annual report - Kessler Foundation

ANNUAL
REPORT
2012
i
Changing the lives of people with disabilities
INSIDE THE QR CODES
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on grants, publications, research, employment initiatives, and personal stories. To access this information,
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ABOUT KESSLER
FOUNDATION
Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in
the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation
research that seeks to improve cognition, mobility, and
long-term outcomes, including employment, for people
with neurological disabilities caused by diseases
and injuries of the brain and spinal cord. Kessler
Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative
programs that expand opportunities for employment
for people with disabilities. For more information,
visit KesslerFoundation.org.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Financial Highlights
2
President’s Letter
3
Changing Lives Through Research
4
Bridging the Gap to Employment
8
Kessler Foundation News 2012
12
Kessler Society
14
Board of Trustees
15
Corporate Directory
15
OUR VISION
Kessler Foundation leads the way in linking science
and grantsmanship so that people with disabilities can
lead more productive, independent, and fulfilling lives.
OUR MISSION
The mission of Kessler Foundation is to improve
quality of life for people with disabilities through
discovery, innovation, demonstration, application,
and dissemination.
ANNUAL REPORT STAFF
Contributing writers: Carolann Murphy, Lauren Scrivo
Photographer: Jody Banks-Smith
Photo contributors: Richard Titus, Carolann Murphy
Graphic design: Satellite Advertising & Design, Inc.
FINANCIAL
HIGHLIGHTS
Since 1998:
• $143 million invested for
research and other programs
• $28 million expended for
employment and other grants
These funds improve the lives
of people with disabilities!
ii
Dear Friends,
In 2012, Kessler Foundation achieved new milestones in rehabilitation
research and employment initiatives that are changing the lives of
people with disabilities.
Restoring function and ensuring meaningful jobs for individuals with
disabilities are crucial to self-sufficiency and community involvement.
In an important step toward achieving this goal, Kessler Foundation
hired a Director of Employment and Disability Research to seek
opportunities for collaboration between research and funded
employment programs.
Our researchers secured $11.7 million in new grant funding for our
research—our highest annual total to date—so more discoveries can
be made to improve the daily function of individuals with traumatic
brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and stroke, which also affirms the caliber of our work. With the renewal
of the five-year federal grant for the Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury System, Kessler Foundation became one
of only eight centers to have federally funded model systems in both spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. Our new
director of Human Performance & Engineering Research increased our ability to explore new avenues of research. The
addition of an assistant director of Stroke Rehabilitation Research is expanding Kessler Foundation’s translational research
in improving mobility and cognitive deficits in stroke survivors.
In 2012, the Foundation awarded $2.1 million in grant initiatives that create or expand employment opportunities for people
with disabilities. For the second consecutive year, Kessler Foundation’s Signature Employment Grants were awarded to
disability employment programs across the nation. Since 2005, more than $28 million in grants were distributed to job
training and employment initiatives, leading to more than 3,000 people with disabilities receiving job training and
earning paychecks.
Kessler Foundation also received the distinct honor of being named one of the 50 Best Places
to Work in New Jersey by NJBIZ. This is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of our
employees and Board of Trustees. We share a commitment to improve the lives of people
with disabilities because we know the great contributions they can make to society when
given the opportunity. Through research that improves function and the funding of disability
employment initiatives, we are part of providing that opportunity.
While 2012 was a time for accomplishments, it was also a time to help others. We at Kessler
Foundation pledged our support to the recovery efforts for individuals with disabilities affected
by the storm through our Hurricane Sandy Emergency Fund. Many lost wheelchairs, medical
equipment, modified vehicles, and access to accessible housing. In essence, they lost their
means of independence. With our grants, organizations that serve people with disabilities
are resuming operations and helping as many individuals as possible.
Our upcoming plans include the opening of our state-of-the-art Neuroimaging Center solely dedicated to research. With
neuroimaging, researchers can objectively assess changes to the brain and spinal cord after a tested treatment. The Center
will advance the pace of research discoveries and increase national and international collaborations in cognitive and
mobility research. In addition, our research facilities are under renovation to accommodate more innovative equipment.
We also anticipate our funded disability employment initiatives being rolled out at large national businesses.
Thank you for your support of Kessler Foundation. Together, we can change the lives of people with disabilities.
For more information on the research and employment programs supported by Kessler Foundation, visit us online
at KesslerFoundation.org.
Sincerely,
Rodger L. DeRose
President & CEO
3
CHANGING
LIVES
THROUGH
RESEARCH
“RESEARCH
AT KESSLER
FOUNDATION HAS
HELPED INDIVIDUALS
WITH DISABILITIES
IMPROVE THEIR
MEMORY, MOBILITY,
SPATIAL PERCEPTION,
AND OVERALL
HEALTH, AS WELL
AS OVERCOME
OBSTACLES TO
EMPLOYMENT. THESE
ADVANCEMENTS
LEAD TO GREATER
INDEPENDENCE AND
QUALITY OF LIFE AS
THEY REJOIN THEIR
COMMUNITIES.”
