February 23, 2021 by Angela

Help Raise Awareness About Brain Injury

Join the #MoreThanMyBrainInjury Campaign

At least 5.3 million adults and children in the U.S. are living with brain injury-related disabilities.

That’s one in every 60 people.

If you know someone who is living with brain injury – or if you have one yourself – you know that brain injury is not an event or an outcome. It’s the start of a misunderstood, misdiagnosed, underfunded neurological disease. Brain injury is often called the “silent epidemic” because public recognition of the injury is low despite the high number of people who are injured each year. The effects of brain injury are also often invisible to an unknowing observer.

Join the #MoreThanMyBrainInjury campaign to help:

Educate others about what it’s like to live with a brain injury
Increase understanding of brain injury as a chronic condition
Reduce the stigma associated with having a brain injury
Showcase the diversity of injury and the demographics of the community
Improve care and support for individuals with brain injury and their families

Ways You Can Help

Donate or fundraise to help ensure no one is alone after a brain injury.

Despite the pandemic, people are still experiencing brain injuries. There are few services available to help people adjust to the significant life changes that can happen after a brain injury. This year, Schurig Center has seen an increase in people contacting us for help, and the number of people we serve living on a low income has increased to 75% of our clients. With your help, we hope to raise $20,000 in March 2021. Your donation or personal fundraiser today will help provide access to continued rehabilitation, education, and support to hundreds of survivors and their family members this year. You help improve lives and abilities. Thank you!

Share your story.

If you or a loved one is living with the effects of a brain injury, share your story on your social media accounts using the hashtag #MoreThanMyBrainInjury.

Know the facts.

At least 3.6 million people in the U.S. sustain brain injury each year. Want to learn more? Click here to learn more about brain injury.

Connect.

Talk with someone with a brain injury and listen to their story. Invite someone you know living with a brain injury to social gatherings or for a fun day out. Humans are hard-wired for connection with others. Isolation and loneliness are common for people living with the effects of a brain injury. Even a simple gesture like a phone call or email to say “hello” can send a meaningful message to a friend living a brain injury that they are not alone.

Speak out.

Advocates like you are our greatest asset. Why not write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper explaining to your community why they should care about brain injuries. Write a positive review about Schurig Center’s programs on Great Nonprofits, Yelp, Google, or Facebook. Your kind words will help more survivors discover and benefit from our healing services and connect us with more potential donors to help fund our mission.

Why #MoreThanMyBrainInjury?

Many people with disabilities have their lives defined for them. The More Than My Brain Injury campaign gives individuals a chance to overcome those definitions, allowing them to tell their own stories and change the narrative of their lives. If you haven’t seen it yet, we invite you to watch “New Normal,” an 8-minute film by filmmaker Andrew Hida about Pam and Jeff’s stories.

August 7, 2020 by Angela

Bid it to win it in Schurig Center’s Summer Auction

Schurig Center is pleased to offer an array of items for your bidding pleasure in our first ever online auction!

START
Saturday, August 15 @ 9:00 AM PST

END
Monday, August 24 @ 12:00 PM PST

BID ONLINE AT
BiddingForGood.com/SchurigCenter

Your bid provides essential connection and care services for your fellow community members living with a brain injury

The cancellation of Schurig Center’s Annual BAM Gala is your gain! Many of the items that would have been available for bidding at the gala will be offered online instead for your bidding fun. We hope you enjoy bidding on them!

And, the best part is… With your auction purchase or Fund-A-Need donation, you provide the only place in our area picking up where the healthcare system leaves off to help people thrive after a brain injury.

Although we do not know what the coming days may hold, we do know that your generosity is the reason we are able to still provide services. Our programs are being offered in a new way, remotely, but the cost to provide them has not changed. And, with 70% of clients living on low income, we rely on community support to be able to offer care to all who need us.

If you are in a position to help, please bid as generously as you can and bid it to win it!

Thank You!

July 3, 2020 by Angela

Thanks to you, people heal from the safety of home!

A Message from Executive Director, Patricia Gill

Three photos of participants Dear Friends,

I hope this finds you and your loved ones healthy and well. I write today filled with mixed emotions. I imagine you may be feeling the same way. These are challenging times for so many in our community. It’s hard to see and hear about the great difficulties people are facing in their lives right now. Yet, I find there is still much to be grateful for. I remain inspired by the resilience of the human spirit and the healing power of a caring community.

I am grateful for you! With your help, we are still providing essential connection and care for people living with a brain injury.

A crisis, like coronavirus, can cause stress and uncertainty for all of us. For people with a brain injury, it can exacerbate challenges they already face. Isolation, depression, anxiety, disabilities, and a decline in overall health are common side effects. Social distancing can also result in a backslide of abilities due to lack of stimulation; added stress in domestic relationships; and, an increased need for support.

By supporting Schurig Center, you provide the only place in our area picking up where the healthcare system leaves off to help people adjust to life changes and thrive after brain injury.

While our doors are closed and our clients are at home, our hearts and services remain open.

I’m pleased to share our team was able to adapt most services to be offered remotely within a week of shelter-in-place. Speech therapy, computerized cognitive classes, art therapy, communication classes, support groups, concussion education groups, and resource referrals continue to be offered online or by phone. We’ve also provided home deliveries, helped clients access community resources, and supported caregivers. This ‘virtual’ offering of life-enhancing services would not be possible without you.

Thanks to you, people continue to heal from the safety of their home!

Photos of participants on zoom call You help improve the health and well-being of your fellow community members like Brandon, who suffered a traumatic brain injury from a car accident. With you by his side, Brandon is able to continue to recover and feel hopeful while sheltering-in-place.

Although we do not know what the coming days may hold, we do know that your generosity is the reason we are able to still provide services. Our programs are being offered in a new way, but the cost to provide them has not changed. And, with 70% of clients living on low income, we rely on community support to be able to offer care to all who need us.

If you are in a position to help, please give as generously as you can today.

I’m confident that with your help Schurig Center will be standing strong for years to come, helping survivors and their families live full and meaningful lives after brain injury. Thank you!

Photo of Patricia giving the thumbs up With gratitude,
Patricia Gill, MS
Executive Director