2012 Annual Report
Kathleen Martinez, Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Office of Disability Employment Policy, visited Kessler Foundation to learn about employment programs supported by the Foundation and share her view on strategies for successful disability employment policies. “Kessler Foundation is the gas that fuels the programs that provide job opportunities for people with disabilities,” said Ms. Martinez. “The Foundation’s creativity, innovation, and team-building [through its grantmaking] serve as a catalyst for creating sustainable employment options for the disability community.”
BRIDGING THE GAP
THROUGH COMMUNITY
Kessler Foundation also funds initiatives that increase the participation of people with disabilities in their communities. Among the highlights:
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On Memorial Day, racers from all over the world competed in the 12th Annual Kessler Foundation Wheelchair 10K—the wheelchair division of the Fred d’Elia Ridgewood Run. The competition featured former and current Paralympians, including Jessica Galli and Santiago Sanz who set new course records.
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In his first Paralympic appearance in London, 18-year-old Raymond Martin won all gold medals in four wheelchair racing events. Ray has been a member of the North Jersey Navigators—an adaptive sports team for junior athletes with disabilities—for more than a decade. Kessler Foundation provided seed funding for the team and continues to support the Navigators.
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Kessler Foundation awarded 28 grants, totaling $160,820, to non-profit organizations that help people with disabilities recover from the effects of Hurricane Sandy. The grants address the immediate needs of these organizations to resume operations or fill the needs of individuals who lost necessary equipment or housing in the storm.
More than 200 guests came out to support Kessler Foundation’s Rebuilding Lives after Hurricane Sandy: A Benefit for People with Disabilities. Hosted at The Grove, in Cedar Grove, NJ, the event had a Jersey Shore theme. The legendary Ben Vereen performed highlights from his show, Steppin’ Out. Comedian and NJ-native Jeff Norris served as the emcee. More than $28,000 was raised for the Foundation’s Hurricane Sandy Emergency Fund to help organizations continue to provide services to individuals with disabilities.
