If You Reach Out to Others, You’ll Find the Right Connections
Posted on Aug. 26, 2009
Albert Hoff, DC, a 1978 graduate of Northwestern College of Chiropractic, wouldn’t be where he is today if he hadn’t received help and inspiration from others when he was first starting out. Dr. Hoff grew up in Minneapolis in a single-parent home with eight siblings. They survived on welfare and food stamps. “I saw my way through many obstacles and found the right people at the right time,” says Dr. Hoff. Now decades later, with a successful business and thriving family, he is using his past as motivation to help and support others.
One of Dr. Hoff’s inspirations was Jack Holtz, DC, a 1961 graduate of Northwestern. “Dr. Holtz was my father’s chiropractor,” recalls Dr. Hoff. “My dad introduced us one day, and that was it. I knew I wanted to be a chiropractor at the age of 23.” Decades later, in a fitting turn of events, Dr. Hoff toured the Wolfe-Harris Center for Excellence and noticed a beautiful conference room located right next to the Jack and Joan Holtz Board Room. Dr. Hoff offered to fund the conference room, which is now named the Al and Janet Hoff Conference Room. “Dr. Holtz was the man who got me into chiropractic; how fitting to support the University through the room right next door to his,” says Dr. Hoff.
“It’s important for us to give to Northwestern because, unlike medical, dental, and other professional schools, chiropractic doesn’t get direct federal funds,” says Dr. Hoff, whose wife Janet is the insurance specialist at their family-owned Rosemount Chiropractic in Rosemount, Minn. Prior to funding the conference room, the family donated $5,000 to the Mind, Body, Spirit statue in the courtyard in 2003.
Dr. Hoff also supports the University through mentoring opportunities for students. “I have been mentoring students in my office for 27 years. More than 100 students have come though my office as either interns or employees,” he says.
In addition to helping students gain experience in their clinic, the Hoffs have created an annual scholarship fund to aid students in their post-graduate education costs. Named the Hoff-Jeffers scholarship in memoriam of Mrs. Hoff’s mother, the $250 scholarship is given out each year at the chiropractic homecoming. “My mother had been to Northwestern functions and liked what she saw,” says Mrs. Hoff. “It was one of her wishes to leave a donation to the school.”
The Hoff-Jeffers scholarship is primarily for minority students, or students in the military. The most recent winner of the scholarship was Andrea Albertson, a chiropractic student.
The Hoff’s contributions to Northwestern are a way of giving back to the future of the profession. “If you reach out you will find the right people to connect with,” he advises Northwestern students and alumni. “I urge every graduate to consider some type of legacy gift now or in the future.”
To learn more about supporting Northwestern by giving, visit the Ways to Give webpage, call the office of Alumni, Development and Career Services at
(800/952) 888-4777, ext. 412 or ext. 237, or e-mail giving@nwhealth.edu.