The mission of the American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand (AFSH) is to advance the care of hand and upper extremity disorders by supporting research, education, and outreach through the efficient collection of donations and administration of grants.Founded in 1986, the AFSH provides funding: to support educational activities and scholarship, to stimulate hand and upper extremity research, and to increase the outreach efforts of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, including funding for missions organized by the Touching Hands Project (THP). The mission of THP is to provide life-changing hand surgeries, rehabilitation and medical training in the world's poorest communities. THP missions provide critical hand and upper extremity surgical care to children and adults in underserved communities around the globe where specialized treatment is unavailable or unaffordable. Our hand surgeons and medical teams travel the world to bring hand knowledge to communities that lack expertise or access. This work results in ongoing care to previously unavailable medical treatment, leading to happier, more-productive lives for those suffering from serious injury and deformity.AFSH programs serve hand care professionals and patients in the U.S. and abroad.