Kessler Foundation 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 President and CEO

Michele Pignatello Vice President and Chief Development Officer

empowerevery

Engaging our communities brings critical perspective to rehabilitation research.

who 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.

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

“Part of our responsibility as researchers is to listen, learn from, and respect our constituents’ perspective. With their input, we gain a greater

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 are heard. Thanks to your support, Consumer Advisory Boards have been established across several research areas to engage 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.”

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.”

Your support helps Nadine and Nassan change the status quo.

“ Community perspectives contribute to new research.”

Dr. Nancy Chiaravalloti

Postdoctoral fellowships create a framework for achievement in rehabilitation research.

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.”

iEarly 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.

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.

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,

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

knowledge

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.”

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.

“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.

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.”

care for the

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

everyone 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.

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

Dr. Jeanne Zanca outlines the new caregiver study.

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

caregiver

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.

“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.”

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.”

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.

Your generosity transforms lives through innovative rehabilitation research.

egenerativerehab

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

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.

“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.

oe’s remarkable journey.

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.”

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.”

health 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

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

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

walking through MS

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 positively impact the lives of people with MS.

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.”

“ Imagine a world where people with MS self-manage their cognitive impairments at home.”

Dr. Brian Sandroff

78%

jobgrowth

more than doubled arrangements

In 2022, supervisors prioritized hiring and recruiting individuals with disabilities more than they did in 2017. established or changed their accommodations provisions 2x

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

Your support opens doors all over NYC…

Will the post-pandemic surge continue?

With your help, we gathered some promising stats.

the 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. 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.

“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.

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.

kessler 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

your support changes

as 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.

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

Ambassadors

$25,000-$99,999

The Carson Family Charitable Trust

Residuary Trust FBO James Cino

Dr. and Mrs. A. R. Giaquinto

Terri and Michael Goldberg

The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey

Dean Janeway Endowment Fund at New Jersey Health Foundation

David Legow and Sarit Catz

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

Benefactors

$10,000-$24,999

The Walter Henry Freygang Foundation

Gibbons P.C.

Pastora C. Goldner

Estate of Jerome Lowengrub

Liz and David Lowenstein

Deborah Mellen

Pfizer Foundation

Glenn M. and Marilyn B. Reiter

Lindsey and Tyler Rhoten

Marion and Michael Saffer

Ellen Salsburg

Erin and David Schonbraun

Henry and Mary Stifel

Susan and Stephen Sudovar

Anonymous

Patrons

$5,000-$9,999

Laurance S. Aronson

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

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

Sponsors $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

Francine and Michael Davis

Dr. John DeLuca and Mrs. Carmen Fritsche DeLuca

Timothy Dineen

Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD

Will and Ann Eisner Family Foundation

Elberon Development Group

James Elliot

Feinstein Raiss Kelin Booker and Goldstein LLC

Paul Ford and Nancy Young

Fox Rothschild LLP

Arthur J. Gallagher and Co.

Jennifer and Andrew Gandolfo

Dr. and Mrs. Bruce M. Gans

Alan and Marion Garfield

Diane and Saverio Garruto

Cherie Giraud

Global Charitable

Debra and Robert Goodman

Nancy and Carl Gropper

Jen and Michael Halchak

Barbara Herbert

Heather and Michael Herz

Bob and Louise Herz

Homewatch CareGivers

Dana and Peter Hopper

The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey

Linda D. Howard

Integra Foundation

Investors Foundation

Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals

Meg and Howard Jacobs

Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest

Selim Kaplan

Elaine and Dan Katz

Mary Kennon

Steven Kirshblum, MD and Anna Kirshblum

Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Kleinert

Kathryn Knott

Karin and John Kukral

Nancy and John O. Lasser

Peter Lasser and Cynthia Potter

Lincoln Financial Foundation

Mrs. Tobey Lipschitz

Margarita and Castor Losada

Macquarie Group

Mandelbaum Barrett, PC

The Margetts Foundation / Donna and Tom Margetts

Marsh McLennan

Eleonore and Russell McCabe

Rita Menz

Mightycause Charitable Foundation

The Miller Family Endowment

Wendy and Nikhil Minocha

NK Architects

Northeast Capital Group

Numotion Foundation

Karen Olson

John H. O’Neill, PhD and Suzy O’Neill

Petry Engineering LLC

Michele Pignatello and Daniel Cordasco

Carol and Mark Pollard

Jane Powell

Lynne and M. John Richard

Rizon Labs

Randi and Rob Rudnick

Sara-Ann and Robert Sanders

Stephanie and Warren Spar

Seth R. Stoller, MD

Jane and Leopold Swergold

TD Bank

Richard Travia

Kevin Trocciola

The Wawa Foundation

Bobby Windham, Jr.

Withum

Anonymous (3)

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

Valerie Fraser

Alexander Garbutt

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

Samantha Good and Darren Lumbard

Amy and Jeffrey Halper

Pat Hargrave

Martin and Dawn Harrison

David Jarvis

Neil Jasey, MD

Johnson and Johnson Foundation

Matching Gifts Program

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

Barbara Reynolds

Susan and Richard Sandler

Donald N. Schatz

Dave Singh

Dr. and Mrs. Richard A. Stall

Virginia and Carl Sulzberger

Owen M. Toolen III

Christy Wu

Glenn Wylie, DPhil

Dr. Guang Yue and Mrs. Nancy Yue

Margaret and Paul Zeuner

Anonymous

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

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 Kessler Foundation Communicators

Elvira Martinez Condor

Tara Cron

Team CSRR 2022

The Family of Carolyn Damo

Team Development/Recruitment

The Diamond Family, in Memory of Kenneth Richard Diamond

The Family of Michael Scott Gibson

Cherie Giraud, In Memory of Matt and John Giraud

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

Christine Markow, Never Give Up

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

The Family of Patricia Smith

Ilene Kaplan Tamburri

Jessica Verney

Pete and Alison Welch

Kathleen Woeste, Woeste’s Buckeye Brigade

Brian Wolf

The Family of Dale Wooldridge

The Family of André Ycre

Legacy Donors

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

John J. Brauss, Jr.

Vincent Comperatore

David Legow

Barbara and Gary Lewis

Kenneth P. Middleton

Deborah Perelmuter

Glenn M. and Marilyn B. Reiter

Joanne and Fred Salzmann

James A. Schmitt

Guy Tufo

Anonymous (2)

Trustees

Michael P. Davis

Rodger L. DeRose

M. John Germain

Terri Goldberg

Alyce Halchak, Esq.

Michael Herz, Esq.

David Legow

David Margolis

Deborah Mellen

Mary Rose Migliazza, Esq.

Lisa Peterson

Michael A. Saffer, Esq.

Ellen Salsburg

Bruce Schnelwar

David Schonbraun

Saul M. Simon

Guy Tufo

C. William Weisser

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

W. Thomas Margetts

Toni Marotta-Brinton

Mary Anne McDonald

Robert W. Parsons, Jr.

Mark L. Pollard

Glenn M. Reiter, Esq.

Wendy M. Richman

Allen J. Sinisgalli

Stephen G. Sudovar

Francis A. Wood, MD

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

$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

ways every dollar makes a difference

$5,000

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

thankyou

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East Hanover, NJ 07936-3147

tel. 973.324.8430 | fax 973.386.1361

@KesslerFdn | /KesslerFoundation

@KesslerFdn | Kessler Foundation

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Changing the lives of people with disabilities