Kessler Foundation 2023 Impact Report

Changing the lives of people with disabilities

what you start here is

felt everywhere

2023 IMPACT REPORT

Independence.

Inclusivity.

Innovation.

Your generous support makes all this possible. And more.

You accelerate groundbreaking research. Thanks to you, we can explore new ideas, conduct pilot studies, and gather the data to transform the care, outcomes, and employment opportunities for people with neurological disabilities and developmental disorders. Your impact on adults and children with traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, MS, and autism is life-changing.

Your gift keeps giving. For every dollar of support from our donors over the past three years, our researchers

secured two dollars and thirty-three cents in additional funding for their vital work – in effect, more than doubling the difference you make.

We call this the impact of one. Just as one droplet of

water has a ripple effect, so do you. Whether championing our pioneering research, advancing postdoctoral training, or charting new pathways to

employment, your impact is felt every day across Kessler Foundation and beyond.

We are profoundly grateful for your support and the

difference you make in improving the lives of people with disabilities.

On behalf of Kessler Foundation, our sincere thanks.

Rodger DeRose

Michele Pignatello

President and CEO

Vice President and Chief Development Officer

1

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YOUR IMPACT: REPRESENTATION 2-3

ALSO IN THIS REPORT: STROLL ’N ROLL 14-15 KESSLER SOCIETY 16-21

every

empower

Engaging our communities brings critical perspective to rehabilitation research.

))))

)))) )

))

Researchers, like Dr. Helen Genova, listen to and act on the community’s experience.

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w

ho understands the challenges of living with a disability better than those who face them every day? Their lived experience makes people with disabilities a most valuable and vital partner in rehabilitation research. Their insights into the physical, functional, and cognitive issues that accompany spinal cord injury, brain injury, neurological conditions, including multiple sclerosis, and autism, help Kessler Foundation researchers formulate, redefine, or expand the scope of studies.

“Part of our responsibility as researchers is to listen, learn from, and respect our constituents’ perspective.

With their input, we gain a greater

voice understanding of the issues at hand, enabling us to better identify meaningful, practical interventions that foster independence and improve the quality of life for these communities,” says Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD, director, Center for Spinal Cord Injury Research at Kessler Foundation.

While study participants and support group members often express their thoughts, a more formal process is in place to ensure that the voices of our communities Community are heard. Thanks perspectives to your support, Consumer Advisory contribute Boards have been to new established across research. several research Dr. Nancy areas to engage Chiaravalloti diverse groups of those with disabilities in meaningful and often enlightening discussions on a regular basis.

“

”

“What we gain from our board members is immense… immeasurable.

They openly share what’s important to them,” says Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD, director of the Centers for Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Research and Traumatic Brain Injury Research, adding, “Their perspective frequently contributes to new or different avenues of research.”

Helen Genova, PhD, associate director of the Foundation’s Center for Autism Research, concurs.

“Research doesn’t exist in a vacuum, nor can it succeed without a true partnership with those whose lives will ultimately be impacted by our work. Thanks to our ‘consumer consultants’ and the unwavering support of our donors, meaningful change is possible.”

YOUR IMPACT: REPRESENTATION

Your support helps Nadine and Nassan change the status quo.

Nadine Wright-Arbubakrr, whose son Nassan is on the autism spectrum, experienced first-hand the lack of accessible, affordable resources in her community. In response, she founded Nassan’s Place, an educational and recreational program based in Newark, NJ, to assist families like hers. More recently, she joined the Consumer Advisory Board at Kessler Foundation’s Center for Autism Research, noting, “Through advocacy and research – and with the generous support of the Reitman Foundation and donors like you – we’re increasing awareness, and even starting to examine the socioeconomic factors that further impact children with autism in underserved communities. The resulting interventions could be transformative.”

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Postdoctoral fellowships create a framework for achievement in rehabilitation research.

i

am often asked about the most gratifying aspects of my work,” says John DeLuca, PhD, senior vice president, research and training at Kessler Foundation, “and one of them is mentoring the next wave of research scientists. Each of our postdoctoral fellows brings their own interests, intentions, and experience to the program. It is our responsibility as mentors to guide them and foster their passion for the field of rehabilitation research.”

amplify

Early in his career, Dr. DeLuca recognized that a pool of highly trained scientists was needed to expand the field. He worked to formally establish a research department at Kessler Foundation and initially secured funding for three postdoctoral candidates.

