The Children's Center Rehabilitation Hospital Receives Quality of Life Grant From Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation For Adaptive Sports Equipment

    BETHANY, OK, July 22, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Children's Center Rehabilitation Hospital is proud to announce that it has been awarded $19,000 as part of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation National Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) 2021 1st Cycle Direct Effect Quality of Life grants. Sixty-seven grants totaling $1,305,579 were awarded. The Quality of Life Grants Program supports nonprofit organizations that empower individuals living with paralysis. Since the Quality of Life Grants Program's inception, more than 3,400 grants totaling over $34 million have been awarded. Funding for this program was made possible through a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living (ACL grant #90PRRC0002-03-00).

The Reeve Foundation National Paralysis Resource Center has several grants under the Quality of Life program awarding grants in different category areas, varying in different amounts. The Direct Effect Quality of Life grants program funds organizations up to $25,000 to support a wide range of projects and activities that will impact individuals living with paralysis and their families.

"The Reeve Foundation is humbled and proud to be able to support important organizations by offering life-changing projects and programs through this grant cycle," said Mark Bogosian, Director, Quality of Life Grants Program, Reeve Foundation. "Funding projects that prevent harassment and displacement of low-income tenants, offering Paralympians an abuse prevention curriculum and other community-based activities like adaptive sports and gardening to end food insecurity is an example of how we're aiding people living with paralysis to regain their independence and back into their local community."

The Children's Center Rehabilitaton Hospital will use the funds to purchase specially designed wheelchairs for basketball and to adapt existing wheelchairs for soccer play. The hospital recently opened a state-of-the-art Adaptive Recreation and Fine Arts Center which features a basketball court, and plans to complete an adaptive playground and ballfield later this summer.

"We are honored to be recognized by the Reeve Foundation for our mission of maximizing the potential of every child and making sports and other recreactional activities accessible for all children," said Nico Gomez, Chief Executive Officer of The Children's Center Rehabilitation Hospital. "The funds received will allow children in our care and in our community to experience the joy and sense of accomplishment that sports provide. We look forward to seeing smiling faces and hearing the cheers of everyone rooting for the kids."

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 discovery 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 (PRC) 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.

About The Children's Center Rehabilitation Hospital:

The Children's Center Rehabilitation Hospital, located at 6800 NW 39th Expressway in Bethany, Oklahoma is an innovative leader in the field of pediatric rehabilitation and 24-hour complex care. The hospital offers inpatient and outpatient services for children (ages 0-21) and is the only inpatient pediatric rehabilitation facility in Oklahoma. Our CARF accredited multidisciplinary team works with patients and their families to maximize the patient's physical and cognitive potential, and ensure the family has the training and resources needed for a smooth transition from hospital to home. For more information, please call the hospital at (405) 789-6711 or visit www.miracleshappenhere.org.

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