— JOHN DELUCA, PHD,
VP FOR RESEARCH
& 2TRAINING
4
Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD, and Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD, were appointed directors of Traumatic Brain
Injury (TBI) Research and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Research, respectively. Dr. Chiaravalloti also serves
as director of Neuropsychology & Neuroscience Research and project director of the Northern New
Jersey TBI Model System (NNJTBIS). Her research interests include finding treatments to improve
memory, learning, and processing speed. Dr. Dyson-Hudson also serves as director of Outcomes and
Assessment Research at the Foundation and project co-director of the Northern New Jersey SCI
Model System (NNJSCIS). His interests include restoring function and mobility as well as preventing
further complications of SCI. Both have faculty appointments at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
ADVANCING RESOURCES
IN 2012, KESSLER FOUNDATION SCIENTISTS
SECURED $11.7 MILLION IN NEW EXTERNAL
GRANT FUNDING — THE MOST FUNDING IN ONE
YEAR TO DATE — TO ADVANCE COGNITIVE AND
MOBILITY RESEARCH STUDIES AND CHANGE
THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
ADVANCING COGNITIVE
RESEARCH
Cognitive research at Kessler Foundation improves thinking,
learning, and memory in people with TBI, multiple sclerosis
(MS), and other conditions. Researchers also examine how
the brain changes after treatment. Highlights include:
• With a $44,000 grant from the National MS Society,
Research Scientist Victoria Leavitt, PhD, is studying the effects
of intellectual enrichment on cognitive decline in people with
MS. Individuals use iPads to engage in home-based
activities, such as reading, puzzle solving, and games, for
12 weeks. Dr. Leavitt correlates improvements in cognition
with changes in brain activity. Previously, Research Scientist
James Sumowski found that individuals who have a history
of a mentally enriching lifestyle are better protected against
cognitive decline associated with MS—known as the theory
of cognitive reserve. “While we typically build cognitive reserve
during school years, the study will examine if people with MS
can build their reserve after diagnosis,” said Dr. DeLuca. The
findings may prove that intervention can prevent the effects
of decline.”
• Dr. Chiaravalloti found increases in brain activation in people
with MS after just ten weekly sessions of cognitive rehabilitation.
Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to
document brain activation patterns before and after memory
retraining, she found that greater activation was associated with
improved memory performance. These findings may support
third-party reimbursement for cognitive rehabilitation.
Kessler Foundation welcomed Guang Yue,
PhD, as director of Human Performance
and Engineering Research as well
as Mooyeon Oh-Park, MD, as assistant
director of Stroke Rehabilitation
Research—an inaugural position.
Dr. Yue is interested in how the brain
controls movement as well as how the
central nervous system reacts to injury,
disease, and medical intervention.
Dr. Oh-Park has expertise in investigating
the impact of mobility problems on
function in aging and in the
methodology of gathering self-report
and self-awareness data after stroke.
Scan to view the research
grants received in 2012.
53
ADVANCING COGNITIVE RESEARCH CONTINUED...
• With a two-year, $366,000 grant from the National
Institutes of Health, Dr. Yue uses MRI to study the
cognitive effects of chemotherapy. “We anticipate that
this research will yield significant information regarding
structural and physiological causes of the neurological
side effects of chemotherapy,” said Dr. Yue. “This will
help us devise better ways to manage symptoms...and
may encourage the development of safer drugs.”
• Director of Stroke Research A.M. Barrett, MD, Research
Scientist Peii Chen, PhD, and colleagues advanced
research on the effects of prism adaptation on treating
spatial neglect—a perceptual problem caused by a
disconnect between the brain and the eye that affects up to
70 percent of stroke survivors. With a three-year, $595,800
grant from NIDRR, Dr. Barrett looks to establish clinical
guidelines to better detect and manage spatial
neglect, which is likely to reduce accidents and optimize
independence among affected patients. The Healthcare
Foundation of New Jersey also awarded a $145,000 grant
to provide home-based prism therapy to stroke survivors
in the Newark, NJ-area.
Kessler Foundation
was awarded a fiveyear, $2.2 million grant
from the National
Institute on Disability
and Rehabilitation
Research (NIDRR) of
the US Department of Education to fund the NNJTBIS,
a comprehensive system of care, research, education,
and dissemination aimed at improving quality of life
for people with TBI. NNJTBIS is a cooperative effort of
Kessler Foundation, Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation,
St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, Morristown
Memorial Hospital, Hackensack University Hospital, and
University Hospital. “We are interested in more than
recovery; we want to get people back to school and back
to work as productive members of their communities,”
said Dr. Chiaravalloti, project director of the NNJTBIS.
