The Coronavirus outbreak impacted most events, activities, and mission delivery efforts by our supported organizations. Functions are resuming, however, with careful attention to health and safety of all. The following are a few notable recent events from the charities we support:
The Jack Kagan Foundation proudly continues our strong support for Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB)
There are very exciting things going on in Annapolis, MD! The Jack Kagan Foundation is proud to be a continuing supporter of CRAB, and we are excited to share the following piece from their annual review:
There are very exciting things going on in Annapolis, MD! The Jack Kagan Foundation is proud to be a continuing supporter of CRAB, and we are excited to share the following piece from their annual review:
“As we wrap up another successful year at CRAB, it’s a good time to reflect on the accomplishments of the past year and our goals for the future. In 2021 CRAB served 945 guests with 62% meeting our mission statement and 38% being caregivers, family, or friends. Guests enjoyed sailing during one or more of the 60 events such as -Regattas, Kids Sailing Camps, Group Sails, Family Sails, and Sailing Clinics. On the other side of the boat, 138 well trained and dedicated volunteer skippers and crew donated over 3,500 hours! It is a symbiotic relationship between our volunteers and guests who all love to go sailing on Chesapeake Bay. In 2022, our goal is to host more than 1,000 guests and over 25 nonprofits in the region (weather gods permitting).”
JKF is pleased to have supported CRAB through their endeavor to establish a marina dedicated to accessible boating. Local newspaper the Annapolis Patch talks about the new Adaptive Boating Center coming this year. The headline: “SAILING NONPROFIT BUILDS MARINA FOR MARYLANDERS WITH DISABILITIES” Read the article here.
Our Foundation is helping New Mexico’s children by supporting the New Mexico Children’s Foundation (NMCF)
New Mexico Children’s Foundation Grant Program, now in its 29th year, provides funding to small, community based non-profit programs designed to foster the physical, emotional, educational, and social development of New Mexico children and their families.
Thirty-four New Mexico organizations were chosen to receive funding for 2021-2022.
The Governor Bill Richardson-Peterson Zah COVID-19 Navajo Families Relief Fund provided face masks and hand sanitizer to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque.
JKF is pleased to continue supporting the St. Vincent Hospital Foundation
St. Vincent’s Hospital Foundation describes the HUGS program which has proven to decrease unnecessary Emergency Department visits by up to 64%:
H.U.G.S. – High Utilizer Group Services
The H.U.G.S. program provides intensive, individualized case management services to high utilizers of the Emergency Department. This program primarily works with individuals who have co-occurring behavioral health and addiction issues, and with those who are disproportionately affected by the social determinants of health.
- Patient Profile: homeless; long-term substance use; under/undiagnosed behavioral health needs
- Complex medical needs resulting from chronic homelessness, substance use, and trauma
- Example: alcoholic patient with multiple traumatic brain injuries from falling while intoxicated, unable to access Social Security Disability even though they qualify for it
- Many of our H.U.G.S. patients are previous foster children with little or no natural supports or family connections
Program has a NO EJECT, NO REJECT policy and will help ANY patient who qualifies (many have been banned from other community service providers due to non-compliance and being “difficult”)
Program provides hands-on case management in the community
The H.U.G.S. program ‘Navigators’:
- provide individualized needs assessments and referrals for long-term services;
- address service coordination, medical care, behavioral support, and social needs;
- provide services that are trauma-informed, crisis preventing, therapeutic brief interventions aimed at connecting individuals to long-term community-based services;
- work with patients to address the root causes of frequent, unnecessary Emergency Department use;
- provide and find services that are individualized and strategic to best support patient success; and
- work in collaboration with patients to connect with community resources and therapeutic services to help them access appropriate levels of care, and meet previously unaddressed needs or reach goals that have been historically unsuccessful.
JKF Board votes to support services and research for Chiari and Syringomyelia through a grant to the Chiari and Syringomyelia Foundation (CSF)
What are Chiari and Syringomyelia??: A Chiari malformation (CM) is a congenital (or rarely, acquired) abnormality in which the back compartment of the skull is too small for its contents, resulting in crowding of the neurological tissues. The lowest parts of the cerebellum are pushed down through the opening at the bottom of the skull, impairing the normal circulation of cerebrospinal fluid into the spinal canal. The area of the brain often affected is responsible for controlling lots of things that you don’t have to think about like balance, breathing and swallowing.
