Kick-off to Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital’s 22nd Annual Art Ability a great success!

Artist posing in front of a gallery wall
Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital launched its 22nd annual Art Ability Exhibition and Sale with an opening reception on Saturday, November 4. Nearly 400 people enjoyed the diverse works of talented artists, with physical, cognitive and visual disabilities. Over 500 artworks by 236 artists from 35 states and five countries were on display for sale, in such mediums as jewelry and fine crafts, sculpture, mixed media and photography as well as works on canvas and works on paper. Guests mingled with exhibiting artists and purchased a variety of unique, one-of-a-kind works throughout the evening. A total of 96 pieces of artwork sold, totaling $37,494. Eighty percent of the artwork revenue goes right back to the artists, helping to advance their artistic success and financial independence. The exhibition remains up through the end of January, with many pieces still available for sale.

New to this year’s event, a dinner and auction followed the opening reception. This was an opportunity for guests to learn more about Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital while enjoying a festive evening with unique auction items. Blake Emerson, keynote speaker and former patient, captivated the group with his inspiring story of triumph over tragedy, following a spinal cord injury.

Keynote speaker, Blake Emerson, engages the crowd at the Art Ability preview reception dinner and auction
Thanks to the generosity of sponsors and guests, the event raised over $170,000 in support of Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital. A portion of those funds will be utilized to purchase two Lite Gaits, which are specialized therapy equipment that will help patients who have suffered brain injuries, strokes or any other neurologic events to begin to ambulate, and hopefully, learn to walk again. The equipment is portable, which will allow our team to utilize it throughout the hospital. Remaining funds will directly benefit the mission and priorities of Bryn Mawr Rehab, from helping us to purchase other specialized physical therapy equipment, supporting continuing education opportunities for our nurses and therapists, to making possible important enhancements to our facility.

Art Ability is grateful to have the leadership support of the hospital’s Foundation Board and many philanthropic partners, including presenting sponsor, Construction Services Group; preview reception sponsor, Encore, an emids Company; dinner sponsor Stradley Ronon; auction sponsor Bryn Mawr Rehab Volunteer Association; William Penn Foundation; Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, among many others. The generous support from these philanthropic partners and individual donors helps to make the annual exhibition possible, as well as provides program support year-round for the many facets of Art Ability. For more information about Art Ability 2017, including group tours, please contact Marissa Keough, associate director of development, at 484.596.5614 or [email protected].

Season of giving!

During this special time of year, where when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving, we hope that you will consider a gift to Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital.

The hospital continues to grow and prosper thanks, in large part, to its many special friends and donors. Charitable gifts impact all aspects of the hospital, helping to purchase specialized therapy equipment for the best quality patient care; providing advanced training for our staff of dedicated professionals; making possible the hospital’s annual signature special event, Art Ability; as well as supporting community outreach programs like Cruisin’ SMART, which educates students on the dangers of impaired and distracted driving, and Project SEARCH, an educational and work transition program for individuals with disabilities.

Visit our website to learn more about ways to give or to make a tax-deductible gift, or contact Marissa Keough, associate director of development, at 484.596.5614 or [email protected].

Rehab Awareness Week celebrations

Ribbon cutting at the Outpatient Center (from left): Brian McTear, Donna Phillips, Jack Lynch and Linda Ridpath
Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital recognized the start of Rehab Awareness Week in September with a ribbon cutting for the new Outpatient Center. The Outpatient Center at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital includes 7,000 square feet of gym space, new state-of-the-art therapy equipment, a centralized care area and 60 parking spaces specifically for outpatient visitors.

Cutting the ribbon were (from left in photo) Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital Foundation Board Chair Brian McTear; Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital President Donna Phillips; Main Line Health President and CEO Jack Lynch. Also attending the celebration were State Representative Duane Milne; Dawn Martin, a representative from Senator Tom McGarrigle’s team; community leaders; Bryn Mawr Rehab staff and members of the community.

Following the ribbon cutting, patients, employees and family members assembled for the annual patient stories reception. Four former Bryn Mawr Rehab patients shared their journeys of recovery and reconnected with their care team.

Patients, employees and family members listen intently to the stories of recovery shared by four former Bryn Mawr Rehab patients
“This event is just another way we can connect our community of patients, caregivers and staff,” said Phillips. “Having former patients share their stories with current patients is inspiring and reinforces the message to never give up, continue to set goals and know that in every small success there is a victory.”

Each year, Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital takes part in a week-long celebration for employees in honor of National Rehab Awareness Week, a week dedicated to raising awareness of the value and impact of rehabilitation on individuals and the community.

Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital unveils new body weight support system in therapy gym

Patient putting the new Bioness Vector to use
With the support of charitable contributions, including leadership donations from The Charter Foundation, The Kistler-Tiffany Foundation, The Scholler Foundation, and the Bryn Mawr Rehab Foundation Board, Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital purchased and installed a new Bioness Vector Gait and Safety System™ in the main therapy gym. The Vector Elite is a body weight support system designed to accelerate physical rehabilitation of patients with mild to severe gait or balance impairment. Harnessing the patient into the trolley tracking system installed in the ceiling allows the patient to practice walking and balance training over ground, enabling the rehabilitative team to increase patient mobility while reducing the risk of injury to patient and staff. Individuals with a variety of diagnoses will benefit from using the Vector Elite for gait and balance training.