ADVANCING MOBILITY RESEARCH
Mobility research focuses on improving movement, balance,
and walking pattern in people with SCI, stroke, and other
conditions. Some individuals have even taken their first
steps since their injuries. Highlights include:
• Kessler Foundation is part of a large study designed to
maximize independence among wheelchair users with SCI,
titled, “Collaboration on Mobility Training (COMIT).” The
study is part of a five-year, NIDRR-funded SCI Model Systems
Multi-site Collaborative Research Project that examines
the impact of web-based training and group sessions on
wheelchair skills and maintenance in 500 individuals. “For
many people with SCI, the wheelchair is the single most
important factor in their ability to be independent after
their injury,” said Dr. Dyson-Hudson. “Our goal is to minimize
obstacles to independence caused by environmental barriers
and wheelchair malfunction.”
• Research Scientist Karen Nolan, PhD, was nominated for
the 2012 Novel Art in Science Award for her work in
restoring function to stroke survivors. She is studying the
effect of the WalkAide — an electrical stimulation device —
in stroke survivors with foot drop.
Scan to view the stories of individuals whose lives
improved from research at Kessler Foundation.
6
Research Scientist Victoria Leavitt,
PhD, demonstrated for the first time
that outdoor temperature significantly
impacts cognitive function in people with
MS. Over a calendar year, individuals with
MS scored 70 percent higher on memory
and processing tests during cooler
months. “This information is relevant
to making life decisions and choosing
therapies and evaluating their effects,”
said Dr. Leavitt.
Assistant Director of Human Performance and Engineering Research
Gail Forrest, PhD, released preliminary findings on Ekso—a robotic,
battery-powered exoskeleton that enables wheelchair users to stand
and walk. Results showed improvements in gait, balance, walking
speed, respiration, heart rate, and muscle firing in the lower leg.
“We’re looking beyond the ability to stand and walk to the potential
long-term effects of these activities on health and well being,”
noted Dr. Forrest. She is conducting long-term research studies to
accurately evaluate the exoskeleton’s effects on the muscles, heart,
and lungs in individuals with SCI.
ADVANCING
OUTCOMES RESEARCH
Kessler Foundation researchers study the effect of
disability across racial, cultural, and socioeconomic
backgrounds. The addition of John O’Neill, PhD, as
Director of Employment and Disability Research integrates
employment considerations in research studies (see more
on page 9). Through his work, and in collaboration with
other researchers, Kessler Foundation examines the best
methods to keep people with disabilities active in the
workforce. Other highlights include:
• Research Scientist Amanda Botticello, PhD, MPH, and
Dr. Chen found that caregivers of stroke survivors have
decreased memory. These findings support providing
adequate resources to lessen the stress on caregivers.
• With a three-year, $738,216 grant from the National
Institutes of Health, Dr. Botticello will study the role
of environmental factors in rehabilitation outcomes in
individuals with SCI. “We can identify community factors
that threaten the physical, psychological, and social
gains made in rehabilitation,” she said.
ADVANCING DISSEMINATION
Foundation scientists published findings in scientific
journals and conducted presentations to share the latest
rehabilitation strategies. Stroke researchers, for example,
made 18 national and six international presentations in
2012. NNJTBIS also hosted a two-day conference for
consumers and professionals to explore advances in care,
research, and recovery strategies. Richard Pimentel, a
founding father of the Americans with Disabilities Act,
was the keynote speaker.
ADVANCING COLLABORATIONS
JOHN DELUCA, PHD,
VP FOR RESEARCH
& TRAINING
Kessler Foundation is increasing collaborations to
improve research and access to rehabilitation around the
world. Researchers worked with scientists in China to
develop a method for delivering cognitive rehabilitation
to people with stroke. In partnership with the Santa Lucia
Foundation in Rome, Dr. DeLuca explored its extensive
database of patients with MS, correlating clinical
symptoms with changes on fMRI.
Postdoctoral fellow Abhijit Das, MD, DM, and Foundation colleagues Glenn Wylie, DPhil, and Drs. Chiaravalloti
and Botticello found a rise in neurological disabilities in India caused by increases in TBI, age-related
dementia, and stroke. The researchers identified the enforcement of traffic safety measures to reduce TBI,
development of standardized data tools for assessment and accurate statistics, training of more professionals
in neurorehabilitative care, and expanding research in neurorehabilitation as a way to curb the epidemic.
“Neurologic Disability: A Hidden Epidemic for India” was published in the November issue of Neurology.
Das’ fellowship was funded through NIDRR’s Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Program.
7
BRIDGING
THE GAP TO
EMPLOYMENT
“VOCATIONAL
REHABILITATION
AND TRAINING ISN’T
ENOUGH. IT’S ALSO
ABOUT WHAT COMES
NEXT. BY FUNDING
EMPLOYMENT
INITIATIVES THAT
EXPAND THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR
JOBS, INDIVIDUALS
WITH DISABILITIES
ARE REJOINING THE
COMMUNITY, LEADING
PRODUCTIVE LIVES,
AND APPLYING
THEIR SKILLS,
AND EMPLOYERS
ARE BENEFITTING
FROM THEIR
CONTRIBUTIONS.”
