SHORT HILLS, N.J., Aug. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to improving quality of life for individuals living with paralysis, announced it has awarded over $800,000 in Quality of Life grants this year. Quality of Life grants support fellow nonprofits that mirror the Reeve Foundation’s mission and commitment to foster community engagement, enhance independence and promote healthy self-esteem. The program has awarded over $22 million in grants to over 2,900 programs since its inception in 1999. In the first grant cycle of 2017, $809,291 in Quality of Life grants were awarded to 90 nonprofits nationwide. Funding for the grants is made available through the Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) operated by the Reeve Foundation under a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“We are continually looking for new ways for individuals living with paralysis to reintegrate themselves into the community through our grant programs,” said Maggie Goldberg, VP of Policy and Programs. “Whether it is a small grant for a ramp to access a public building, or a larger award to support an accessible community playground or transportation service, each project brings us closer to our ultimate goal of full inclusion and independence.”
The grants given out for this specific cycle covered a variety of projects including:
The Miracle League of North Mankato, Mankato, MN— $15,314
This Quality of Life grant will help support the Fallenstein Playground, located next to the Miracle League at Fallenstein Field in Caswell Park. The playground will be an inclusive community play space for children, youth and adults of all abilities. Grant funds will help support costs for the playground design and the purchase and installation of the SwayFun Glider.
Ramp Access Made Possible by Students (RAMPS), Richmond, VA— $10,000
This Quality of Life grant will support a nonprofit community service organization based in Richmond in which high school student volunteers build modular wheelchair ramps for individuals living with mobility impairments and elderly people in the community who cannot afford a ramp to get them in and out of their homes safely. RAMPS is the “go-to” organization for the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System’s Spinal Cord Injury and Neuroscience units. Grant funds will support AMRAMP Material (hardened modular steel pieces).
Destination Rehab, Bend, OR— $6,520
This Quality of Life grant will help to support Adventure Rehab Camp, a five-day, rehab adventure vacation for individuals with paralysis and a family member or caregiver. Grant funds will support the program director, a licensed physical therapist responsible for the planning, coordination, marketing and supervision of Adventure Rehab Camp; Oregon Adaptive Sports, to provide equipment, training and staffing for adaptive sport outings; Pilates instructor and adaptive Pilates instructor; accessible van rental; accommodations for participants and volunteers; and travel for recruitment efforts.
Independent Living Center of Kern County, Troy, NY— $13,000
This Quality of Life grant will help support the Repair and Re-Use Project, which accepts donated power wheelchairs from individuals or businesses, cleans and refurbishes them, and gives them to people with disabilities who lack the resources to obtain the highly specialized equipment. These repaired power wheelchairs will enable individuals living with paralysis to be more mobile, independent, and self-reliant. Grant funds will support personnel costs for the special projects coordinator, electric wheelchair batteries, battery chargers, wheelchair tires, miscellaneous wheelchair parts for repair, and joysticks.
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 Administration for Community Living (cooperative agreement number 90PR3002). For more information, please visit our website at www.ChristopherReeve.org or call 800-539-7309.
SOURCE Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation