Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation Plays Santa To 74 Organizations; Awards $630,983 to 74 Nonprofit Organizations

12/19/2002

From: Julie Kwon of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, 973-379-2690 ext. 121

SPRINGFIELD, N.J., Dec. 19 -- Christmas came early this year to 74 organizations as the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation (CRPF) announced today that it has awarded $630,983 in Quality of Life and Health Promotion grants as part of its second funding cycle of 2002.

The Quality of Life Program, conceived by Dana Reeve, CRPF Director and Chair of the Quality of Life committee, are given to programs or projects that improve the daily lives of people living with disabilities, particularly spinal cord injuries. Funding is awarded twice yearly to programs that provide one-on-one assistance through access, advocacy, education, recreation, and technology, among others.

The Health Promotion grants are an arm of the Quality of Life Program, which seek to remove societal and environmental barriers that limit the abilities of individuals with paralysis to participate in life activities. Participation in these activities improves physical and emotional health and prevents secondary conditions for persons living with paralysis. The Health Promotion awards are funded through the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center made possible by a grant that CRPF received from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In this cycle, CRPF proudly supports Just One Break, Inc. located in New York, NY and their initiative to place qualified individuals with disabilities into competitive employment with a $10,000 Quality of Life grant. Another $10,000 Quality of Life grant was awarded to the Kansas Association of Centers for Independent Living of Topeka, KS. This important funding will be utilized to expand the Association's successful statewide Youth Leadership Forum for high school juniors and seniors with disabilities.

Northeastern University of Boston, MA was awarded a $25,000 Health Promotion grant in support of the Center for the Study of Sport in Society's Disability in Sport Initiative. The grant will support and promote the inclusion and integration of athletes with disabilities into mainstream sports organizations. A $26,225 Health Promotion grant went to the Memorial Foundation of Hollywood, FL to support its Connections Program that helps people with spinal cord injuries and their families to improve overall health and lifestyle and to maximize independence and adjustment following their injuries.

A complete list of both the Quality of Life and Health Promotion grant recipients is available at http://www.christopherreeve.org/qlgrants/qlgrantsmain.cfm

"Grants made through CRPF's Quality of Life program fund organizations that provide significant and much-needed assistance to people living with disabilities," said Dana Reeve. "The Health Promotion arm of the Quality of Life program serves to remove the hurdles that exist in everyday society for those living with a disability. The program was developed and designed to help make life easier, more productive, and more enjoyable for children and adults with spinal cord injuries and other diseases and conditions which result in paralysis."

The Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation (CRPF) is committed to funding research that develops treatments and cures for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury and other central nervous system disorders. The Foundation also vigorously works to improve the quality of life for people living with disabilities through its grants program, paralysis resource center, and advocacy efforts.

For more information about the Quality of Life Program or the grant application process, please contact the Quality of Life department at 973-467-8270, ext. 205 or visit our website at www.ChristopherReeve.org.