropractic. The leader selected for this honor is announced at the ChiroCongress annual convention each year. The ChiroCongress Cares Board of Directors reviews a slate of candidates presented by ChiroCongress and selects the honoree.
2025 Legacy of Leadership Scholarship is now closed.
Applications for the 2026 Legacy of Leadership Scholarship will open in April 2026.
Legacy of Leadership Scholarship Recipients
Ashari Smith
2025
“Receiving this scholarship means more to me than just financial support, it is a recognition of all the hard work, commitment, and sacrifices that I have made throughout my journey to becoming a chiropractor. It affirms my dedication to becoming a doctor who serves with excellence, integrity and compassion. I am very honored to receive this scholarship as it will help support me further in pursuing my education and passion for chiropractic without the burden of financial stress. This gives me the freedom to place my focus on growing as a clinician and serving my future patients with my undivided attention.”
– Ashari Smith
Erin Solloway
2024
“Receiving this scholarship is an incredible honor and a pivotal moment as I enter my final year of chiropractic college. It goes beyond financial assistance; it is a validation of my efforts and a reminder that hard work truly pays off. This scholarship also reflects the influence of the great leaders who have shaped me into the person I am today, encouraging me to pursue anything I believe is achievable… With this support, I am more motivated than ever to achieve my goals and make a meaningful impact in my field.”
-Erin Solloway
Brittany Kidd
2023
“I never thought I could attend college or further my education with a graduate degree. I am the first in my family to do so because of the lack of financial ability and fear of crippling debt. This means so much to me because I understand how difficult it is to pay for college. Furthermore, this award is more than just money to me. It is a recognition of the hard work and dedication I have put into this program and the faith that I can contribute to chiropractic.”
-Brittany Kidd
Legacy of Leadership Honorees
2026 Honoree - Dr. Ray Foxworth
The Legacy of Leadership scholarship is a $5,000 award given to a deserving chiropractic student each year by ChiroCongress Cares. It will be awarded at the annual ChiroCongress Convention to be held in Louisville, Kentucky, Nov. 5-7, 2025.
Dr. Foxworth’s commitment to service extends far beyond clinical care. His leadership, generosity, and steadfast dedication have left a lasting imprint on the profession. Kristi Hudson, a ChiroCongress Cares Board Member and friend of Dr. Foxworth, says, “As someone who has had the privilege of working with Dr. Foxworth for more than 15 years, I can say wholeheartedly that his leadership has shaped not only the organizations he serves but the lives and careers of countless professionals across chiropractic. Naming the Legacy of Leadership Scholarship in his honor is a tribute to his unwavering commitment to helping this profession grow, thrive, and stand on a stronger foundation for future generations.”
2025 Honoree - Dr. Chris Anderson
The Legacy of Leadership scholarship is a $5,000 award given to a deserving chiropractic student each year by ChiroCongress Cares. It was awarded at the annual ChiroCongress Convention to be held in Boston, Massachusetts, Nov. 13-15, 2025.
Chris leaves behind a legacy of kindness and dedication to his family and friends. His imprint is lasting in the Chiropractic profession as well as the Reedsburg community, but spreads far beyond. Chris always thought of others first, willfully putting their needs above his. Dr. Evan Gwilliam, a close family friend of the Anderson Family, stated,” “Chris was the kind of person who made everyone feel like they mattered. He brought a unique energy and optimism to every room he entered and inspired us to be better versions of ourselves. Naming this scholarship in his honor is a fitting tribute to a man who dedicated his life to lifting others up and making a lasting difference in the chiropractic profession and beyond.”
2024 Honoree - Dr. Louis Sportelli
The Legacy of Leadership scholarship is a $5,000 award given to a deserving chiropractic student each year by ChiroCongress Cares. It was awarded at the annual ChiroCongress Convention to be held in Denver, Colorado, Nov. 14-16, 2024.
Dr. Sportelli is one of the early visionaries who believed that the profession needed a unifying organization that brought the state associations together under one umbrella and helped organize a gathering of leaders in 1969 that formed the Congress of Chiropractic State associations (a.k.a., ChiroCongress). Dr. Don Cross, ChiroCongress Cares’ President and ChiroCongress’ Past President states, “Visionaries like Dr. Lou Sportelli, have made our profession stronger and we are delighted and honored to recognize his contributions to ChiroCongress and ChiroCongress Cares by dedicating the 2024 Legacy of Leadership Scholarship in his name. We are forever grateful for his vision and support of chiropractic state associations.”
2024 Legacy of Leadership Scholarship Sponsors
2023 Honoree - Dr. Tom Klapp
The inaugural scholarship of $5,000, to be awarded in 2023, has been named for Dr. Tom Klapp, who lived his life in service to the chiropractic profession and as a board member to ChiroCongress from 1993-2002. Dr. Klapp was a Board member of the Michigan Chiropractic Foundation, served as a Trustee for Life University, served on The Chiropractic Summit since its inception on behalf of Life University, and was a Board member of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress.
Dr. Klapp was a founding member of OneChiropractic, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting drugless chiropractic. He helped shape ChiroCongress’ 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2019 and the Future of Chiropractic Forum, where he helped launch the strategic plan project.
As a champion of this effort, he joined the Strategic Plan Committee in 2020 and diligently worked to ensure a transparent and inclusive process. His love for the profession, family, and colleagues was evident in all his endeavors.
2023 Legacy of Leadership Scholarship Sponsors
Help us reach our goal!
Your contribution to the Legacy of Leadership fund will help shape the future leaders of the chiropractic profession by helping to fund scholarships that offset the cost of chiropractic education.