Shattering Expectations • Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation • 2007 Annual Report
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SHATTERING EXPECTATIONS • CHRISTOPHER & DANA REEVE FOUNDATION • 2007 ANNUAL REPORT At our 3rd annual Los Angeles gala, it was our great pleasure to present the 2007 Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Philanthropy Award to actor, and member of our Board of Directors, Robin Williams. “I remember seeing dad so happy whenever they were I saw him go from this man whose kinetic energy together,” said Christopher’s son Matthew in presenting could fill a room to become focused like a laser, like a the award, “and the day in the hospital in Virginia, when, beam that could bounce off other planets and stars, and in the guise of a Russian proctologist, he made my dad address the situation to the point where he became part laugh – at a time when he needed to laugh. From then of a presidential debate – and that means you’ve gotten until now, he has continued to be there for our family somebody’s attention. and for this Foundation every step of the way.” Chris would want this to keep going. And Dana kept going after Chris was gone. When you find people who fight like that but still keep their humanity - that gives Besides being Superman, Chris was brave, you great hope. That’s why I’m here. I’m here to keep compassionate, extraordinary. the work going. Sometimes he wanted to get a t-shirt that said, “Find So I leave you with the great hope and joy of knowing another hero,” but he put himself out there right away that… there are extraordinary things being done. Tell The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by and went up against incredible assumptions about others. Stay with us, because we have a lot more to treatment that said: That’s it, game over. He said, “No come. funding innovative research, and improving the quality of life for people living with it’s not.” Robin Williams paralysis through grants, information and advocacy. Chris was about confronting [assumptions] and saying: Excerpted from his acceptance speech look at this logically, look at what we can do. June 6, 2007 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 2 Message from the Chairman 5 Message from the President 6 Research International Consortium on Spinal Cord Injury ▶ ▶ “Nothing of anypage consequence with quote happens unless people get behind an idea. Individual Research Grants NeuroRecovery Network North American Clinical Trials Network It begins with an individual and they share the idea with more individuals… 11 Quality of Life Quality of Life Grants Paralysis Resource Center and eventually it becomes a movement.” Multicultural Outreach Military Outreach Christopher Reeve, 2002 Paralysis Community 16 Advocacy 17 Team Reeve 18 Special Events 23 Corporate Partners 24 Michael A. Hughes Society 27 Donor Profile 28 Foundation Friends 35 Financial Statements What happened to make 2007 a turning point? our passion for the cure and have joined with us to Foundation in addition to his duties as its President. Peter Message from the ▘ Team Reeve has gone from a crawl to a full-on find the most effective and efficient ways to fight has been a true partner in carrying out the numerous sprint. By linking teams and individual athletes who paralysis. exciting activities listed here. His steady hand has been participate in our name and who raise increasingly ▘ Through Chapter Expansions, we’re planning to instrumental to our success. With his leadership, our Chairman research programs continue to embody our passion for large sums for our cause, Team Reeve has quickly add chapters to the Reeve Foundation across the become one of our biggest sources of revenue. In country. Already we have taken steps to start New excellence, and our Quality of Life programs are meeting three years, Team Reeve has gone from raising England and Chicago chapters, and more are on our increasingly exacting standards. a few thousand dollars to six figures. Starting as the way. The Reeve Foundation is a global brand, individual initiatives, we have seen Team Reeve and we are seeking to realize its full potential in It is time. Everywhere you look, our organization is attract corporate, school, and community teams, and communities across our nation. humming with new energy and renewed vigor. None of they’re branching out to compete in events around this vitality would be possible without your support. the world. We have seen additional signs of progress on You have our promise that we will carefully invest your Tonight, we unveil our new logo: twin flames wrapped several other fronts. We added two new sites to the funds in the most promising research and in the most in a single enduring fire. Each flame represents the ▘ The Leadership Board has grown from an idea to NeuroRecovery