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Henry H. Kessler Foundation Rebranded as Kessler Foundation

With new naming structure, Kessler Foundation continues to improve the lives of people living with disabilities

December 1, 2008 – West Orange, NJ - One of the largest non-profits supporting people with physical disabilities, Henry H. Kessler Foundation, announced today the organization’s new name - Kessler Foundation. The Foundation is also changing the names of its two main divisions to Kessler Research Center and Kessler Program Center.  Since August 2003, Kessler Foundation, a non-profit, has been operating as a separate legal entity from Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation (KIR), although both were founded by Dr. Henry H. Kessler.  KIR is a for-profit hospital owned by Select Medical Corporation.

“Kessler Research Center is advancing the quality of life for people with disabilities through its advanced clinical research in brain and spinal cord injury, stroke recovery, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological and musculoskeletal conditions. The grants awarded by Kessler Program Center provide people with physical disabilities in New Jersey opportunities for employment through job training, networking and job creation”, stated Rodger DeRose, Kessler Foundation’s president and CEO.  “We are honored by the legacy of Dr. Henry H. Kessler and look to continue building on his significant contributions for the benefit of patients worldwide.”

Kessler Foundation advances cutting-edge research and technology for people with physical disabilities through Kessler Research Center.  Formerly named Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corporation, or KMRREC, Kessler Research Center is funded through Kessler Foundation. In addition, Kessler Research Center, which has nationally recognized Centers of Excellence for programs in traumatic brain and spinal cord injury, receives government funding through agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation Research. Kessler Research Center and KIR collaborate to develop the best possible ways to help patients overcome their physical disabilities.

Kessler Foundation’s grant and education programs are combined under the umbrella of Kessler Program Center.  Kessler Program Center supports programs through grants that help improve the quality of life of individuals with physical disabilities. Due to the historically low employment among people with physical disabilities, Kessler Program Center concentrates its external grant allocation on increasing the employment of people with physical disabilities, particularly through its “Transition to Work” program.

About Kessler Foundation

Kessler Foundation, established in 1985, is one of the largest public charities supporting people with physical disabilities.  The Foundation’s mission is to improve the lives of people with physical disabilities by raising, managing and distributing resources to support Kessler Research Center, its cutting-edge research facility and by supporting the efforts of other non-profit organizations that serve individuals with disabilities.  Kessler Research Center conducts a range of research programs designed to improve function and quality of life for persons with physical disabilities due to spinal cord and traumatic brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis and other neurological and orthopedic conditions. Kessler Foundation has also distributed millions of dollars to programs that promote the employment of people with disabilities through its Program Center’s “Transition to Work” Signature and Community Employment grants.  The Foundation’s Special Initiative grants also support educational programs like ‘ThinkFirst’, an injury prevention program aimed at children and teens.  Kessler Foundation has a full-time staff of 90 individuals, divided between two locations in West Orange, New Jersey.  

 
Kessler Foundation
300 Executive Drive, Suite 150
West Orange, NJ 07052
973.324.8367 Telephone
973.324-8373. Fax

Website: www.KesslerFoundation.net

Progressive Center for Independent Living (PCIL) Presents Ms. Davis with Highest Honor at Annual Gala

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ- Elizabeth Davis, founder and managing director of emergency management consultancy EAD & Associates, LLC, was recently presented with the Progressive Center for Independent Living’s 2008 Leadership Award for her dedication to ensuring special needs populations are included in emergency preparedness plans worldwide. Ms. Davis was awarded PCIL’s most prestigious award at the non-profit organization’s annual dinner gala at Green Acres County Club in Lawrenceville, NJ this past Friday.

Ms. Davis stated when accepting the award, “I am very humbled personally as this award is presented by a group of my peers, but professionally I accept it not as an individual but on behalf of all professional emergency managers - be they with government or the private sector - who have dedicated themselves to the concepts of inclusiveness and the provision of safety to all. This award recognizes an important part of what we do in this profession, and I thank you for highlighting the issues.”

Ms. Davis is an internationally-recognized and published expert in the fields of emergency management and special needs planning. A leader in the development and implementation of special needs policies and protocols, Ms. Davis brings more than fifteen years of passion, dedication, experience, and accomplishments to her work.

A long-time advocate for people with disabilities, Ms. Davis began her career in public service with the NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities as Assistant to Counsel and Senior Policy Advisor. Due to her role as Incident Commander in the Deaf Mexican Nationals slave-ring case in Queens, she was transferred to the NYC Office of Emergency Management as a Special Needs Advisor.