— ELAINE KATZ,
VP OF GRANTS &
SPECIAL INITIATIVES
82
“I’m eager to contribute my knowledge and skills in employment and disability to the Foundation’s
philanthropic work and ongoing research in stroke, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord
injury,” said Dr. O’Neill. By incorporating employment outcomes into research studies, researchers
can identify treatments and techniques to improve function so people with disabilities can rejoin or
remain in the workforce. Dr. O’Neill is also affiliated with Rutgers University’s John J. Heldrich Center
for Workforce Development and Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
BRIDGING THE GAP
THROUGH DISABILITY
EMPLOYMENT RESEARCH
In 2012, John O’Neill, PhD, became director of Employment
and Disability Research—an inaugural position—in an effort
to bridge the gap between rehabilitation research and
employment. With more than 30 years of experience in
vocational rehabilitation, he is a noted expert on the effects
of culture, race, gender, and socioeconomic status on social
outcomes after disability. Dr. O’Neill also studies how physical
and cognitive function, government assistance benefits, and
healthcare coverage impact utilization of vocational services
and job seeking by people with disabilities. His research
is funded by government agencies, including the National
Institute on Disability Rehabilitation Research.
With the addition of Dr. O’Neill, research has expanded
in the area of employment outcomes for individuals with
cognitive and physical disabilities. “Our research improves
the function of people with disabilities, but we must also
consider what comes next,” noted John DeLuca, PhD,
vice president for Research and Training. “We are finding
ways for individuals with disabilities to enter or rejoin the
workforce so they can enjoy greater independence, selfsufficiency, and quality of life.” Highlights include:
• Research Scientist Lauren Strober, PhD, is studying factors
relating to the 80 percent unemployment rate in people
with multiple sclerosis (MS). This five-year grant from the
National Institutes of Health, examines demographics and
disease variables as well as person-specific factors, such
as personality and coping, which have not been extensively
investigated. “The goal is to develop a predictive model of
unemployment in MS that can be used as a decision-making
tool by practitioners,” said Dr. Strober. “Application of the
tool will help people with MS retain jobs, which will
positively affect their overall care and quality of life.”
The Northern NJ Spinal Cord Injury
System and Northern NJ Traumatic
Brain Injury System, as well as
Outcomes Research at Kessler
Foundation, assess key indicators—
including employment—that impact
quality of life across various cultural
and socioeconomic communities.
Anthony Lequerica, PhD, and Denise
Krch, PhD, research scientists at the
Foundation, and their model systems
collaborators, are examining the
best ways to evaluate quality of life
among the Hispanic population and
the factors influencing employment
after brain injury.
“OUR RESEARCH IMPROVES THE FUNCTION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES,
BUT WE MUST ALSO CONSIDER WHAT COMES NEXT.”
93
Thanks to a Community
Employment Grant
awarded to the Washington
Center for Internships
& Academic Seminars,
Chris Miller interned for
BRIDGING THE GAP
THROUGH GRANTS
Scan to view grants awarded to disability
employment initiatives in 2012.
the Administration on
Intellectual Disabilities and Developmental Disabilities
Administration for Community Living, in the nation’s
capitol, where he developed airport screening materials for
individuals with disabilities and presented to a visiting Chinese
Delegation. “The internship confirmed my professional
goals— to live in Washington, DC, and work in an advocacy
role for people with disabilities,” he exclaimed.
Scan to read the personal stories of individuals
whose lives improved as a result of Kessler
Foundation’s employment grants.
Kevin Greene found a new career
path after a devastating car
Led by Elaine Katz, Kessler Foundation has distributed more
than $28 million in funding to job training and employment
initiatives for people with disabilities over the past 7 years.
“I’m proud of the diversity in the types of funded programs,
as well as the potential of these new collaborations.
The impact of our grant funding is clear: When talented
individuals with disabilities join the workplace, society sees
their abilities instead of their disabilities,” she said. Here are
the highlights:
• This year marked the second year that Signature
Employment Grants—the Foundation’s largest grants—were
available to disability employment and training programs
across the nation. More than $1.3 million was awarded to
organizations in Maryland, Missouri, and Washington, DC, to
support initiatives for people with disabilities in distribution
and retail centers, social enterprises, and financial services.
• In 2011, Kessler Foundation awarded the Boston-based
National Telecommuting Institute (NTI) a $250,000
Signature Employment Grant to give people with
disabilities with transportation challenges a work-fromhome option. In one year, NTI hired 300 individuals with
disabilities—from 48 states—as home-based call center
agents. “The grant from Kessler Foundation allows us to
move forward with our overall mission of creating a true
21st century workforce, inclusive of those with disabilities,”
stated Alan Hubbard, chief operating officer of NTI.
accident resulted in a brain injury
and paralysis from the waist
down. With a love for science, he
completed the laboratory assistant
training program at JFK Vocational
BRIDGING THE GAP THROUGH
NATIONAL AWARENESS
Rehabilitation Department—funded
by Kessler Foundation—and quickly
landed a job where he maintains the
laboratory of a local medical office.
