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DALLAS, TX – As a part of their 40+ state nationwide Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury (PABI) tour, the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation hosted a fundraising reception on Thursday, February 3rd in Dallas, TX. Despite the uncharacteristic snow and ice, the event was very well attended atop the Crescent Club in downtown Dallas.
Honorary host Congressman Pete Sessions spoke to the crowd about the importance of brain injury and sports concussion awareness before introducing the Sara Jane Brain Foundation’s (SJBF) founder, Patrick Donohue. Mr. Donohue thanked the attendees for braving the harsh weather to attend this important event. The aim of this event and the nationwide tour is to help prevent, identify and treat the #1 cause of death and disability in youth, brain injury. Mr. Donohue then introduced City of Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert. Mayor Leppert reiterated remarks made by Congressman Sessions regarding the importance of brain injury awareness.
Dr. Sandra Bond Chapman, Founder and Director of the University of Texas at Dallas Center for BrainHealth, was awarded with the SJBF Kristjan Ragnarsson Angel Award. Dr. Sandra Bond Chapman founded The Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas in 1999, it is a world-class brain research institute home to some of the most brilliant and innovative neuroscientific thinkers.
Christopher Nowinski, President and Co-Founder of the Sports Legacy Institute, was awarded the SJBF Zackery Lystedt Angel Award. Christopher Nowinski co-founded the Sports Legacy Institute in 2007 to “Solve the Sports Concussion Crisis” and to advance the study, treatment and prevention of the effects of brain trauma in athletes and other at-risk groups. The award given to Christopher Nowinski was named after Zackery Lystedt, a remarkably brave 17-year old from Washington State who sustained a debilitating brain injury playing football in 2006 after returning to play too quickly following a concussion. Through the efforts of Zackery and his parents, they have inspired a national movement to prevent, identify and treat youth sports-related brain injuries.
The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation (SJBF) along with its more than 200 International Advisory Board Members are embarking on a nationwide public awareness campaign dealing with the #1 leading cause of death and disability for American youth: brain injury. The tour will bring awareness of youth sports concussions (brain injuries) to high schools across the country as well as introduce the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan (PABI Plan) through town hall meetings at local universities and hospitals. In addition, the tour will be attending professional, collegiate and youth sporting events to bring awareness of the risks and symptoms associated with these brain injuries to a broader audience. For more information on the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation, please visit www.TheBrainProject.org.