May 2004

Dr. launches 'Operation Phone BACK Home'

Like many other concerned citizens, Dr. Len Schwartz, president and owner of Chiropower, LLC, cares deeply about the difficulties facing U.S. soldiers serving abroad.

He responded with an action plan, a marketing package that solves a problem for the men and women in uniform, and has a "feel good" effect for all involved ‑‑ the chiropractic profession as a whole, individual doctors, communities, patients and potential patients.

Called "Operation Phone BACK Home," this marketing strategy evolved as a response to an interview that Dr. Schwartz listened to with some soldiers who were leaving for Iraq.

These soldiers described the hardships their families were forced to endure as a result of their departure, the financial stresses, the loneliness, and the long distance phone bills that were necessary to alleviate that loneliness and assure their families that they were safe.

To help these soldiers and their families, he came up with the idea of donating calling cards to the spouses and families of the soldiers fighting out of his local Air Force base.

He contacted numerous phone card vendors and, after a persistent effort, he finally located one who agreed not only to provide him with discounted phone cards, but who agreed to discount calling cards for the entire chiropractic profession.

Schwartz created a public relations package that allows chiropractors throughout the country to participate in this worthwhile effort. The program, Schwartz says, allows DCs to "help give back to the soldiers in Iraq and their families by saving them money on their long distance phone bills."

He explained that participating chiropractors advertise, promote and submit press releases letting everyone in their community know that they are behind this effort to help our military, and that they're willing to donate more cards (in the name of any of their new patients) to their local military base, by investing a percentage of "first visit fees" in more calling cards.

Participating chiropractors also submit a press release to their local newspapers at the conclusion of the promotional period, listing the names of all their new patients who helped them donate calling cards.

In many areas, newspapers, television and radio stations may even contact participating DCs and run stories about the program. "This will make them immediate local celebrities," Schwartz said. "It'll create a surge of new patients and income into their practice, and establish them as a leader in their community."

Participating chiropractors may also qualify for a charitable donation tax deduction on their federal or state income taxes.

Schwartz says he looks forward to publishing a list of DCs involved in the program. "They deserve to have their name in lights too," he stated.

The entire package is available to all chiropractors, free of charge, at www.chiropowerinc.com/phonecards.htm.

The package includes a step by step implementation guide as well as all documents need to participate, including press releases and a patient referral letter.

"This is an opportunity for the chiropractic profession as a whole to embrace a cause that makes everyone feel good and helps the spouses and families of our soldiers overseas," Schwartz added.