The rest, of course, is history. Today, in collaboration with the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, and thanks to your support, the program has graduated 126 rehabilitation researchers from 11 countries, many of whom have continued their careers at the Foundation.

Dr. John DeLuca, above, calls diversity the hallmark of the program.

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US

Didactic learning, grant writing, hands-on research, and manuscript preparation are all part of this multidisciplinary, two-year mentorship program. “Through the support of our donors, along with grant funding,

Finland

UK Portugal

Canada

The program’s hallmark is its diversity.

It draws physicians, physical and occupational therapists, biomedical and biomechanical engineers, and others with advanced medical, clinical, and scientific degrees whose common goal is to improve the outcomes and quality of life for people with disabilities.

France Spain

120+

researchers trained

knowledge

Your support funds the building blocks of learning and creates change.

In research, one discovery invariably leads to another.

For Gail Forrest, PhD, director of the Tim and Caroline Reynolds Center for Spinal Cord Stimulation at Kessler Foundation, these systematic building blocks are key in understanding biomechanics – the science of movement – and functional recovery after spinal injury.

we provide fellows with an unparalleled educational experience: one that prepares them to become leaders in our field,” notes Dr. DeLuca.

“Whether in research, scientific, or academic settings, I’m proud to say our fellows are making their mark nationally and internationally. This has helped accelerate the growth of all our research programs, further benefiting people with disabilities and positioning Kessler Foundation as the premier rehabilitation research entity of its kind in the world.”

“My postdoc fellowship at the Foundation prepared me to build on our ever-increasing knowledge of the spinal cord and its relationship with the brain, motor function, and cardiovascular, respiratory, and other systems, and explore new research frontiers,” says Dr. Forrest.

Dr. Gail Forrest’s fellowship led to innovation in SCI treatment.

India Korea Singapore

YOUR IMPACT: LEADERSHIP

Philippines

In one promising study, a participant who sustained a paralyzing spinal cord injury more than ten years ago demonstrated voluntary movement in his leg following transcutaneous – through the skin – spinal stimulation.

Similarly, a participant with very minimal hand and arm function regained purposeful movement, such as grasping and picking up a glass.

“We are encouraged by these early results, and deeply grateful to our donors who share our commitment to pursuing these pioneering interventions.”

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care for the Dr. Jeanne Zanca outlines the new caregiver study.

What do families living with spinal cord injury really need? Thanks to you, they’re telling us.

e

veryone knows that spinal cord injury impacts the individual. But often we forget how it reverberates through an entire family. The impact can be especially hard on family caregivers, who may experience depression, anxiety, poor physical functioning, and resentment.

To date, research has highlighted these challenges but few studies sought input directly from SCI caregivers to better understand their needs. SCI professionals were left with a significant knowledge gap – until now, thanks to support from Lisa and Dan Peterson, the Reitman Foundation and you.

Lisa and Dan Peterson: living with SCI, and giving back.

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Denise C. Fyffe, PhD, senior research scientist in the Centers for Spinal Cord Injury Research and Outcomes and Assessment Research, and Jeanne M. Zanca, MPT, PhD, assistant director of the Center for Spinal Cord Injury Research, are embarking on a new study to gain knowledge directly from SCI caregivers. The scientists

caregiver

YOUR IMPACT: UNDERSTANDING

aim to meet with caregivers to explore relationships, socioeconomic factors, geography, and access to care. Once the data are collected and analyzed, findings will be shared with people living with SCI, their loved ones, and SCI professionals, and used to help address the unmet needs of caregivers.

Lisa Peterson, whose husband, Dan, has lived with SCI since 2019, intimately understands the need for answers. “It wasn’t easy getting used to our life with SCI,” Lisa remembers.

“Daily – sometimes hourly – I had to make snap decisions about Dan’s care at home without guidance.”

“It’s crucial to give SCI caregivers the chance to voice their experiences,” advises Dr. Zanca. “In the struggle to find answers to a myriad of questions about how best to care for their loved one, the caregiver often feels alone, exhausted, and unsupported. We must learn exactly how to make the burden of care more manageable, so caregivers’ lives are not diminished.”

After receiving excellent care at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, Lisa and Dan wanted to give back.

They focused their support on SCI research at Kessler Foundation.

Based on her own experience, Lisa felt it was critical to address caregiver needs.

“I gained much of my practical knowledge from online SCI support groups and chat rooms. That support also gave me

an inside view of the challenges my caregiver peers experienced,” Lisa says. “When given the opportunity to support the new study, Dan and I didn’t hesitate.”

Dr. Fyffe explains, “Lisa was instrumental in helping shape many focus group questions in our investigation.

Her firsthand knowledge of learning to live with SCI is guiding our study.”

Lisa, who joined the Foundation’s Board of Trustees in 2021, recounts, “As I’ve learned more about the breadth and scope of Kessler Foundation research, I am overwhelmed by the considerable talent and unwavering dedication of the staff. I’m proud to support this study to help the SCI community. The results will have a profound impact on people with SCI and their caregivers.”

Dr. Denise Fyffe credits Lisa for her key role in guiding the study’s inquiries.

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rehab

regenerative Your generosity transforms lives through innovative rehabilitation research.

j

ust six years ago, it was merely an idea. Today, the Derfner-Lieberman Laboratory for Regenerative Rehabilitation Research is a global leader in this multidisciplinary field.

Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD, and Gerard Malanga, MD, recognized the untapped potential in combining regenerative medicine with rehabilitation research and partnered to create the lab. With support from the Derfner Foundation and you, they founded the Derfner-Lieberman Fellowship. Since Dr. Malanga’s untimely passing

8

in 2022, his colleague, Jay Bowen, DO, joined the team. Nathan Hogaboom, PhD, their first postdoctoral fellow, now plays a pivotal role as lab co-director.

“Gerry advocated passionately for this research, foreseeing how it would transform care,” Dr. Dyson-Hudson recalls. “Lessons learned under his leadership guide us in developing new treatments for relieving pain and restoring function.”

Building on their early success, the team has secured major grants to expand their novel lines of research.

They are currently testing the injection of an individual’s own fat tissue as a potential treatment for disabling knee pain caused by meniscus injuries or arthritis.

As Dr. Dyson-Hudson explains, “Many affected individuals, including those in the military, want to avoid knee surgery, so there’s a pressing need for effective, minimally invasive treatments.”

The team is also exploring the potential benefits of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), a noninvasive treatment that uses highintensity sound waves to stimulate healing. Marwa Amer, MD, PhD, the newest Derfner-Lieberman fellow, is testing ESWT for knee pain in a study funded by the Derfner Foundation.

Meanwhile, Dr. Hogaboom is studying whether ESWT can alleviate spasticity, a painful complication of spinal cord injury that restricts movement.

Dr. Trevor Dyson-Hudson, top, and Dr. Nathan Hogaboom lead research in pain relief and functional gains.

YOUR IMPACT: BREAKTHROUGHS

Joe’s remarkable journey.

“ESWT may offer an alternative way to treat these disabling conditions, avoiding the side effects of current drug treatments,” Dr. Hogaboom notes.

The Derfner-Lieberman Lab’s remarkable progress shows how passion, collaboration, and innovation can transform rehabilitative care.

“Partnering with the lab’s scientists has been most rewarding,” says Jay Lieberman, Derfner Foundation Trustee. “To fulfill Dr. Malanga’s vision, they are rethinking the approach to musculoskeletal conditions, one of the most common causes of disabilities. Their success will change lives.”

The team’s accomplishments are impressive, but the real impact is illustrated by Joe Monteforte’s amazing story of recovery.

Five years pain-free, Joe Monteforte joins his wife Linda, an avid race walker, for daily workouts.

A wheelchair user with spinal cord injury and debilitating shoulder pain, Joe Monteforte faced the prospect of shoulder surgery in 2017, with its long recovery and risk of complications.

Then Joe took part in the Derfner-Lieberman Lab’s first pilot study.

His pain was relieved after a single injection of his own fat tissue into his shoulder joint – a procedure called autologous micro-fragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) injection.

Five years later, Joe is still pain-free, leading an active lifestyle including daily workouts and long outings beside his wife, an avid race walker. “I use a state-ofthe-art workout facility with the newest machines,” says Joe, “so I’ve been able to intensify my exercise regimen. I’m stronger than I’ve ever been.”

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Thanks to you, Beth’s back on the ball.

Beth Holcomb has lived with multiple sclerosis for nearly twenty years.

