The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation is proud to announce grants, totaling $8.5 million, to over 70 organizations serving people affected by and living with spinal cord injuries (SCI) throughout the United States and Canada.
From a Mississippi youth wheelchair league to a dance school in Massachusetts to a Maryland group supporting the newly injured and their families, our 2022 grantees are as diverse as ever.
Through our Creating Opportunity & Independence (CO&I) portfolio, the Neilsen Foundation supports organizations that provide programs for those living with SCI of all ages and backgrounds. Many of these include community-driven activities and services that fill important gaps in opportunities for the disability community.
Each year, programs supported by CO&I provide opportunities for thousands of people living with SCI to engage in their communities and improve their quality of life. The wide reach of the Neilsen Foundation’s partnerships includes organizations involved in arts, sports and recreation, independent living, rehabilitation, assistive technology, employment, and education, helping them continue with programs, establishing new projects, and building capacity.
Our Founder, Craig H. Neilsen, set the example of giving to worthwhile causes, rehabilitation clinics, and even individuals in need by launching the Foundation’s programmatic funding with three grants given to programs in Nevada and Minnesota. The portfolio has thrived, funding over 70 new grantees this year, and striving to champion community integration, remove barriers, promote access and self-efficacy, and increase health and wellness in rehabilitation and in the community, among other things.
The portfolio is ever evolving and looking for ways to support the SCI community by partnering with innovative non-profits and funding amazing projects.
“The overall impact of the CO&I portfolio on individuals with spinal cord injuries, from large and small organizations, is really impressive to observe,” Program Officer Darrell Musick says. “Grantees are providing education, accessibility, and life-changing opportunities to participate in activities across the health, wellness, and recreation spectrum.”