Drawn together to change lives.
2026 IMPACT REPORT
► i n t r o d u c t i o n
We are the dreamers. Every meaningful change begins with someone
willing to imagine what is possible and take action
to help make it real: the person who chooses to take part in research, the scientist who pursues new
discoveries, and you, the donor who believes that
the future is worth investing in.
True breakthroughs happen when we come together to nurture ideas, realize potential, and question the
status quo. Your generosity turns promising concepts
► t a b l e
We are grateful for your shared commitment to creating better tomorrows for those living with
traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke,
multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, autism, and other neurological and developmental disabilities.
This year’s Impact Report celebrates the dreamers and doers—people like us who embrace the
This is the difference you make.
community ►
pages 2-3
build a world where more people with disabilities
can pursue their goals with confidence, hope, and opportunity, we extend
tech►
our heartfelt thanks.
people with disabilities to live, work, participate, and
We are the doers.
c o n t e n t s
For dreaming with us, doing with us, and helping
into practical solutions, creating opportunities for
thrive in their communities.
o f
pages 6-7
Rodger DeRose
President and CEO
Michele Pignatello Chief Development Officer and Vice President, Development and Communications
“what-ifs,” envision a more meaningful and inclusive future, and help bring it all within reach. You are
part of the momentum behind each discovery, each
partnership, and each story revealed in these pages.
futures►
pages 12-13
Kessler Society 14-19 Fall Fest 20-21
► c o m m u n i t y
e n g a g e m e n t
The dream Imagine a
world that’s accessible, welcoming, and supportive of people with disabilities. Returning to community activities often presents significant challenges for those living with disabilities. A lack of transportation and difficulty navigating public spaces can be limiting. Add to this communication challenges, cognitive issues, depression, and feelings of loneliness that make life seem smaller and connections harder.
The doing
Researchers are turning critical ideas into practical ways to measure access, reduce isolation, restore confidence, and strengthen participation.
Using Garmin GPS-enabled devices and a special mobile app, Amanda L. Botticello, PhD, MPH, associate director, Center for Outcomes and Assessment Research, gathers information on community accessibility in real time. 2
DRAWN TOGETHER 2026
where everyone
belongs
Building on early success in people with multiple sclerosis, the program is now being adapted for those with spinal cord injury. Study participants who use wheelchairs record where they go, what they encounter, and whether places are manageable and disability friendly. “Real-time data help us understand community access as people experience it,” says Dr. Botticello. “That evidence can show where barriers exist and guide decisions about transportation, public spaces, and policies.” Lauren B. Strober, PhD, assistant director, Center for Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Research, studies emotional health, cognition, and social connection. Her team developed an intervention that combines weekly group meetings with supported social outings to reduce loneliness and strengthen confidence.
“When we strengthen social support, we also improve mental health, resilience, and quality of life,” says Dr. Strober.
Street view A simple trip through the neighborhood can reveal what “access” really means. In an innovative Kessler Foundation community outcomes study, people with spinal cord injury who use wheelchairs monitor their travels in the community and note what supports or limits them. “We go to the street level,” says Dr. Botticello. Participants share the planning and effort behind everyday movement.
The difference you make Together, these studies show how your support translates possibility into practice. By capturing where individuals can go, what keeps them home, and which strategies help them reconnect, Kessler Foundation researchers are developing programs that help restore the relationships, routines, and places that make life fuller.
They also point to the bright spots, from ramps and accessible restaurants to easy-to-board buses and helpful neighbors, that help make a community feel open, welcoming, and connected.
Research is turning everyday experiences into insight about access, participation, and connection. 3
► m a i n t a i n i n g
m o m e n t u m
The dream
The doing
Returning home after SCI is a major milestone, but also the start of a very difficult adjustment. “This is when people truly face what life with a disability means,” says Jeanne M. Zanca, PhD, MPT, assistant director, Center for Spinal Cord Injury Research. Families seek reassurance that equipment, home modifications, transportation, medical and therapy services, and other needs are all in place.
Kessler Foundation’s evidence-based SCI Navigator Program helps individuals and caregivers make sense of a complex system and move forward with confidence.
Can bridging the gap between care settings smooth the way forward for those living with spinal cord injury?
To our researchers, this wasn’t a challenge, but an opportunity made possible by your support.
Specially trained navigators provide education, advocacy, and hands-on problemsolving in collaboration with clinical teams to ensure care continuity. Denise C. Fyffe, PhD, assistant director of the Centers for Without support Outcomes and Assessment Research and Spinal Cord in the real world, Injury Research, explains, Louis says, “I would “People often go home be lost.” without enough time to fully integrate what they’ve learned in the rehabilitation setting,” making continued, real-world support essential.
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Finding solutions A motorcycle crash left Louis Ayala, above, with a spinal cord injury and the realization that life would never be the same. “You leave rehab and suddenly you’re dealing with everything on your own: equipment, supplies, appointments, household issues,” he says. “It’s overwhelming.” Thanks to the SCI Navigator Program, Louis learned to manage his needs more independently.
safe
at home
Likewise, many caregivers are thrust into a case manager’s role with little preparation. “They’re making appointments, helping with physical care, and managing their loved one’s emotional needs, while dealing with their own grief and stress,” says Dr. Zanca. The Caregiving Skills and Support Program recognizes caregivers as equal partners in recovery, and provides hands-on skills training, educational resources, and peer support. “We know that outcomes are improved when caregivers are supported,” notes Dr. Fyffe.
The difference you make Thanks to your generosity, these critical services are provided free of charge. Introduced in 2024, the SCI Navigator and Caregiving Skills and Support Programs have eased the journey from hospital to home for hundreds of people. By helping to deliver key resources, guidance, and peace of mind, you open the door to a safe return home.
Since 2024 these programs have provided...
345 people with SCI and 90 caregivers with services
680 hours of direct support 19 home assessments 12 mentors matched with 40 caregiver peers
2000+resources addressing
accessibility, care transitions, healthcare and equipment needs, and more
Trained navigators conducted a home visit, identified accessibility improvements, and problemsolved with him in real time. Louis, who now focuses on building his clothing brand, Chosen One, gratefully notes, “Without Kessler Foundation and its donors, I would be lost.”
DRAWN TOGETHER 2026
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► t r a n s f o r m a t i v e
t e c h
innovation from The doing
Personalized technology starts with understanding what matters most to each person.
The dream Can pioneering technologies redefine possibility for people with motor disabilities? Artificial intelligence, augmented reality, robotics, and neuromodulation are creating new paths in rehabilitation. But meaningful progress depends not only on researching new technologies. It also depends on listening to participants, asking key questions, and designing protocols that turn promising ideas into real-world solutions.
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Vikram Shenoy Handiru, PhD, research scientist in the Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research, uses neuroimaging and AI to better understand damage to neuromuscular pathways after stroke or brain injury. These insights guide personalized, noninvasive neuromodulation treatments aimed at specific goals, “whether that’s hand function or safer movement,” Dr. Handiru notes. Similarly, Kiran K. Karunakaran, PhD, senior research scientist, Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research, is using AI and machine learning to better understand the mechanics underlying deficits, tailor treatments, and improve precision in rehabilitation for stroke, brain injury, and older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
lab to life In one study, Dr. Karunakaran is testing the C-Mill, an augmented-reality treadmill that combines cognitive and motor training, to help improve walking, balance, attention, and reaction time.
Gail Forrest, PhD, director, Tim and Caroline Reynolds Center for Spinal Stimulation, is advancing precision technologies for people with spinal cord injury. Her team combines noninvasive transcutaneous stimulation and surgically implanted epidural stimulation with imaging, AI-enabled tools, real-time neural mapping, robotics, and activitybased training. This integrated approach helps researchers better understand the science of recovery and how therapy, when matched to individual needs, can produce meaningful functional gains.
The difference you make
Your support allows Kessler Foundation researchers to test early ideas, launch pilot studies, and gather the evidence needed to attract larger funding.
Thanks to you, promising technologies can move from the lab into studies that are grounded in people’s goals, shaped by participant feedback, and focused on improving daily life. You help make progress possible—not someday, but now.
Reality check As a teenager, Johan McHugh survived a car crash but sustained a traumatic brain injury that severely impacted his mobility, learning, and memory. Today, however, he is rebuilding his life: studying horticulture, volunteering at a community garden, following soccer, and inspiring others with TBI. Through Kessler Foundation’s donor-supported, augmentedreality study, Johan practices walking while navigating challenges that mirror daily life. He’s now able to walk unassisted, use technology on his own, and even balance on one leg. The experience has been motivating and fun, he says, and he would “definitely recommend” that others enroll in a Kessler Foundation research trial.
As a participant in research on cognitive and motor training using an augmented-reality treadmill, Johan McHugh (left and above) can now walk unassisted, use technology on his own, and even balance on one leg.
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► e m p l o y m e n t
m a t t e r s
The dream Can innovative work strategies expand opportunities and improve outcomes for people with disabilities? Employment is more than a paycheck. Yes, it is a means to financial security and independence, but equally important, it supports physical, cognitive, and emotional recovery. Work provides individuals with a sense of purpose, community, and pride. Yet meaningful employment remains out of reach for many with disabilities. To better prepare individuals to leverage their strengths, obtain a job, and build new connections, Kessler Foundation researchers are turning breakthrough ideas into effective tools that improve overall health outcomes.
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paycheck to The doing Research is leading to practical tools to prepare for employment, advance careers, and thrive on the job. “Our goal is to help people see their strengths clearly and carry that confidence into the interview and the workplace,” says Helen M. Genova, PhD, associate director, Center for Autism Research. She developed KF-Stride®, a positive psychology-based training tool that helps autistic young adults identify their strengths, communicate them effectively, and better present themselves to employers. For John O’Neill, PhD, director, Center for Employment and Disability Research, employment goals are an integral part of rehabilitation and recovery. He advances return-to-work support for people with spinal cord injury and stroke from the onset, well before they leave the rehabilitation setting. In addition, Dr. O’Neill and his collaborators share data through National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) reports that help policymakers, providers, and employers better understand the current job climate for people with disabilities.
On another front, Ada X. Chen, PhD, research scientist, Center for Employment and Disability Research, is exploring work life after cancer. She is gathering insights about job quality, satisfaction, cognition, depression, pain, fatigue, and the support survivors need to thrive on the job and in daily life.
purpose
Making strides Job interviews felt overwhelming for Gabriel Schaerf (left, with Dr. Genova). Through KF-Stride, a groundbreaking online program that combines animation, practice interviews, and hands-on coaching, Gabriel, who is on the autism spectrum, began to see the process differently. Mock interviews helped him understand what employers notice and the importance of
The difference you make
recognizing his own strengths, including honesty and humility. He also learned that creativity is
Donors like you move research beyond discovery and into the lives of people who can benefit from it.
more than artistic talent. “It’s how you respond to someone
Because of you, research becomes the guidance clinicians can use, tools educators can share, information employers can act on, and confidence people with disabilities can carry forward.
or how you handle a certain situation,” says Gabriel. He gratefully acknowledges donor support in “People see their strengths and carry that confidence into the workplace,” says Dr. Helen Genova.
creating these tools. “I don’t think I could have made this kind of progress without Kessler Foundation.” DRAWN TOGETHER 2026
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► t h i n k i n g
b e y o n d
brain gains The doing
Tailoring innovative cognitive therapies to how each person thinks, learns, and heals is key.
To address spatial neglect, a condition that reduces awareness of people, objects, or space on one side, Peii Chen, PhD, assistant director, Center for Stroke Rehabilitation Research, developed Kessler Foundation Neglect Assessment Process, or KF-NAP®. This protocol, originally designed for stroke survivors and now used with other populations, helps rehabilitation teams identify neglect, implement care plans, and even predict fall risk.
The dream
Can cognitive rehabilitation research in other areas of study be adapted to improve daily life for individuals across conditions—from stroke and traumatic brain injury to multiple sclerosis and even aging?
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Difficulties with memory, attention, and language are common after stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, or other neurological disorders, making everyday tasks a challenge. To enhance daily functioning and advance recovery, Kessler Foundation researchers are applying what they learn in one area of study to help other populations, multiplying the impact of every discovery.
Other approaches target different cognitive challenges. Olga Boukrina, PhD, assistant director, Center for Stroke Rehabilitation Research, uses noninvasive brain stimulation, aerobic exercise, and advanced neuroimaging to advance individualized treatment for stroke survivors with language impairments.
multiplied Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD, director, Centers for Neuropsychology, Neuroscience, and Traumatic Brain Injury Research, focuses on learning and memory. She developed Kessler Foundation modified Story Memory Technique, or KF-mSMT®, a noninvasive protocol to improve learning and memory in people with cognitive impairment due to stroke, TBI, MS, or even aging.
From injury to advocacy Following a near-fatal car crash that resulted in a traumatic brain injury, Hillary Hartnett (above, and with her family, at left) enrolled in a Kessler Foundation spatial neglect study. The experience was life-changing. “With each session, I got better,”
The difference you make Thanks to you, each new population studied deepens understanding and helps refine treatment. “The generosity of our donors is absolutely essential,” acknowledges Dr. Chiaravalloti. “Your support moves research from insight to impact, equipping scientists with cuttingedge imaging, interactive devices, and algorithmic tools that help test new ideas, personalize care, and extend progress across conditions. With every breakthrough, you help bring real-world recovery within reach for more people.”
Hillary says. “I realized, this is what I need to do: be involved in research and this community.” Today, Hillary is an advocate, author, and support group leader, and is also participating in two more studies. “Finding my voice helped me come back to myself, and I know I can help others living with TBI,” she says. “Your support creates lifelines to recovery, connection, and purpose.” DRAWN TOGETHER 2026
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► p r o g r e s s
i n
m o t i o n
Research superhero Seven-year-old Colin Witte, who uses a walker for mobility, was excited when he learned he would be among the first children in the country to try a pediatric robotic exoskeleton. “I named it Iron Man…
steps The dream
Can children with cerebral palsy benefit from the same robotic technology that helps adults regain mobility?
walking in it made me feel powerful,” Colin says. “I felt like I had strong legs.” In this novel study, researchers tested the safety and feasibility of robotic gait training for children, and found encouraging gains in mobility, balance, and movement—including an 80 percent increase in step count. Thanks to your support, this young trailblazer is bringing his newfound confidence to school, sports, and everyday kid fun. 12
Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in childhood, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, one of today’s most promising mobility technologies, robotic exoskeletons, has rarely been studied in children. That realization led Kessler Foundation researchers Karen J. Nolan, PhD, and Ghaith J. Androwis, PhD, to determine if this technology could be adapted to help children with cerebral palsy build strength, confidence, and independence earlier in life.
“I named it Iron Man,” says Colin. “Walking in it made me feel powerful.”
to independence The doing
Early results of the pilot study are promising, with performance on a key walking test more than doubling.
“We know that starting rehabilitation as early as possible is a huge indicator of long-term success,” says Dr. Androwis, assistant director, Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research. “We believe this pilot study will have a high impact on the pediatric population.” Early results of the study, designed to test the safety, feasibility, and impact of pediatric exoskeleton-assisted gait training, show clear gains. In a small group of children with cerebral palsy, participants improved their mobility on several important measures, including walking 119 percent better on a ten-meter walk test.
What makes these results especially powerful is their potential to personalize rehabilitation. “We want to help young children be able to sit at a desk in a classroom and keep up with their friends on the playground,” says Dr. Nolan, associate director, Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research. “We want to optimize their mobility in a way that lets them be kids.”
“We want to optimize their mobility… so they can be kids,” says Dr. Karen Nolan, above, behind Colin, with the team.
The difference you make Your support gives scientists the freedom to pursue promising ideas that can lead to improved care and outcomes. Pilot studies like this one, made possible through your generosity, help our researchers gather the evidence needed to compete for larger grants, refine new interventions, and bring innovation closer to the people who need it most. Because of you, children with cerebral palsy may have greater opportunities to move with confidence, participate fully, and experience the simple joys of childhood. DRAWN TOGETHER 2026
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► 2 0 2 5
K e s s l e r
Thank you.
S o c i e t y
you make dreams
As a Kessler Society member, you continue the illustrious legacy of Henry H. Kessler, MD, PhD, who founded Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation after serving in the Second World War. His vision was “to treat the whole individual… to help people successfully regain physical, mental, social, vocational, and economic usefulness to the fullest possible degree.” Thanks to your generosity, people with disabilities can restore their function and mobility, improve cognition, and secure meaningful jobs and careers.
Kessler Society membership is extended to friends who make annual gifts totaling $500 or more to Kessler Foundation. We’re proud to recognize these individuals, families, and organizations in our 2025 Honor Roll.
Champions
We are so grateful for your shared vision and commitment.
Lisa J. Peterson and Daniel J. Peterson
$100,000+
Beijing Blue Tentacle
The Derfner Foundation Rick Gropper
The John and Deb Gross Family Foundation The Hearst Foundations
Alfiero and Lucia Palestroni Foundation Tim and Caroline Reynolds / The Reynolds Foundation Anonymous
real
Yuni Choi
The Cormac Group Crewcial Partners
Francine and Michael P. Davis Ellen and Rodger L. DeRose
Estate of Dorothy Katherine Stengele
Joy and Avi Avidan
Betty Ann and Jack Cannell
Myrna and Leonard Comerchero / Selma T. and Jacques H. Mitrani Foundation
William Gilman
Judith and Russell L. Carson
The Walter Henry Freygang Foundation
Dean Janeway Endowment Fund at New Jersey Health Foundation
Dr. and Mrs. A. R. Giaquinto
The Howard S. and Deborah Jonas Foundation
Liz and David Lowenstein
The Carson Family Charitable Trust
Shirley and Marty Diamond
FBT Gibbons
Carol and Lawrence J. Gelber
Morgan Stanley
Reitman Foundation Fund
Henry G. Stifel, III, and Mary Shea-Stifel Susan and Stephen G. Sudovar Understood for All
Wakefern Food Corporation Anonymous
DRAWN TOGETHER 2026
Samantha and Joseph Carnevale
$10,000-$24,999
$25,000-$99,999
Stuart and Leslie G. Milsten
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Alan Buckwalter
Benefactors
David L. Legow and Sarit S. Catz
Dr. Kessler with a patient in the early days of Kessler Institute.
$5,000-$9,999
Ambassadors
MaryAnn and Dean Janeway
“Rehabilitation is the precious gift of hope translated into action.”
Patrons
Debra and Robert M. Goodman Lesley and Neil H. Greenstein Michelle and David Margolis
Helen and Thanassis Mazarakis Rick and Paraskevi Muller Novartis Corporation
Glenn M. and Marilyn B. Reiter Lindsey and Tyler Rhoten
Richard and Linda Ritholz
Marion and Michael A. Saffer Ellen Salsburg
Jerry J. Suk, Jr.
Ellen and John Germain
Terri and Michael Goldberg Susan Goodin
Alyce C. Halchak, Esq. Linda D. Howard
Rhona and George H. Jacobs
Christine and Robert A. Kleinert Peter Lasser and Cynthia Potter Gerald C. Legow Tobey Lipschitz
Livingston Post Acute Sean Masterson
Mary Anne McDonald and Joseph F. Benning Carol and Mark L. Pollard Barry Pool
The Philip W. Riskin Charitable Foundation Andrew Rubenstein
Lyn Rosensweig and Bruce M. Schnelwar Saul M. Simon
Sunrise ShopRite
Susan and Guy M. Tufo Valley National Bank
Thomas and Mieke A. Venino Mary Lou and Bill Weisser
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K e s s l e r
S o c i e t y
Sponsors
$1,000-$4,999 Affirmed Home Care Joan Alberto
Anne and Victor M. Ammons Applause Home Care Laurence S. Aronson
Henry and Diana Asher Linda Bacha
Martin Barber
Kerry and Brian Barringer Mehmed Bayram Yin Becker
Mr. and Mrs. Ira Berkowitz
Thomas W. Berry and Theresa A. Berry / Berry Family Fund Peter J. Bondy
Lynn and Douglas A. Borck Josh Breighner
Bob and Julie Breighner
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Bussani Mobility Tracy R. Cate
Soohuck Chun Sidney Church
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center Gayle L. Czeizler Shelena Daniels
John DeLuca, PhD, and Mrs. Carmen Fritsche DeLuca Steven Diamond
Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD Ekso Bionics
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Aaron Essner
Eleonore and Russell McCabe
Sean Flaherty
Mary Rose Migliazza, Esq., and Carl Guzzo, Jr.
Anne Estabrook Fox Rothschild
Dr. Bruce M. Gans and Mrs. Linda Gans Alan and Marion Garfield Saverio Garruto, CPA Thomas P. Giblin Cherie Giraud Lynn Glasser
Samantha Good Grassi Advisors
Tracey Gumienny Edward Halk
Dana and Peter Hopper
Heather and Michael R. Herz Meg and Howard Jacobs
Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest Elaine and Dan Katz
Linda and Jay H. Katz Mary Kennon
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation Daphne and Richard S. Kessler Anna and Steven Kirshblum Felicia and Fred Kruvant Karin and John Kukral John O. Lasser
Margarita and Castor Losada Mandelbaum Barrett
Leslie and Barry R. Mandelbaum Donna and Tom Margetts / The Margetts Foundation
Patricia and Winslow M. Marston Matia Mobility
Matthew McDevitt
Wendy and Nikhil Minocha Thandeka Mudavanhu Barbara Muroff
Sanjay Narain and Geeta Sanjay Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen NK Architects
Northeast Capital Group Numotion Foundation Karen Olson
Therese and Thomas Paragano Petry Engineering
Michele Pignatello and Daniel Cordasco Arik Rashkes
Donna and Michael Ratliff Randi and Rob Rudnick
Sara-Ann and Robert Sanders Ronnie Slevin
Stephanie and Warren Spar Ellen and Richard A. Stall Seth R. Stoller, MD Stryker
Ilene K. Tamburri Brenda Tarulli TD Bank
Velochair Company Wandercraft Jeffrey Way Withum
Anonymous
Members $500-$999 ABC Medical
Balance Back to Life PT
Debra and Jonathan Bell
Barbara and Howard S. Bender Caucus Educational Corp
Nancy and Nicholas Chiaravalloti Cushman & Wakefield Jessica Doerner
Marcia Solkoff and Barnet Eskin Joseph Falkenstein Valerie Fraser
Jennifer and Andrew Gandolfo Helen M. Genova, PhD, and Matthew E. Giangrante, MD Shelby and Jordan Grimaldi Hollister
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
Opportunity Project
Legacy Circle
Patient Care
We are grateful to these friends who have included Kessler Foundation in their estate plans.
Raymond Patete
Permobil Foundation
Catherine and Vincent J. Pignatello Geraldine Ponto, Esq. Premio Foods PSEG
Albert E. Roemer, Jr. Stephen Rush
Susan and Richard M. Sandler Christine and Philip A. Taylor Owen M. Toolen, III
The UPS Foundation Oscar B. Valdepenas
Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports Margaret and Paul T. Zeuner Donald and Joan Zief
John J. Brauss, Jr.