ELAINE KATZ
VP OF GRANTS &
SPECIAL INITIATIVES
He also volunteers for the NJ chapter
of ThinkFirst, a national injury
prevention program for students,
sponsored for more than 20 years
by Kessler Foundation.
10
Kessler Foundation disseminates best practice strategies to
create employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Kessler Foundation and the Heldrich Center for Workplace
Development at Rutgers University released an addition
to their series of research briefs on disability employment:
“Strategies to Support Employer-Driven Initiatives to Recruit
and Retain Employees with Disabilities.”
Kathleen Martinez, Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Office of Disability Employment Policy,
visited Kessler Foundation to learn about employment programs supported by the Foundation and
share her view on strategies for successful disability employment policies. “Kessler Foundation is
the gas that fuels the programs that provide job opportunities for people with disabilities,” said Ms.
Martinez. “The Foundation’s creativity, innovation, and team-building [through its grantmaking] serve
as a catalyst for creating sustainable employment options for the disability community.”
BRIDGING THE GAP THROUGH NATIONAL AWARENESS
CONTINUED...
Authors Elaine Katz, MS, CCC-SLP, of Kessler Foundation,
Meg O’Connell, PHR, of the National Organization on
Disability, and Robert Nicholas, PhD, of the Heldrich
Center, explored a growing trend among employers to
establish initiatives to increase the participation of workers
with disabilities in their workplaces. “These initiatives are
resulting in integrated workplaces where people with and
without disabilities work side by side and employers are
reporting benefits in their workplaces and to their bottom
lines,” said Katz.
BRIDGING THE GAP
THROUGH THE COMMUNITY
More than 200 guests came out to
Kessler Foundation also funds initiatives that increase the
participation of people with disabilities in their communities.
Among the highlights:
Sandy: A Benefit for People with
• On Memorial Day, racers from all over the world competed
in the 12th Annual Kessler Foundation Wheelchair 10K —
the wheelchair division of the Fred d’Elia Ridgewood Run.
The competition featured former and current Paralympians,
including Jessica Galli and Santiago Sanz who set new
course records.
a Jersey Shore theme. The legendary
• In his first Paralympic appearance in London, 18-year-old
Raymond Martin won gold medals in four wheelchair
racing events. Ray has been a member of the North Jersey
Navigators—an adaptive sports team for junior athletes
with disabilities—for more than a decade. Kessler
Foundation provided seed funding for the team and
continues to support the Navigators.
• Kessler Foundation awarded 28 grants, totaling $160,820,
to non-profit organizations that help people with disabilities
recover from the effects of Hurricane Sandy. The grants
address the immediate needs of these organizations
to resume operations or fill the needs of individuals who
lost necessary equipment or housing in the storm.
support Kessler Foundation’s
Rebuilding Lives after Hurricane
Disabilities. Hosted at The Grove, in
Cedar Grove, NJ, the event had
Ben Vereen performed highlights from
his show, Steppin’ Out. Comedian and
NJ-native Jeff Norris served as the
emcee. More than $28,000 was raised
for the Foundation’s Hurricane Sandy
Emergency Fund to help organizations
continue to provide services to
individuals with disabilities.
“KESSLER FOUNDATION IS THE GAS
THAT FUELS THE PROGRAMS THAT
PROVIDE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.”
11
KESSLER
FOUNDATION
NEWS
2012
2012 ESTABROOK DISTINGUISHED
RESEARCH LECTURESHIP:
Edward Taub, PhD, presented
Kessler Foundation’s 2012
Estabrook Distinguished Research
Lectureship. His thought-provoking
lecture—“Constraint-induced (CI)
Therapy: A Family of Treatments in
Rehabilitation that Remodel the Brain”—addressed how immobilizing the stronger
limb retrains the brain to use the weaker limb. Dr. Taub is director of the CI Therapy
Research Group and Taub Training Clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
and a professor in the Department of Psychology. Dr. Taub developed CI therapy,
which has been shown to be effective in improving movement in children and adults
with stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological injuries.
2012 ROGER G. BARKER DISTINGUISHED
RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION AWARD: Vice
IN 2012, KESSLER
FOUNDATION
EXPANDED ITS
REACH TO CHANGE
President of Research and Training at Kessler
Foundation, John DeLuca, PhD, received distinct
honors for his work in rehabilitation research. He
was the recipient of the 2012 Roger G. Barker
Distinguished Research Contribution Award from
the American Psychological Association (APA).
Presented annually by Division 22 (Rehabilitation
Psychology) of the APA, this award recognizes
an individual who has made an outstanding lifelong contribution to rehabilitation
psychology through research, conceptual/theoretical development, or both. Dr.
DeLuca also received the 2012 Medical Excellence Award by the New Jersey Metro
Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He was honored at the Musical
Moments for MS — a star-studded event at NJPAC featuring Olivia Newton-John. “It
is immensely gratifying to work in this field, contributing to new ways to maximize
function for people with disabilities,” said Dr. DeLuca. “My goal is to continue to
contribute to rehabilitation research that helps people achieve their best in their
personal lives, in the community, and in the workplace.”