She went onto become the first Director of the National Organization on Disability’s Emergency Preparedness Initiative, a position she has since retired from. Ms. Davis remains an advisor to the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA. Ms. Davis is also co-chair of the National Hurricane Conference Health Care/Special Needs Committee, chair of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) Special Needs Committee, and an appointed member of the FEMA National Advisory Council’s Special Needs Subcommittee.

It was in 2001 that Ms. Davis decided to create EAD & Associates, a New York-based emergency management consultancy with a holistic client-centric approach to providing quality real-world solutions. With a unique expertise and focus on special needs and human services issues, the EAD team is a proven leader in the field of emergency management.
 
The EAD team that Ms. Davis brings together is a group of people who, like herself, are dedicated and passionate about making an impact on emergency management to improve the safety and lives of ALL individuals. The team includes a diverse group of people representing multi-disciplinary backgrounds, who work together to bring expertise, skills, and practical solutions to clients serving populations all over the world.

“We sincerely hope that the work we do each day can make a difference and move change from within systems or motivate participation and personal responsibility from the outside,” Ms. Davis said. “If in the end only one person is better off for all the time and effort – it has been worth it and we have completed our task.”

About the Progressive Center for Independent Living:

The Progressive Center for Independent Living, Inc. (PCIL), which is based in Hamilton, NJ, advocates for the rights of people with disabilities so they can achieve and maintain independent lifestyles. Through promotion of choice, self-direction, and inclusion, PCIL works with people with disabilities and their families to ensure the same freedoms and civil liberties as everyone else.

In 2007, through a grant awarded by the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities, PCIL initiated the Emergency Preparedness Project in an effort to train people with developmental disabilities so they can serve as “Community Disaster Liaisons.” PCIL, NJCDD, and NJ’s Office of Emergency Management also strive to create open dialogue between the needs of the community and emergency responders.  

CAPTION: Elizabeth Davis, founder and managing director of EAD & Associates, LLC

Nov 14-08 Secretary of State Joins Officials & Dignitaries to Honor 2008 Governor’s Volunteerism Award Winners

Contact: Susan Evans 609-777-0830 Trenton, NJ – Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells joined officials from the Governor’s Advisory Council on Volunteerism & Community Service, the Office of Volunteerism and other dignitaries to recognize outstanding efforts in volunteerism statewide at the 2008 Governor’s Volunteer Award Ceremony, held this morning in Drumthwacket, the Governor’s Mansion, in Princeton.   The Governor’s Volunteer Awards recognizes the dedication and commitment of outstanding citizens, individuals and organizations, whose gifts of time and talent help to improve the quality of life for citizens throughout New Jersey, making it a better state in which to live, work, and raise families. “As we all face the tremendous challenges arising from the current state of our global, economy, it is inspiring to see New Jersey residents and corporate citizens respond with such overwhelming compassion and commitment,” noted Governor Jon S. Corzine.   This year, the Governor’s Volunteer Awards were presented in eleven categories. The categories and winners were as follows:     • • • • • • • • • • • Adult Volunteer (Age 19-54) - Kelly Rouba (Mercerville, NJ) Against All Odds - Albert E. Megee (Delanco, NJ) Corporate Citizen - Lockheed Martin (Moorestown, NJ) ECO-Friendly Award - Green Today (Highland Park, NJ) Long Term Service - Paul Sagnelli (Manalapan, NJ) Most Innovative Award - The Bumper “T” Caring Clowns (Barrington, NJ) Most Valuable Volunteer Manager - Mira Desai (Princeton, NJ) Senior Volunteer (Age 55 and over) - Gloria Nelson (Short Hills, NJ) Statewide Volunteer Program - Contact: We Care, Inc. (Westfield, NJ) Youth Volunteer - Katherine Amigo (West Windsor, NJ) Volunteer Program or Group - The Hoboken Medical Center Auxiliary   “These award winners are proof of the profound difference individuals and organizations can make through volunteerism and a steadfast commitment to helping their fellow citizens and communities statewide,” said Secretary Wells. “All New Jerseyans should be inspired by their example, and they have our pledge to continue expanding outlets to assist anyone that desires to give back in any way, shape or form.”   To learn more information about the volunteer organizations under the Department of State’s purview, visit www.state.nj.us/state/volunteer. To seek out volunteerism opportunities within your community, an expanded statewide database can be found at www.njvolunteerism.com. To learn more about the diverse array of services and programs located within the Department of State, visit www.state.nj.us/state.