FIGHT. LIVE. LOVE. HEAL.
FIGHT. LIVE. LOVE. HEAL.
The Board of Trustees has chosen to continue its support of Casa Colina, one of the country's foremost rehabilitation facilities for those with brain injuries and other neurological trauma. In 2008, we provided a large grant to Casa Colina to purchase an advanced therapy unit called the Gaitrite 14' Walkway System. This device monitors the walking patterns of patients with TBI and thus enables therapists to improve a patient's ability to walk much more quickly and efficiently than would conventional methods. There is tremendous need for this system at Casa Colina and it will be used to treat thousands of patients a year.
Past giving to Casa Colina:
In 2007, we granted Casa Colina $25,000 to purchase five augmentative/alternative communication devices (ACDs). ACDs give TBI patients who have lost the ability to speak an alternative way to communicate. In 2006, we made a grant to Casa Colina for the housing and long-term therapy of one soldier suffering from TBI. The home is affectionately called "Timbo House." Our past grant continues to provide this soldier and his family with 40 months of daily care and therapy that they need. We have also funded the addition of six beds to Casa Colina's lifetime care facility.
The Brain Injury Association of New Jersey is a non-profit organization that brings together people with brain injury, their families and friends, and concerned allied health professionals to improve the quality of life people experience after brain injury. Their mission is to support and advocate for individuals affected by brain injury and raise public awareness through education and prevention. We have worked with the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey since our inception to identify worthy candidates for our Timbo at Home small grants program.
Part of our large grant will go towards upgrading the association's information and resource service capability, including existing computer software and hardware. Such support will allow the organization to meet the increased frequency of TBI in the state and services requested.
We will also fund 10 TBI patients to attend the TREK camp this summer. TREK is the Association's weeklong residential camp program. It provides a week of independence, recreation and socialization for adults with brain injury, while their caregivers enjoy a week of respite. Campers take part in activities such as art, dance, poetry, swimming, boating, outdoor sports and nature study. TREK is designed to serve adults, age 16 and older, with a primary diagnosis of brain injury.