THE LIVES OF MORE
PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES AND
WAS RECOGNIZED
AS A LEADING
ORGANIZATION IN
THE DISABILITY
COMMUNITY.
122
2012 KESSLER FOUNDATION JOEL A. DELISA, MD
AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH AND
EDUCATION: John Whyte, MD, PhD, received the
2012 Kessler Foundation Joel A. DeLisa, MD Award
for Excellence in Research and Education in the Field
of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R), which
includes a $50,000 unrestricted grant. Dr. Whyte
is the founding director of Moss Rehabilitation
Research Institute (MossRehab) in Philadelphia and
leader of its Rehabilitation Medicine Scientist Training
Program. Kessler Foundation funds this annual award
to honor Dr. DeLisa’s many contributions to the field
of PM&R. Dr. DeLisa is the founding director of Kessler
Foundation Research Center.
FOUNDATION OF THE YEAR AWARD: Pathways for Exceptional Children, a NJ
organization, named Kessler Foundation its Foundation of the Year for its support of
Project Win-Win, a career mentoring program that promotes community integration
for young people with disabilities. Kessler Foundation awarded Pathways its first
grant in 2008 and has continued to support the program. Students are coached by
their peers as they learn about jobs in computer technology, bakery and food service,
landscaping and masonry, pet care and grooming, accounting, house painting and
woodworking, disc jockeying, and entertainment.
PRESS CONFERENCE:
Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr.
(D-NJ) and other leaders
in advocacy, research,
rehabilitation, and treatment
of traumatic brain injury (TBI)
held a press conference at
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation
to discuss legislation to better
serve Americans with TBI. Rep.
Pascrell is co-founder and co-chair
of the Congressional Brain Injury
Task Force. He was joined by John
DeLuca, PhD, vice president for Research and Training at Kessler
Foundation; Bruce M. Gans, MD, chief medical officer of Kessler
Institute; Neil Jasey, MD, director of Brain Injury Rehabilitation at
Kessler Institute; Susan Connors, president and CEO of the Brain
Injury Association of America; and Tom Grady, director of Advocacy
& Public Affairs at the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey.
DISABILITY MENTORING DAY:
On October 17th, Timesha, Moses, and
Schneider from Horizon High School in
Livingston, NJ, visited Kessler Foundation
for Disability Mentoring Day (DMD).
The students learned about research and
administrative jobs at the Foundation.
They learned that their opportunities are
limitless and that a disability shouldn’t
stop them from achieving their goals.
“ONLY ABILITIES MATTER” CAMPAIGN: Former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand
and actor John Larroquette lent their time and talent to a series of public service
announcements for Kessler Foundation. The campaign, “Only Abilities Matter,” taught
others to recognize abilities before disabilities. Featured on television stations around
the United States, Kessler Foundation invited everyone to post their abilities on its
Facebook page, www.facebook.com/KesslerFoundation.
11TH ANNUAL STROLL ‘N ROLL: Thank you to all those who made
Kessler Foundation’s 11th Annual Stroll ‘N Roll a huge success!
More than 400 people of all ages and abilities came out to
Brookdale Park. Special guests included Congressman Rodney
P. Frelinghuysen (D-11), Montclair Mayor Robert D. Jackson,
Bloomfield Mayor Raymond J. McCarthy, Miss Wheelchair New
Jersey Kim Biglin, Miss New Jersey Teen-US Kendal Barrett, model
Selita Ebanks, and former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand.
$85,000 was raised to change the lives of people with disabilities.
133
KESSLER
SOCIETY
Thank you for your generous support
of Kessler Foundation! One hundred
percent of your gift funds rehabilitation
research and employment initiatives
that are changing the lives of people
with disabilities.
Individuals and organizations that
contribute $500 or more per year
are members of the Kessler Society.
Every gift counts as, together, we are
changing the lives of people with
disabilities. Members of the 2012
Kessler Society are listed here.
For a complete listing
of all donors, please scan
the QR code. Thank you to
everyone who supported our
events and made a generous contribution
to Kessler Foundation in 2012.
Anne and Victor Ammons
Trenk, DiPasquale, Della
Fera & Sodono, P.C.
Antonio’s Hair Design
Mr. and Mrs. Guy Tufo*
Ms. Barbara Arbesfeld*
TSymmetry Inc.
C.R. Bard Foundation, Inc.
Wakefern Food Corporation
Bederson & Company, LLP
Westminster Hotel
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan D. Bell
Winning Strategies
Bollinger, Inc.
Anita and Paul Yarossi
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Borck
Yukon Graphics
Mr. and Mrs. John R. Cannell*
ZIIZ, Inc.
