William Torrey Baird, Jr.
Our parents were very humble and generous people who understood the importance of giving back to the community.”
- Collier Baird, III
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One Family's Legacy:
The Impact Of Estate Giving
The Baird family tradition of donating generously to Kessler Foundation exemplifies the power of planned giving to improve the lives of people with disabilities.
William Torrey Baird, Jr., who witnessed the wonders of medical rehabilitation as a soldier in World War I, joined Kessler’s Board of Trustees in 1957. Upon his death, his wife Camille Baird gifted the Baird Family Estate in South Orange, worth $400,000, to the Foundation. The donation established the Baird Visiting Educational Professorship, which enables us to invite distinguished clinicians, educators, and scientists to Kessler and contribute to the education of our pioneering researchers.
The Baird’s nephew, Collier W. Baird, Jr., furthered the family’s commitment in 1995 by establishing a charitable remainder trust to benefit the Foundation. And in 2015, we received more than $220,000 from the trust. We’re using these funds to recruit people to participate in our research studies—which is essential to the success of our clinical investigations. Through thoughtful planned giving, the Baird family has made a lasting impact on Kessler Foundation’s innovative research, which translates into revolutionary treatments for stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain and spinal cord injuries, and other disabling conditions. The result of their multi-generational commitment is the development of more effective rehabilitation protocols that help children and adults with disabilities restore their mobility and their ability to think, learn, and remember.
“Our parents were very humble and generous people who understood the importance of giving back to the community,” says Collier Baird III, “especially to organizations that make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities, such as Kessler Foundation.”
Setting Records at Stroll 'N Roll
Kessler Foundation’s 2015 Stroll ‘N Roll, sponsored by Biogen, Inc. and the Newark-based law firm Gibbons P.C., celebrated its most successful year ever.
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More than 500 people of all ages and abilities gathered in picturesque Verona Park last fall to raise over $152,000. Proceeds will be used to advance rehabilitation research and fund innovative employment initiatives that expand opportunities for people with disabilities.
“We’re grateful to everyone who helped raise vital funds to change the lives of people with disabilities,” says Rodger DeRose, president and chief executive officer of Kessler Foundation. “The impact of their generosity is profound. Individuals are getting out of their wheelchairs and taking their first steps, regaining their driving skills, and improving their ability to think, learn, and remember. Restoring function is the first step toward fully participating at home, at work, and in community activities.”
Liz Lowenstein
“
Liz gave us the critical impetus to apply our research ... to put what we developed in science,
into practice.”
- A.M. Barrett, MD
Director, Stroke Rehabilitation Research Kessler Foundation
Liz Lowenstein:
Counselor, Donor, Fundraiser, and Board Chair Extraordinaire
As a rehabilitation counselor at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, Liz Lowenstein loved celebrating small victories with patients as they regained their independence.
After retiring from Kessler Institute, Mrs. Lowenstein wanted to continue helping people with disabilities. So she joined Kessler Foundation’s Board of Trustees in 1992, and assumed the chairmanship in 2013. Her leadership has supported the advancement of rehabilitation research.
Mrs. Lowenstein was greatly impressed with Kessler Foundation’s groundbreaking research on spatial neglect, a common, disabling complication of stroke that leads to poor rehabilitation outcomes. She also understood the importance of making our advancements available to the widest possible audience. To acheive this goal, she donated $25,000 to fund a dedicated educational website (KFlearn.org) and an online training video based on the diagnostic and treatment protocols developed by our stroke team: KF-NAP (Kessler Foundation-Neglect Assessment Process) and KF-PAT (Kessler Foundation-Prism Adaption Treatment). She also helped raise another $26,000 to complete the project.
More than 1,000 people a year benefit from KF-NAP in the Kessler system, according to Peggy Chen, PhD, research scientist in Stroke Rehabilitation Research. “Because of Liz’s generosity, the benefits of our research are extending into clinical care here and abroad,” said Dr. Chen. “Through the KFlearn.org website, more than 200 occupational and physical therapists, nurses, and speech language pathologists have accessed training—free of charge —on how to detect and treat spatial neglect.” Our online resources have been accessed by professionals in 20 countries spanning four continents.
“Liz gave us the critical impetus to apply our research in acute care facilities such as Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, to put what we developed in science, into practice,” says A.M. Barrett, MD, director of Stroke Rehabilitation Research. “She really believes in our work,” adds Dr. Chen. “And we feel very grateful.”
Revolutionizing Rehabilitation: New Discoveries In Wearable Robots
Kessler Foundation, a leader in robotics research, hosted a demonstration and discussion on innovations in robotic exoskeletons for more than 150 community members, donors, scientists, and others interested in our research.
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The Foundation is one of the few rehabilitation centers in the world to study three different wearable robots: Ekso, ReWalk, and Indego. These devices enable people with weakness or paralysis in their legs to stand and walk. Former research participants, including U.S. Olympic ski jumper Nick Fairall, demonstrated how they utilize the devices, and Foundation scientists shared their latest findings on the application of exoskeletons in rehabilitation after spinal cord injury and stroke.
The potential for robotics to revolutionize rehabilitative care was the topic of an engaging panel discussion moderated by local author and broadcast journalist, Steve Adubato.