“Symptoms come and go, but fatigue remains,” explains Beth. “I’m a fulltime pre-school teacher. I love my job, but after five days of being on my feet and keeping up with the kids, I often have no energy left. I was considering scaling back my hours.”

But then she joined Kessler Foundation’s study on the effect of aerobic walking on brain processing speed, mobility, and quality of life for people with MS. She was curious to see if this exercise would help.

It did. After completing the regimen, Beth found her stamina had increased. “Now I can continue full-time work with energy left to enjoy being with my family and friends, and even go bowling,” she says.

“This research is essential to improving quality of life for people like me.”

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For people with MS, your support is a real game-changer.

h

ealth experts agree, regular exercise can work wonders for our bodies and minds, improving mobility, lessening fatigue, and boosting mood. With a recent grant from the Dean Janeway Endowment Fund at New Jersey Health Foundation and support from donors like you, a new Kessler Foundation pilot study aims to determine whether home-based, aerobic walking exercise can reverse cognitive impairment caused by multiple sclerosis and deliver additional health benefits. Brian M. Sandroff, PhD, senior research scientist in the Center for Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Research, leads the investigation.

This novel, randomized control trial builds on the Foundation’s 13 years of exercise research. Dr. Sandroff’s team will examine 12 months of home-based, remotely delivered and supported exercises, comparing high-frequency/ high-intensity aerobic walking to mild-tomoderate walking that parallels the

walk current standard-of-care exercise often prescribed for MS patients.

“I believe this study will provide meaningful insight into developing aerobic exercise guidelines for specifically managing MS-related cognitive impairment at home and in the community,” says Dr. Sandroff. “We are hopeful that this pilot study sets the stage for the broad-scale consideration of aerobic walking exercise training for restoring cognitive functioning not improved by MS disease-modifying drugs. It may also answer the oftenasked question, ‘Does the amount or intensity of walking exercise matter?’”

If successful, this study may provide major benefits to individuals with MS. All participants should experience a general health boost, including improvements in fitness and mobility, along with a reduction in fatigue and depressive symptoms. Participants randomly assigned to the highfrequency/high-intensity group might

ing through MS

YOUR IMPACT: AUTONOMY

realize additional gains in processing speed, brain volume and connectivity, and quality of life.

Your support helps sustain and expand the work of our scientists and the potential to Imagine positively impact the lives of people a world where people with MS.

“

with MS self-manage their cognitive impairments at home.

”

Dr. Brian Sandroff

Dr. Sandroff hopes this latest endeavor will lead to a large, federally funded, multi-site trial with participants from across the US.

More than a decade of Kessler Foundation exercise research drives this latest study.

“Thanks to the Dean Janeway Endowment Fund and donors like you, we’re able to take this first, all-important step in creating actual guidelines for aerobic walking that clinicians can prescribe to their MS patients across the globe.”

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In 2022, supervisors prioritized hiring and recruiting individuals with disabilities more than they did in 2017.

78%

established or changed their accommodations provisions

job

gro

arrangements

more than

doubled

2x 12

as many organizations have centralized accommodations funds to cover modifications for employees with disabilities

Your support opens doors all over NYC…

YOUR IMPACT: ECONOMIC EQUITY

wth

Will the post-pandemic surge continue?

With your help, we gathered some promising stats.

t

he past few years have been a remarkable and historic time for the employment of people with disabilities – and the world is taking notice. Remote work became increasingly accepted, a labor shortage hit the country, new accommodations policies were implemented, and employment for people with disabilities mushroomed. Your support enabled

us to gather data on these important frontline trends. A 2022 employment and disability survey conducted by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire compared data from a similar survey conducted in 2017, providing a critical timeline analysis of the pre-pandemic, pandemic lockdown, and pandemic recovery periods.

“Today, more companies are partnering with disability organizations in their recruitment efforts,” says survey co-author John O’Neill, PhD, director, Center for Employment and Disability Research, Kessler Foundation. “And more are using outside assistance for onboarding workers with disabilities, adopting training on disability issues and cultural competence, and reaching out to government and local resources to learn more about providing accommodations,” he concludes.

Our researchers captured changes in the processes and practices employers use to recruit, hire, train, accommodate, and retain people with disabilities, as well as differences in the attitudes and commitment of supervisors and upper management.