Network as well as two new community- effective caregiving organizations. We will not rest, we burning passion of care and cure embodied in the work ten dynamic individuals (and counting) who are based centers, which bring the number of patients will not compromise, and with your help… of Dana and Christopher Reeve. committed to opening doors, raising awareness, and attracting greater support for the Reeve Foundation. involved in this breakthrough locomotor therapy to over 200. We are literally seeing people wheel in and walk We will not stop our work…until everyone stands. Why reinforce their respective areas of life-focus in a The Leadership Board has already significantly out. These early successes are daring us to think more new logo? helped the Foundation grow its revenue base. boldly. ▘ The Champions Committee, chaired by Matthew and Alexandra Reeve and led by Cherie Alcoff Because it is time. We also received a significant grant that is allowing us Sincerely, and Francesco Clark, represents the best that fresh to expand our North American Clinical Trials Network thinking and youth can bring to an established After Chris’s death, our only choice was to “Go into the Veterans Administration. As a consequence, we organization. These Champions are the future of the Forward,” a battle cry that also served us well in the have been empowered to build momentum in the care of Foundation, and they are making a difference today. aching period when Dana was so suddenly taken returning veterans with paralysis, spinal cord injury, and from us. Now, as the years have passed and the hurt ▘ Reeve Partners is an initiative that encourages traumatic brain injury. Helping these veterans is our duty Peter D. Kiernan, III in our hearts has found some measure of healing, it is terrific organizations to do their own fundraising and we thank all of you for helping to support this vital Chairman, Board of Directors time to hold our heads high and carry on in the name and then collaborate with the Reeve Foundation in new enhancement to our mission. of our founders. It is time to raise the profile of our the grant-making process. As partners, we launched organization and to inspire new levels of support by the Danny Heumann Young Scientists initiative, A key driver of the momentum and growth of the message from the chairman sharing, with great joy, the tangible, inch-by-inch the Life Rolls On project, and the Sam Schmidt organization has been the unswerving dedication of progress we are making in curing paralysis. Paralysis Foundation. These organizations share Peter Wilderotter, who was elevated to CEO of the 2 For everyone who thought I couldn’t do it. For Message from the everyone who thought I shouldn’t do it. For everyone President & CEO who said I didn’t have time. See you at the finish line. In 2007, more than 50 called the “graveyard of neurobiology.” who join us every day with fresh perspective and energy heroes ran the ING New Thirteen years ago, Chris was injured, and, in his – many of whom you will meet in these pages – and two York City Marathon as relentless, courageous pursuit of cures, he revolutionized of our newest Trustees, Alexandra and Matthew Reeve, “Team Reeve.” They wore the way we think about paralysis. who are propelling us with diligence and creativity that these words on their shirts: are truly home grown. Nine years ago, Jack and Michael Hughes made the For everyone who thought largest gift of its kind to this foundation, enabling us Like our growing legions of Team Reeve athletes, we I couldn’t do it. For to plan a robust research infrastructure to advance a are on a journey that demands great fortitude. Every day, everyone who thought I shouldn’t do it. For everyone global research consortium, clinical trials network, our researchers confront the most challenging scientific who said I didn’t have time. See you at the finish line. NeuroRecovery Network, and unprecedented grants queries, while our Resource Center specialists confront programs. the immediate, often heartbreaking concerns of families dealing with paralysis. This year, we also confronted the Cristina Carlino, founder of the innovative cosmetic Seven years ago, Dana’s vision led to our unique loss of our great champion Michael Hughes. company philosophy and philanthropist-extraordinaire, Paralysis Resource Center and Quality of Life Program. mailed that quote to Christopher after his accident. It But our movement endures. We will continue to carry message from the president & ceo became a rallying cry for the Reeve family. In addition to an extraordinary Board of Directors, we forward the resilience of all those who came before now have a Leadership Board of ten gifted, dynamic as we turn what was once a graveyard into the most It embodies the spirit of the Reeve Foundation and individuals. promising and exciting field of science.