SHORT HILLS, N.J., Feb. 26, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, a leading nonprofit dedicated to curing spinal cord injury and improving care for people living with paralysis, announced it has awarded $500,000 in Quality of Life Grants to 102 nonprofit organizations in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Funded twice yearly, grant requests are evaluated and scored based on a rigorous review process to determine funding for outstanding programs or services that empower individuals living with paralysis. The program has awarded over 2,300 grants, totaling more than $17 million since its inception in 1999.
"In the pursuit to achieve greater independence for individuals living with paralysis, the Reeve Foundation is honored to provide Quality of Life grants to organizations that support the paralysis community nationwide," said Niketa Sheth, Senior Vice President of Quality of Life, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. "Each organization selected for a grant provides stellar curriculum or service that empowers, educates and reinvigorates people living with paralysis. We are proud to raise awareness and fund these pioneering programs that aim to improve the freedom and well-being of our community."
A select few Quality of Life Grants are highlighted. To reach community members located in the Pacific, two grants were presented to organizations in Hawaii. Assistive Technology Resource Centers of Hawaii in Honolulu was awarded a $10,000 grant to support the Assistive Technology Device Loan Bank. This statewide equipment loan and demonstration bank enables those living with disabilities to borrow assistive technology devices and equipment before making a purchase.
The second grant in Hawaii was awarded to the Rehabilitation Hospital of The Pacific Foundation. The organization received an $8,182 grant to create a healing garden and horticulture program for patients of the hospital. The garden, which is designed to offer wheelchair training across uneven surfaces, will allow patients to integrate skills learned in physical, occupational, and speech therapy sessions into a horticultural setting. This project is the first of its kind in Hawaii.
The University of Southern California received an $8,000 grant for the development of a pressure ulcer prevention and management mobile application, specifically targeting those with spinal cord injuries in community settings. Those living with paralysis are at high risk of developing skin problems due to limited mobility and impaired sensation; the app serves as a reminder to inspect skin, provide the ability to record results, and offer suggestions for the management and care of ulcers based on recommended guidelines.
Eve's Fund for Native American Health Initiatives located in Farmington, NM was awarded a $10,000 grant for ThinkFirst Navajo, a proven injury prevention program educating the Navajo youth. Five Navajo speakers living with paraplegia will teach students in grades K-12 about serious injuries related to vehicle and sports accidents, as well as alcohol, violence and other factors. In addition to educating about injury prevention, a secondary objective is to improve the self-esteem and overall quality of life of the speakers.
A $15,000 grant was presented to Allies in the Arts: ArtStream's Artists-in-Residence Project, which is an initiative supported by Wounded Warriors and Veterans and Their Families at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Located in Silver Spring, MD, this program aids wounded military patients in their recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration. Additionally, it offers family members and medical staff opportunities and support to work through the stress associated with intense caregiving.
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Quality of Life Grants Program was conceived by the late Dana Reeve to address the myriad needs of children and adults living with paralysis, as well as provide assistance and education to their families and caregivers. The grants support critical life-changing initiatives that aim to improve physical and emotional health while increasing quality of life and independence. Funded projects offer a diversity of services and approaches: improving access; providing education and job training; sponsoring organized sporting activities; and much more. Quality of Life grants are funded through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Award #U59DD000838).
About the Reeve Foundation
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy. We meet all 20 of the Better Business Bureau's standards for charity accountability and hold the BBB's Charity Seal. The Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) is a program of the Reeve Foundation, and is funded through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Award No. U59DD000838. For more information, please visit our website at www.ChristopherReeve.org or call 800-539-7309.
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SOURCE Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
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