Brain Injury Alliance prepares for Brain Injury Awareness Month

NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J., March 6, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This March, in recognition of Brain Injury Awareness Month, the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey (BIANJ) has several public activities on its agenda to increase awareness about brain injuries, including prevention, recognition, and response.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year.  Of those individuals, 52,000 die, 275,000 are hospitalized, and 1.4 million are treated and released from an emergency department.  Despite the staggering numbers, brain injury is called the Silent Epidemic because public recognition and understanding remains extremely low.  Consequently, the individuals who have sustained a brain injury are often times misdiagnosed, misunderstood, and under-funded.  

Highlighting the month is BIANJ's 9th Annual Gala on Thursday, March 13 at the Hanover Marriott in Whippany, NJ.  The Gala – which raises funds to provide help, hope, and a voice to individuals with families in New Jersey living with brain injury – kicks off with a cocktail reception with buffet dinner and silent auction, and will conclude with an awards presentation. 

"We are excited and humbled to celebrate with our friends and supporters the leadership of our honorees as we recognize more than 30 years of service by the Alliance," states Barbara Geiger-Parker, BIANJ's President and CEO.  To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit: www.bianj.org/annual-gala.

In addition, BIANJ will be attending the State Senate and Assembly Legislative public hearings for the 2015 State Budget.  The goal is to reinstate funding for critical brain injury support services, which were terminated earlier this year due to a change in state government priorities.  We would welcome support from the brain injury community, particularly those who have benefited from the above-mentioned services.  Please contact Tom Grady, BIANJ's Director of Advocacy & Government Affairs, to express your interest in playing an important role in this advocacy effort.  Tom can be reached at 732.745.0200 or [email protected].

To register to speak or to obtain more information about the public hearings, please visit: http://lis.njleg.state.nj.us/15budget/default.asp

About the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey
Established in 1981, the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey (BIANJ) is a statewide nonprofit organization that services more than 10,000 individuals annually through its family support, advocacy, and education and prevention programs.  Over the last 30 years, BIANJ has brought together people with brain injury, their families and friends, and concerned allied health professionals to improve the quality of life people experience after brain injury.  For more information, please visit www.bianj.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Jon Kinsella
Communications Manager
732-745-0200
[email protected]

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SOURCE Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey