Vermont Business Magazine The LoveYourBrain Foundation has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the Daniel E Offutt III Charitable Trust, which will help LoveYourBrain provide its evidence-based Yoga program for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and establish a new fund designed to empower the TBI community.
“We are facing unprecedented challenges associated with COVID-19, including economic, social, and emotional disruptions,” remarked Adam Pearce, LoveYourBrain’s Executive Director. “These challenges, including isolation and adjustment to a new way of life, are not new to the millions impacted by TBI each year. A gift of this size makes an immense and immediate impact on our organization, by helping us innovate the way we serve those impacted by TBI, and empowering our community to share the skills they’ve discovered through their journey towards healing.
Because of the support of the Daniel E. Offutt III Charitable Trust, LoveYourBrain will continue to serve the TBI population across North America, expand our capacity to reach those currently home-bound, and establish an innovative fund to empower the voices of people affected by TBI. Mr. Offutt has long been described for his broad passions and deep engagement within his community. Community is at the heart of our organization and is more important than ever before, and we are honored to have our community-building efforts be part of his esteemed legacy.”
Offutt resided in Weston, Connecticut for more than 30 years and passed away in 2016, unmarried with no immediate survivors. Richard Orenstein, Trustee, said of Offutt, “Dan was a thinker ‘out of the box,’ and this sort of innovative approach to supporting TBI would have been right up his alley.”
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects more than 3 million people annually in the US and Canada alone, and is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. LoveYourBrain pioneered its Yoga and Retreat programs - offered across North America at no cost to participants - to empower the TBI community with new tools, resources, and connections. Research has shown that LoveYourBrain’s programs transform the wellbeing of people with TBI and their caregivers, by helping people better access their resilience, embrace who they are, and reach their full potential.
LoveYourBrain is tremendously grateful to the goodwill and friendship of Mr. Orenstein and Steve Humphrey, friend and advisor to Mr. Offutt. “It is Steve’s connection to traumatic brain injury that fostered the relationship between Dick Orenstein and LoveYourBrain,” said Pia Pearce, President of LoveYourBrain’s Board of Directors. “In part, this gift recognizes LoveYourBrain’s important focus on the whole community while healing from a TBI - those directly injured and those providing care and support throughout the process.”
The newly established Daniel E. Offutt, III Fund, supported by the Daniel E. Offutt III Charitable Trust, will support ongoing projects that empower the TBI community, through storytelling initiatives and the creation of free online resources designed to make LoveYourBrain’s evidence-based programs more accessible.
About LoveYourBrain:
The LoveYourBrain Foundation is a national non-profit that improves the quality of life of people impacted by traumatic brain injury (TBI) and raises awareness about the importance of brain health through programs that build community and foster resilience. Guided by their family’s experience, brothers Kevin and Adam Pearce established LoveYourBrain in 2014 following Kevin’s severe TBI from a snowboarding accident prior to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Kevin’s remarkable resilience was documented and transformed into the award-winning HBO Documentary, “The Crash Reel,” which brought to light the experience and prevalence of TBIs. In response, LoveYourBrain developed programs and resources designed to create community and foster resilience. LoveYourBrain’s Yoga and Retreat programs are offered across North America, and the organization offers free online resources such as guided meditations, yoga classes, brain tips and community blog.
Visit http://www.loveyourbrain.com to learn more.
Source: Norwich, Vermont — LoveYourBrain Foundation 5.4.2020