June 16, 2022 by Angela

New Board of Directors Chair and Vice Chair Appointed

Schurig Center is honored to have an engaged, caring Board of Directors at our helm with expertise from an array of fields, including finance, healthcare, legal, human resources, civic leadership, and philanthropy. Throughout the year, Board members volunteer their time to ensure Schurig Center is offering high-quality services that meet the community’s needs. As we know all too well, life brings change. Our long-time Chair Kim Strub resigned from her post after 12 years of leadership. We thank Kim for all she has done for Schurig Center and the people we serve. Her positive impact will be felt for many years to come. We are honored to announce Catherine Way and Ellen Takayama have been appointed as the new Board leaders, guiding Schurig Center to more great things this year. Please join us in welcoming Catherine and Ellen to their new roles!

Photo of Catherine Way

Catherine Way, Chair

Catherine joined Schurig Center’s Board in 2016. She is a retired registered nurse and former managing partner of a surgical-legal consulting firm. As the daughter of a stroke survivor, Catherine brings personal knowledge of the unique challenges that brain injury survivors and their families face to regain their best quality of life after an injury. Catherine is also an active community volunteer and a dedicated public servant who currently serves on the Larkspur City Council.

Photo of Ellen Takayama

Ellen Takayama, Vice Chair

Ellen has been a Schurig Board member since 2012, and she has led the planning of our Annual Gala event since its inception. Ellen brings a wealth of business management and human resources experience built during her 37 years with Macy’s, Inc. in various positions, including VP of Human Resources. In retirement, Ellen now enjoys travel, reading, socializing with friends, taking care of her pup, and volunteering with Schurig Center.

Thank You for Your Service Kim Strub

After 12 years of service, Kim Strub has resigned from her role as Schurig’s Board Chair. Kim joined the Board in 2010 as the organization was transitioning from the loss of founder Karen Schurig. Over her term, Kim led the organization through multiple transitions and donated hundreds of hours of her time to ensure Schurig Center is a successful, respected organization that provides high quality care to everyone served. Kim creates connections in all that she does and truly offered her heart and soul to this community. We are deeply grateful! Kim will continue to support Schurig Center as an Advisory Board member.

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.