These surveys garnered national coverage from top-tier media including The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and the LA Times. Your support raises awareness of the importance of expanding employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

In 2017, funding provided by Kessler Foundation and donors like you breathed life into NYC: ATWORK, a small-but-mighty disability employment project that supported 1,300 people with disabilities in their job search. n Six years later, the unmitigated success of NYC: ATWORK has led New York City to revamp its entire workforce development infrastructure to create an inclusive one-stop shop for job seekers of all abilities. n “We are identifying resources needed and training individuals throughout the city so people with disabilities will be able to go anywhere across the five boroughs to prepare for and connect to jobs,” says Martha Jackson, assistant commissioner, Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. “By integrating disability employment services into the wider workforce landscape, we can move thousands more New Yorkers with disabilities into employment.” n All of this progress would not have been possible without the generosity of donors like you. Your support is helping to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce, and that is a gift that will keep on giving.

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Only abilities matter at

k JOIN the FUN!

09.24.23 14

HYBRID! IN-PERSON OR VIRTUAL

essler Foundation’s 2022 Stroll ’N Roll, presented by Pfizer and Impossible Dream, was a record setter. People of all ages and abilities gathered in Verona Park, NJ, and in their own neighborhoods to prove that abilities are what matter.

Together, we raised more than $220,000 – the most ever – to advance rehabilitation research and employment for people with disabilities. The generosity of people like you made this happen! Inspiring leaders created teams of champions to give back and make a lasting impact. Our dedicated Stroll ’N Roll committee reached out to friends and family to make the event a success.

Join us this year on Sunday, September 24, from 11 AM to 2 PM. To learn more, scan the code or visit KesslerFoundation.org/SNR

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your support

a

changes

s a Kessler Society member, you champion groundbreaking rehabilitation research and employment for people with disabilities.

Because of your generosity, people gain so much: restored mobility, improved thinking, learning and memory, and meaningful jobs and careers.

Kessler Society members continue the legacy of Henry H. Kessler, MD, PhD, who founded Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation after serving in World War II. 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.”

Membership in the Kessler Society is extended to friends who make annual gifts totaling $500 or more. We're proud to recognize these individuals, families, and organizations in our 2022 roster. Thank you for your shared vision and commitment.

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Champions $100,000+

The Derfner Foundation The Howard S. and Deborah Jonas Foundation Joseph and Cheryl Marino Family Foundation Tim and Caroline Reynolds Trimech VIA Institute on Character Wallerstein Foundation for Geriatric Life Improvement Anonymous

Rehabilitation is “the precious gift of hope translated into action.

”

Dr. Henry H. Kessler

lives

YOUR IMPACT: KESSLER SOCIETY 2022

Ambassadors

Benefactors

Patrons

The Carson Family Charitable Trust

The Walter Henry Freygang Foundation

Laurance S. Aronson

Residuary Trust FBO James Cino

Gibbons P.C.

Dr. and Mrs. A. R. Giaquinto

Pastora C. Goldner

Terri and Michael Goldberg

Estate of Jerome Lowengrub

The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey

Liz and David Lowenstein

Dean Janeway Endowment Fund at New Jersey Health Foundation

Deborah Mellen

David Legow and Sarit Catz

Glenn M. and Marilyn B. Reiter

Myrna and Leonard Comerchero / Selma T. and Jacques H. Mitrani Foundation Crewcial Partners Ellen and Rodger DeRose Ekso Bionics Ellen and John Germain The William A. Hagan, Jr. Foundation Alyce C. Halchak, Esq. MaryAnn and Dean Janeway Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation Dr. Ruth G. Legow and Mr. Gerald C. Legow Michelle and David Margolis Diane and Nicholas Masucci

$25,000-$99,999

Stuart and Leslie Milsten Morgan Stanley Noreen and Richard Oelkers Alfiero and Lucia Palestroni Foundation Lisa J. Peterson and Daniel J. Peterson Pfizer Pureland Dzogchen Buddhism Society Estate of Frank Rea, Jr. Reitman Foundation Richard and Linda Ritholz The Charles and Ann Serraino Foundation Joanne Serraino Wakefern Food Corporation Anonymous

$10,000-$24,999

Pfizer Foundation Lindsey and Tyler Rhoten Marion and Michael Saffer Ellen Salsburg Erin and David Schonbraun Henry and Mary Stifel Susan and Stephen Sudovar Anonymous

$5,000-$9,999

Mary Anne McDonald, Esq. and Joseph F. Benning Mary Rose Migliazza and Carl Guzzo Novartis Corporation The Philip W. Riskin Charitable Foundation Andrew Rubenstein William Rubenstein Lyn Rosensweig and Bruce Schnelwar Saul M. Simon Susan and Guy Tufo Mary Lou and C. William Weisser

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Sponsors

Diane and Saverio Garruto

Marsh McLennan

Cherie Giraud

Eleonore and Russell McCabe

Global Charitable

Rita Menz

Debra and Robert Goodman

Mightycause Charitable Foundation

Nancy and Carl Gropper

The Miller Family Endowment

Jen and Michael Halchak

Wendy and Nikhil Minocha

Barbara Herbert

NK Architects

Heather and Michael Herz

Northeast Capital Group

Bob and Louise Herz

Numotion Foundation

Homewatch CareGivers

Karen Olson

Dana and Peter Hopper

John H. O’Neill, PhD and Suzy O’Neill

The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey

Petry Engineering LLC

Linda D. Howard

Michele Pignatello and Daniel Cordasco

Integra Foundation

Carol and Mark Pollard

Investors Foundation

Jane Powell

Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals

Lynne and M. John Richard

Meg and Howard Jacobs

Rizon Labs

Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest

Randi and Rob Rudnick

Francine and Michael Davis

Selim Kaplan

Sara-Ann and Robert Sanders

Dr. John DeLuca and Mrs. Carmen Fritsche DeLuca

Elaine and Dan Katz

Stephanie and Warren Spar

Mary Kennon

Seth R. Stoller, MD

Steven Kirshblum, MD and Anna Kirshblum

Jane and Leopold Swergold

Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Kleinert

TD Bank

Kathryn Knott

Richard Travia

Karin and John Kukral

Kevin Trocciola

James Elliot

Nancy and John O. Lasser

The Wawa Foundation

Feinstein Raiss Kelin Booker and Goldstein LLC

Peter Lasser and Cynthia Potter

Bobby Windham, Jr.

Lincoln Financial Foundation

Withum

Paul Ford and Nancy Young

Mrs. Tobey Lipschitz

Anonymous (3)

Fox Rothschild LLP

Margarita and Castor Losada

Arthur J. Gallagher and Co.

Macquarie Group

Jennifer and Andrew Gandolfo

Mandelbaum Barrett, PC

Dr. and Mrs. Bruce M. Gans

The Margetts Foundation / Donna and Tom Margetts

$1,000-$4,999 Anne and Victor Ammons Henry and Diana Asher John Bae Ballem Family Foundation Martin Barber Kerry A. Barringer and Rosetta Arrigo Doug and Lynn Borck Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Matching Gift Program Mr. and Mrs. John R. Cannell Charity Clients of The Giving Block, Renaissance Charitable Nancy and Nicholas Chiaravalloti Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center The Cormac Group

Timothy Dineen Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD Will and Ann Eisner Family Foundation Elberon Development Group

Alan and Marion Garfield

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Members $500-$999

AmazonSmile Foundation Patricia E. Bader Bank of New York Mellon Michael Bennis Jacqueline Blakeley Cassandra and Scott Bollinger Peter J. Bondy Mary Ann Brigante, RN, CRRN Doris C. Brown and Leonard R. Davis B-Temia Janine Carver Leffers Tracy R. Cate Michael J. Crowley Memorial Cushman and Wakefield Steven Diamond Margi Douglas James K. Estabrook, Esq. Joseph Falkenstein Amy Farr

Punam and Satish Kashyap Jane and Andy Kessler Sue Kida PT, MHA Walter and Debbie Kneis Ravi Kumar Janelle Lavoie Blanche Lerner Dr. and Mrs. Todd A. Linsenmeyer Eric and Meg Malmborg Patricia and Winslow Marston Bernadette and Michael Miller Samuel Molesworth Barbara Muroff Robert P. Nielsen Shelby Nielsen NJM Insurance Group William J. and Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation Catherine and Vincent Pignatello Gwendolyn Ponder Premio Foods PSEG Gabe Redler

Valerie Fraser

Barbara Reynolds

Alexander Garbutt

Susan and Richard Sandler

Helen M. Genova, PhD and Matthew E. Giangrante, MD

Donald N. Schatz

Samantha Good and Darren Lumbard

Dr. and Mrs. Richard A. Stall

Amy and Jeffrey Halper Pat Hargrave Martin and Dawn Harrison David Jarvis

Dave Singh Virginia and Carl Sulzberger Owen M. Toolen III

Matching Gift Organizations In 2022, civic-minded organizations generously matched gifts made by individual donors.