Project SEARCH graduation and new business partners

Kenneth Nace
Kenneth Nace, Project SEARCH graduate
The Project SEARCH program, which supports individuals with disabilities in gaining the education and experience they need to secure competitive employment, hosted its seventh graduation ceremony. Over 80 people were in attendance to celebrate the 16 program graduates. This graduating class is a true example of what the program and community can offer the interns in Project SEARCH. These individuals entered with many unknowns, such as what type of career would be a good fit for them, or what training did they need to accomplish their goals. With the help of Project SEARCH staff, they received the support, training and guidance they needed, and as a result, every intern secured competitive employment. A great accomplishment!

Alix James, CEO of Nielsen-Kellerman and Project SEARCH business partner, as well as a parent of a 2017 graduate, was the keynote speaker of the event and was joined by Project SEARCH graduates James Kocher and Kenneth Nace, who both shared their stories.

Project SEARCH staff and class of 2017

Kenneth Nace shared, “I am very thankful I was given the opportunity to participate in Project SEARCH. This program has helped me develop many new skills. I feel without this program I would be still searching for where I could fit in the working world. My parents and I are thankful for all of your help and support along this journey.”

Project SEARCH is also proud to welcome two new business partners to the program, Daylesford Crossings and Nielsen–Kellerman Company, bringing us to a total number of ten business partners that are able to offer internship opportunities to our interns. Daylesford Crossing is a local senior living community. Their team of executives truly believes in the mission and work of Project SEARCH and is open and supportive to the interns. They will be able to offer variety of opportunities to our interns, including, but not limited to, dietary, customer service, clerical, activities and dining services.

Nielsen–Kellerman Company (NK) is a company that manufactures and sells rowing and sporting products. NK will offer a new field of opportunities to which Project SEARCH has not been exposed. From the top down, NK understands disability and is able and willing to work with Project SEARCH to develop successful experiences for the interns. Some opportunities that will be available include internships in manufacturing, receiving, ordering/inventory, materials and warehouse.

Bryn Mawr Rehab gets a new set of wheels thanks to Team Toyota!

A group of people posing with the new Sienna van from Team Toyota of Glen Mills
Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital has an additional patient transportation van, thanks to a donation of a new Sienna van from Team Toyota.

The Sienna has an automatic access seat that lowers to the ground, a great benefit to a number of our patients. We use our vans for therapy appointment transportation to and from the hospital; recreational therapy community outings as patients resume activities for daily living, such as grocery shopping; and physical therapy and occupational therapy home evaluations. Team Toyota of Glen Mills, which participates in the Main Line Health employee discount program, will replace the van with a new one in two years.

Dr. David Long honored at BIAPA annual conference

David Long (left) with attendee at the 2017 Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania’s Annual Conference
David F. Long, MD, medical director of the Brain Injury Program at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, was honored at the 2017 Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania’s Annual Conference. The Pioneer in Brain Injury Award was presented to Dr. Long in recognition of his initiative, expertise and creativity leading to the development of services and support in the field of brain injury rehabilitation.

“I am very grateful for the many patients and families I have met through the years, as they truly inspire and motivate me,” said Dr. Long. “Although I am being honored as a pioneer in brain injury, I feel that the real heroes of health care are the patients, caretakers and staff who persevere through adversity.”

Dr. Long is a board-certified neurologist, specializing in concussion, neurorehabilitation and behavioral neurology. He has been treating patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) since 1983. Dr. Long is actively involved in brain injury research, and has lectured and published extensively in the brain injury field, including multiple journal articles and several book chapters. He has co-chaired national conferences in neurorehabilitation for the American Society of NeuroRehabilitation (ASNR), and has made television appearances with regards to the rehabilitation of patients with brain injury. Areas of particular interest include treating patients with emerging coma and the minimally conscious state, hydrocephalus, cognitive and behavior disturbances after TBI, and utilizing the brain’s remarkable plasticity to facilitate rehabilitation and recovery.

In addition to his responsibilities at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, Dr. Long is a board member of the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania, consults for ReMed Recovery Centers, and is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, the Chester County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania Medical Society, and the American Medical Association.

Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital Volunteer Association hosts holiday vendor fair

Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital holiday vendor fair
On Thursday, November 30, 14 vendors came together at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital’s holiday vendor fair, for staff, patients and their families, and the general public. Many great items were available for individuals to get a jumpstart on their holiday shopping. While all sales proceeds went directly to the vendors, the Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital Volunteer Association benefitted from the participation fee, raffle, water and pretzel sales totaling $2,000. The Volunteer Association organizes and hosts special fundraising events like this throughout the year that help to support patient services at the hospital. Over the years, the Volunteer Association has contributed to the purchase of specialized equipment, like the Bioness Vector, spotlighted in this edition of Inspiring Hope, along with support for community programs like Art Ability. For more information about becoming a hospital volunteer or the Volunteer Association, please contact Yvonne Navarro-Brewer, manager, volunteer services, at 484.596.5599 or [email protected].

ACT NOW!

In 2015, Congress made the IRA charitable rollover provision PERMANENT!

Gifts from your IRA to the Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital Foundation can:

  • Be an easy and convenient way to make a gift from one of your major assets.
  • Be excluded from your gross income in the year of the gift: a tax-free rollover.
  • Count towards your annual required minimum distribution (RMD).

For your gift to qualify for benefits under the now-permanent extension:

  • You must be 70½ or older at the time of your gift.
  • The transfer must go directly from your IRA to the Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital Foundation.
  • Your total IRA charitable gift transfer(s) cannot exceed $100,000.
  • Your gift must be outright—no planned gift arrangements are allowed.

For information on how to structure such a charitable gift, please contact Karen Gadson, executive director of development, at 484.596.5638 or [email protected].

This information is for general educational purposes. Please consult your advisors for applicability to your personal situation.

Happy Holidays