Vincent Comperatore
Jane and Joseph L. Concato David Legow
Barbara and Gary S. Lewis Kenneth P. Middleton Deborah Perelmuter
Glenn M. and Marilyn B. Reiter Joanne and Fred Salzmann Ryan Schinman
James S. Schmitt
Stephen G. Sudovar Guy M. Tufo
Anonymous
Susan Rosenthal-Jay and Mark H. Jay, Esq. Punam and Satish Kashyap Jane and Andy Kessler
Walter and Debbie Kneis Mrs. Blanche Lerner
Larry and Merle R. Lomrantz Morgan Luongo
Karol and Brian A. Madden Jane Mitchell Kevin Munoz
NJM Insurance Group
William J. and Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation John H. O’Neill, PhD, and Suzy O’Neill
DRAWN TOGETHER 2026
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► 2 0 2 5
K e s s l e r
Trustees Joseph Carnevale Michael P. Davis
Rodger L. DeRose
Lawrence J. Gelber William Gilman Terri Goldberg
Neil Greenstein
Alyce C. Halchak Michael Herz
George H. Jacobs
S o c i e t y Barbara Lewis
Elizabeth Lowenstein W. Thomas Margetts
Antonia S. Marotta-Brinton Mary Anne McDonald Mark L. Pollard
Glenn M. Reiter
Wendy M. Richman Bruce Schnelwar Allen J. Sinisgalli
Stephen G. Sudovar
David Legow
David Margolis
Helen Mazarakis
William F. Owen, Jr. Lisa Peterson
Michael A. Saffer Dara Sblendorio
► m o r e
w a y s
t o
Every breakthrough starts with people who choose to act. Turn your passion into progress. Celebrate a milestone, honor a loved one, or bring your community together around a cause that matters. When you create a fundraiser for Kessler Foundation, you’re helping advance rehabilitation research and create new possibilities for people with disabilities.
Saul Simon
Henry G. Stifel, III
One gift. Twice the possibility.
Guy M. Tufo
Thomas M. Venino, Jr. Diane Zezza
Trustees Emeriti John R. Cannell
Richard C. Fowler, Jr.
Alexander R. Giaquinto Robert H. Herz Dean Janeway
John O. Lasser
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To learn more about the research your support makes possible, scan the code below or visit KesslerFoundation.org/giving
► y o u r
g i v e
Many employers will match charitable donations made by their employees, often dollar for dollar. That means your gift to Kessler Foundation can go twice as far in advancing research and creating opportunities for people with disabilities.
g i f t
a t
w o r k
Just a few ways your generosity helps transform lives...
Where to begin
Scan the code or go to KesslerFoundation.org/ fundraise
▼
$25,000
Sponsors one research participant with spinal cord injury in a transcutaneous spinal stimulation study
Start a fundraiser. Share your story. Shape what’s possible.
$15,000
Sponsors one research participant with brain injury, stroke, or MS in a study to restore mobility using a robotic exoskeleton
$10,000
Sponsors one research participant in a study exploring new treatments using regenerative rehabilitation
$7,500
Sponsors one research participant with brain injury or MS in a study to improve thinking, learning, and memory
$5,000
Sponsors one research participant in a study to improve quality of life after spinal cord injury
Match your gift Scan the code or go to KesslerFoundation.org/ match
▼
$5,000
Make your gift. Check for a match. Double the impact.
Sponsors one research participant in a study to treat hidden disabilities after stroke
$3,000
Covers the cost of one study’s Institutional Review Board approval, required to protect research participants
$2,500
Underwrites a functional MRI scan and analysis to determine changes in the brain or spinal cord
$1,000
Covers the cost of one study’s Institutional Review Board renewal
$500
Covers the cost of recruiting a research participant
DRAWN TOGETHER 2026
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► f u n
f o r
a l l
Fall Fest 2025 brought Kessler Foundation’s dreamers and doers together for a day of food, fun, learning, and connection. People with disabilities, caregivers, families, researchers, and friends gathered for a joyful celebration of accessibility, inclusion, and possibility. Guests got an up-close look at Kessler Foundation research and the people and technologies turning ideas into progress. Thanks to you, that spirit of discovery continues—advancing rehabilitation research, employment opportunities, and fuller participation in everyday life.
Come to Fall Fest 2026! Sunday, Oct. 4 Noon–3:00 PM Kessler Campus West Orange, NJ
Visit kesslerfoundation.org/fall-fest or scan the code to learn more.
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DRAWN TOGETHER 2026
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Thank you.
120 Eagle Rock Avenue, Suite 100 East Hanover, NJ 07936-3147 Tel. 973.324.8430 | Fax 973.386.1361 @KesslerFoundation | @KesslerFdn @KesslerFdn | @Kessler-Foundation @KesslerFoundation KesslerFoundation.org