American International Group Automatic Data Processing Bank of New York Mellon Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Matching Gift Program CBRE Gates Family Office The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey Johnson and Johnson Foundation Matching Gifts Program JLL Lincoln Financial Group Lord, Abbett and Co. Macy’s Macquarie Group Novartis Corporation Novo Nordisk PSEG Palo Alto Networks Pfizer Foundation Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Verisk Analytics Wiley Publishing William J. and Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation

Christy Wu Glenn Wylie, DPhil

Neil Jasey, MD

Dr. Guang Yue and Mrs. Nancy Yue

Johnson and Johnson Foundation Matching Gifts Program

Margaret and Paul Zeuner Anonymous

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Fundraisers In 2022, inspired leaders raised funds to champion research and employment for people with disabilities.

Abilitech Medical Cares Alexa Arrabito Team Center for Autism Research The Famiy of Alan M. Bader The Family of Janet Benevento The Family of Barbara Ann Bogle The Family of Susan Bondy Team CMRE - Mobility and Engineering Research 2022

The Family of Michael McCaffery The Family of Stephen Middleton Team NNL/TBI Chantay Anne Parker Lisa Peterson Christina Potter The Family of Eric M. Redler Team Reynolds Center for Spinal Stimulation Team RONIC Team SCI/O Ilene Silver Adam Small

Joanne and Fred Salzmann James A. Schmitt Guy Tufo Anonymous (2)

W. Thomas Margetts

Trustees

Mark L. Pollard

Michael P. Davis Rodger L. DeRose M. John Germain Terri Goldberg Alyce Halchak, Esq.

Tara Cron

Pete and Alison Welch

Michael A. Saffer, Esq.

Team CSRR 2022

Kathleen Woeste, Woeste’s Buckeye Brigade

Ellen Salsburg Bruce Schnelwar

Team Development/Recruitment

Brian Wolf

David Schonbraun

The Diamond Family, in Memory of Kenneth Richard Diamond

The Family of Dale Wooldridge

Saul M. Simon

The Family of André Ycre

Guy Tufo

The Family of Michael Scott Gibson

Legacy Donors

C. William Weisser

Samantha Good, Team Sam Rosalie Hannigan, Team Rosalie The Family of William J. Hannon Team HR/IT/Finance Team IRB Team JVS Kyle and Tami Kennon The Family of Rona Lubetkin

John J. Brauss, Jr. Vincent Comperatore David Legow Barbara and Gary Lewis Kenneth P. Middleton Deborah Perelmuter Glenn M. and Marilyn B. Reiter

Glenn M. Reiter, Esq. Wendy M. Richman Allen J. Sinisgalli Stephen G. Sudovar Francis A. Wood, MD

Deborah Mellen

Jessica Verney

We are grateful to these friends who have included Kessler Foundation in their estate plans.

Robert W. Parsons, Jr.

David Margolis

Elvira Martinez Condor

Cherie Giraud, In Memory of Matt and John Giraud

Mary Anne McDonald

David Legow

The Family of Patricia Smith Ilene Kaplan Tamburri

Toni Marotta-Brinton

Michael Herz, Esq.

The Kessler Foundation Communicators

The Family of Carolyn Damo

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Christine Markow, Never Give Up

Mary Rose Migliazza, Esq. Lisa Peterson

Diane Zezza

Trustees Emeriti John R. Cannell, Esq. Richard C. Fowler, Jr. Alexander R. Giaquinto Robert H. Herz John O. Lasser Barbara Lewis Elizabeth Lowenstein

...just a few To learn more about the research and inspiring stories that your support makes possible, visit KesslerFoundation.org/giving or scan here:

$25,000

Sponsors one research participant with spinal cord injury in a transcutaneous spinal stimulation study

$15,000

Sponsors one research participant with brain injury, stroke, or MS in a study to restore mobility using a robotic exoskeleton

ways every dollar

$5,000

Sponsors one research participant in a study to treat hidden disabilities after stroke

$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

makes a difference

$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

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thank you

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Changing the lives of people with disabilities