SPONSORS
Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Casey
Colonial Consulting, LLC
The Cormac Group
J. Fletcher Creamer Foundation
Dr. and Mrs. Joel A. DeLisa
Mrs. Alice Dillon
Dimensional Dynamics Incorporated
James K. Estabrook, Esq.*
Eastern States Dressage and
Combined Training Association
Barbara and Jeffrey Feiner*
Benjamin Gittlin Foundation
Dr. Michele Green and Mr. Steven Gutwillig
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas G. Greig, III
The Grove
Alyce C. Halchak, Esq.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Herz*
BENEFACTORS
Anonymous
Mr. and Mrs. Neil DeSena
The Marc Haas Foundation
Ms. Gail Kreitman
Liz and David Lowenstein*
SHARING, Inc.
Wallerstein Foundation for
Geriatric Life Improvement
PATRONS
Ellen and Rodger DeRose*
Emiliani Enterprises
Gibbons, P.C.
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Jacobs
Global Risk Consultants, Mr. and
Mrs. David C. Lowell
Mr. and Mrs. Richard S. Kessler*
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation
Mr. and Mrs. Gary S. Lewis*
Mr. and Mrs. David C. Lowell
Mr. and Mrs. Glenn M. Reiter*
The Philip W. Riskin Charitable
Foundation
Phyllis J. Roome and
Barbara J. Foreman
Mrs. Edythe Rosenthal
Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Schinman*
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen G. Sudovar*
*Board Member
14
Anonymous
Mr. and Mrs. Dean Janeway, Jr.
Elaine and Daniel Katz
Nancy and John Lasser*
Mrs. Mary Lasser
Mr. Peter Lasser & Mrs. Cynthia Potter
Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Lerner
Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook
& Cooper, P.C.
MEMBERS
Amramp
Barnabas Health
Brookdale ShopRite, Inc.
Mr. Joseph Calvo
Mr. William Carroll
Dr. Nancy and Mr. Nicholas Chiaravalloti
Ms. Kathy Creamer
Mr. Fletch Creamer, V
Mr. and Mrs. Vincent P. Donnelly &
Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Rue
Mr. and Mrs. James Frank
Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Fraser
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence J. Gelber
Mr. and Mrs. John Giraud
Mr. and Mrs. Howard S. Greenberg
Peter and Michelle Harbeck
Mr. Matthew D. Houston
Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Howell
Ms. Dolly Judge
Mr. Robert A. Kleinert
Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Lerner
LMCL, Inc.
The Lockhart-Martinez Family
The Long and The Ward Families
Louis and Tobey Lipschitz*
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mangus
Donna and Tom Margetts
Mr. and Mrs. David P. McCarthy
Mrs. Antonia S. Marotta-Brinton
Meadowlink
Ms. Eleonore B. McCabe
Anonymous
Mary Anne McDonald* and
Joseph Benning
New Jersey Manufacturers
Insurance Company
McLoone’s Boathouse
Partners for Health Inc.
John and Susan McCallum
Priority Nursing Services
Ms. Jacqueline J. McMullen
Henry P. Riordan, Esq.
Anonymous
Mr. Peter N. Rudy
Mr. and Mrs. David A. Neibart
Mr. Salvadore R. Salvo
New Meadowlands Stadium
Company
Dr. and Mrs. Donald H. Sebastian*
North Jersey Masters Track
& Field Club
Mrs. Dolores K. Smith
Platinum Rye Entertainment
Mr. Albert Thrower
TD Bank
Mr. Donald H. Voss
Anonymous
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson Swayne
Mr. and Mrs. Mark L. Pollard*
Mr. Frank Rea, Jr.
LEGACY DONORS
Select Medical Corporation
Mr. and Mrs. Gary S. Lewis*
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Siegel
Estate of Debra J. Lezak
Dr. and Mrs. Richard A. Stall
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth P. Middleton
Mr. Leopold Swergold
Estate of Eugenie H. Recht
Mr. Sheamus Toal
Mrs. Edythe Rosenthal
KESSLER
FOUNDATION
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2012
(AS OF 12.31.2012)
Grantmaking Committee
Elizabeth Lowenstein, Chair
Nominating & Governance
Committee
Elizabeth Lowenstein, Chair
Research Committee
Donald Sebastian, PhD, Chair
OFFICERS
James K. Estabrook, Esq.,
Chairman
Robert H. Herz, CPA, Vice Chair
Louis Lipschitz, CPA, Vice Chair
Elizabeth Lowenstein,
Vice Chair
Barbara Lewis, Secretary
CORPORATE
DIRECTORY
EXECUTIVE OFFICES
Rodger L. DeRose
President & Chief Executive
Officer
Anne E. Ammons, Treasurer
Richard J. Greene, MD, PhD
Susana M. Santos
TRUSTEES
DEVELOPMENT
Chad Peddicord
Interim Chief Development
Officer
Noel Barreira
Cherie A. Giraud
Grace E. Surma
Bobbie Arbesfeld
John R. Cannell, Esq.
Rodger L. DeRose
Robert E. Dillon Jr.†
Jeffrey M. Feiner
Richard S. Kessler
William F. Owen Jr., MD
Robert W. Parsons Jr., PhD
Mark L. Pollard
Glenn M. Reiter, Esq.