Syringomyelia is a difficult, complex, and rare disorder. Sometimes simply referred to as a “spinal cord cyst” It is diagnosed through Magnetic Resonance Imagery (MRI), and occurs when a cavity forms inside the spinal cord. The cavity is caused by a build-up of fluid, resulting from a blockage.
That blockage can either be from a Chiari malformation, a spinal trauma, a tumor, or some other cause. Syringomyelia can cause stretching and, eventually, permanent injury to nerve fibers.
About the Non-Profit: Bobby Jones CSF is currently the only organization serving patients with Chiari, syringomyelia, and related disorders to have earned all of the following distinctions: BBB Wise Giving Alliance Seal, Guidestar Platinum Seal, Health On the Net Code, and a score of 100 out of 100 on Charity Navigator. Each year, you can catch Bobby Jones CSF in USA Today’s Giving Tuesday edition, among other nonprofits deemed as both effective in their missions and responsible with their donors’ dollars.
The Foundation will be resuming in-person lectures this year as well as continuing their virtual Ask the Expert series.
CSF is holding a series of support meetings for children ages 6-9 with Chiari, syringomyelia and related disorders in January and February.
Research News
International Patient Registry
A very brief, new survey will be available in the online patient registry by mid-January. This survey will explore the efficacy of a certain tool used on Chiari malformation patients.
Chiari Surgical Success Scale
Enrollment is beginning on the CSSS. In the next few months CSF plans to offer a video crash course on the study with Q&A.
JKF helping to knock out Parkinson’s disease! Punching Out Parkinson’s (POP) – Santa Fe
POP continues to make a real difference in the lives of those suffering from Parkinson’s Disease in the Santa Fe area. They are using the funds from JKF to upgrade boxing equipment, help find transportation for those wishing to participate who cannot drive, and launch sessions on improving and maintaining cognitive abilities.
Not all the POP activities are about serious physical or mental exercise, though. Below are a few photos from their Halloween party in 2021.
JKF honors the high point young/junior rider at regional show with the Dressage Club of New Mexico (DCNM)
(formerly New Mexico Dressage – Rocky Mountain Dressage Association ((NMD-RMDS))
Our Foundation was pleased to sponsor the Young/Junior rider award at the Great American Insurance Group/United States Dressage Federation show in September 2021. The award was won by Katherine Nayak and included a plaque with the NMD-RMDS and JKF logos as well as a horse cooling blanket embroidered with the JKF logo.
JKF proudly continues its support for the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA)
We are very pleased to have been able to support SWAIA through its rapid launch of a virtual international market last year. This year, the Indian Market took place in person, with safety and health restrictions. The Winter Market was also held in person, largely at the La Fonda hotel. This year, we are exited for the celebration that will mark the 100th anniversary of the annual Indian Market.
Excerpt from PRNewswire Dec. 6, 2021:
Santa Fe Indian Market Centennial
— The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA), the non-profit that produces the annual Santa Fe Indian Market, is pleased to announce planning is underway for the Centennial Santa Fe Indian Market. Santa Fe Indian Market 2022 will be held on Saturday, August 20, and Sunday, August 21.
Since 1922, Santa Fe Indian Market has been North America’s largest and most important juried Indigenous art market. Originally focused on the Indigenous art of the Southwest, the market has expanded its reach over the years to include Indigenous artists from all regions of the United States and Canada.
SWAIA will also present its first-ever Art Indigenous: a contemporary art show featuring sculpture, painting, photography, and performance from worldwide galleries exhibiting Indigenous artists from the United States and Canada.
The Santa Fe Indian Market, begun as a weekend art market, has grown into an Indigenous art mecca adopted by Santa Fe’s top galleries and cultural institutions. “2022 will be like none other for Indigenous art collectors and visitors to Santa Fe. The City of SantaFe is embracing our centennial and many of the leading galleries and institutions are producing Indigenous-themed content and producing shows by top Indigenous artists throughout the year,” said SWAIA’s executive director Kim Peone (Colville Confederated Tribes/Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians).