Fort Lauderdale, Florida — The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation has awarded a 2024 Priority Impact Cycle Quality of Life Grant of $29,996 to Broward Health to empower individuals living with paralysis by helping them achieve greater independence, health and overall well-being. Broward Health was one of only 22 grant recipients in the nation.
With the grant, Broward Health will establish an Assistive Technology Loan Closet, which will provide self-feeding and communication equipment to individuals with paralysis. This initiative will enable patients to access the tools they need for daily living without the financial burden of purchasing costly equipment. By offering these devices on loan, Broward Health aims to empower individuals to regain independence and improve their overall quality of life.
“Receiving this grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is a significant milestone for our rehab institute,” said Ariel Inocentes, M.D., medical director of the Broward Health Rehabilitation Institute located at Broward Health North. “Our mission is to empower these individuals to regain their independence and improve their quality of life, and this funding will help us achieve that goal.”
During the year, Broward Health will provide essential support to 39 individuals with paralysis, with the aim to reach hundreds more, offering long-term benefits to both patients and caregivers. By the end of the year, 85% of participants are expected to experience greater independence in daily activities, 80% will have improved communication and social engagement and 75% of caregivers are expected to experience a reduced burden on their daily responsibilities.
“These awards are about restoring independence to our constituents,” said Dan McNeal, Director of the Quality of Life Grants Program, Reeve Foundation. “Our work and number one goal are to enhance the quality of life of people living with paralysis. It is our honor to continue to collaborate with so many dedicated organizations, which have selflessly given their time and efforts to ensure that accessibility and inclusivity remain embedded in the fabric of their programs.”
Since its inception, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation's Quality of Life Grants Program has awarded more than 3,990 grants, totaling $46 million. Funding for this program was made possible through a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living (ACL grant #90PRRC0006-04).
The Reeve Foundation’s National Paralysis Resource Center offers a variety of grants within the Quality of Life program, funding initiatives across multiple categories and varying amounts. The Priority Impact grants program specifically supports organizations that implement projects and activities designed to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals with paralysis and their families.
For more information about Broward Health, visit www.browardhealth.org.
About Broward Health
Broward Health, founded in 1938 and headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, ranks among the 10 largest public healthcare systems in the United States. Nationally recognized for its focus on high-quality care for the residents of Broward County and beyond, Broward Health boasts five hospitals, two trauma centers, a dynamic academic partnership with Florida Atlantic University, was the county's first statutory teaching hospital and has an ever-growing graduate medical education program. It includes more than 50 health centers and physician practices covering virtually every healthcare specialty.
Broward Health never stops working toward its mission of Exceptional Care, Extraordinary Compassion and Everyday Excellence. Driven by more than 11,000 talented employees and physicians who deliver care to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay, Broward Health is one of the largest employers in Broward County with an operating budget of $1.8 billion, and annually more than $470 million of charity and uncompensated care. For more information about Broward Health, visit BrowardHealth.org.
About the Reeve Foundation
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research and improving the quality of life for individuals and families impacted by paralysis. By uniting the brightest minds in the field, we are working tirelessly to accelerate scientific discoveries across the field of spinal cord research by investing in labs across the globe.
Additionally, through a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living, the Reeve Foundation’s National Paralysis Resource Center (NPRC) promotes the health, well-being, and independence of people living with paralysis, providing comprehensive information, resources, and referral services assisting over 100,000 individuals and families since its launch in 2002.
The Reeve Foundation is committed to elevating our community’s voices and needs to achieve greater representation and independence. We meet all 20 of the Better Business Bureau’s standards for charity accountability and hold the BBB’s Charity Seal.
For more information, please visit our website at www.ChristopherReeve.org or call 800-225-0292.