Ryan Schinman
Lynn F. Schneemeyer, PhD
Donald H. Sebastian, PhD
Saul Simon
Stephen G. Sudovar
Guy Tufo
TRUSTEES EMERITI
David F. Bolger
Jack J. Confusione
H. Corbin Day
Richard C. Fowler Jr.
Thomas G. Greig III
Fred M. Kolarsick
John O. Lasser
W. Thomas Margetts
Toni Marotta-Brinton
Wendy M. Richman
Allen Sinisgalli
Francis A. Wood, MD
BOARD COMMITTEES
Audit Committee
Louis Lipschitz, Chair
Compensation Committee
Stephen G. Sudovar, Chair
Development Committee
Richard S. Kessler, Chair
Executive Committee
James K. Estabrook, Esq., Chair
Finance Committee
Robert H. Herz, Chair
OPERATIONS AND GRANTS
ADMINISTRATION
John L. Giraud
Director
Marita Delmonico
Malica T. Dock
Eileen Kirk
Donna S. Servidio
Matthew R. Weiner
FINANCE OFFICE
Anne E. Ammons, CPA
Senior Vice President &
Chief Financial Officer
Elizabeth J. Calascione
Eugene G. Forte
Elena R. Guiza
Jeannine R. Morelli
Jeffrey L. Morris
Angela Saporito
HUMAN RESOURCES
Lauri S. Wactlar
Director
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Paul C. Dombrowski
Director
Sandra McDonald
Bart B. Rajchel
Alfonso Savastano
PROGRAM CENTER
Elaine E. Katz, MS, CCC-SLP
Vice President of Grant
Programs & Special Initiatives
Joan L. Banks-Smith
Melia Moss
Carolann Murphy, PA
Lauren Scrivo
THINKFIRST PREVENTION
PROGRAM
Susan A. Helmstetter
New Jersey Director
RESEARCH CENTER
John DeLuca, PhD, ABPP
Vice President for Research
Deborah L. Bixler
EMPLOYMENT AND
DISABILITY RESEARCH
John H. O’Neill, PhD
Director
HUMAN PERFORMANCE AND
ENGINEERING RESEARCH
Guang H. Yue, PhD
Director
Didier Allexandre, PhD
Peter J. Barrance, PhD
Kathleen M. Chervin
Jennifer A. Colombo
Gail Forrest, PhD
Erica L. Garbarini
Erik M. Johnsen
Karen J. Nolan, PhD
Arvind Ramanujam
Sandra (Buffy) Wojciehowski
Milda Woods
Mathew B. Yarossi
NEUROIMAGING CENTER
Glenn R. Wylie, DPhil
Associate Director
Bing (Brian) Yao, PhD
NEUROPSYCHOLOGY &
NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
Nancy D. Chiaravalloti, PhD
Director
Juliane A. Armstrong
Aerielle M. Belk
Jean Lengenfelder Brenner, PhD
Christina M. Broderick
Lindsay G. Cook
Julia H. Coyne, PhD
Andrea T. Gagliano
Yadira Gaspard
Helen M. Genova, PhD
Andrew P. Genualdi
Denise D. Krch, PhD
Silvio F. Lavrador
Victoria M. Leavitt, PhD
Nancy B. Moore
Daniela Sacchetti
Amanda R. Sireno
Angela A. Smith
Jelena Stojanovic-Radic, PhD
Lauren B. Strober, PhD
James F. Sumowski, PhD
Leeann Trimarchi
Gabriella M. Tosto
Denise Vasquez
Glenn R. Wylie, DPhil
SPINAL CORD INJURY/
OUTCOMES & ASSESSMENT
RESEARCH
Trevor A. Dyson-Hudson, MD
Director
Amanda L. Botticello, PhD
Tiara C. Brown
Rachel Byrne
Nicolette Cobbold
Denise C. Fyffe, PhD
Gadiz M. Garcia
Natalia Ikheloa
Jeanne M. Zanca, PhD
STROKE REHABILITATION
RESEARCH
A.M. Barrett, MD
Director
Vahid Behravan, PhD
Peii Chen, PhD
Kecia T. Coleman
Ashley J. Hartman
Emma L. Kaplan
Jenny R. Másmela
Kristen K. Maul
Mooyeon Oh-Park, MD
Kimberly A. Ramos
Kelsea J. Sandefur
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
RESEARCH
Nancy D. Chiaravalloti, PhD
Director
Kathy S. Chiou, PhD
Gabriel Felix
Abdullah O. Lajide
Anthony H. Lequerica, PhD
Ailya Z. Naqvi
Dennis J. Tirri
Belinda L. Washington
Starla M. Weaver, PhD
Scan to
view Kessler
Foundation’s
publications
in 2012.
15
Changing the lives of people with disabilities
Scan to visit the Kessler
Foundation Donation page.
300 Executive Drive, Suite 70
West Orange, NJ 07052-3390
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973.324.8362
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