CHARLOTTE – As the leading advocate for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) research, rehabilitation and care in the United States Congress, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) was recently honored as the 2008 recipient of the Philip L. Lance Award for Public Awareness of Brain Injury at the Checkered Ball in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Philip L. Lance Award for Public Awareness of Brain Injury was established to recognize an individual or group that has made a significant contribution to the public awareness and recognition of brain injury.
“My work with TBI victims and the medical, military, and political leaders in enacting real reform on behalf of the millions of people who suffer from brain injury has been a reward enough for me since 2001 when I started the Task Force,” stated Pascrell. “I am honored that the brain injury community, which is so determined to find a cure, would select me to receive the prestigious Lance Award.”
Congressman Pascrell has been a strong and tireless leader in public policy on behalf of persons with brain injury and their families for many years. He has served as the Democratic Co-Chair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force since it’s inception in 2001, has introduced and helped pass the Traumatic Brain Injury Act Reauthorization of 2000 and reintroduced a Reauthorization in 2007. In addition, he has consistently shepherded funding for brain injury research, treatment, and services to various federal programs.
“On behalf of the National Brain Injury Research, Treatment and Training Foundation, we are so very pleased to award the Philip Lance Award for Public Policy to Congressman Bill Pascrell,” stated Martin B Foil co-founder and current Chairman of the Board of National Brain Injury, Research, Treatment and Training Foundation. Bill has been a dear friend, strong supporter and fierce advocate for increasing public awareness of brain injury, improving outcomes through better treatment and rehabilitation and for helping us find a cure. His enthusiasm and zeal for this cause has been contagious and since he started the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force in the spring of 2001, he has succeeded in getting more than 100 other Members of Congress to join him. We are very grateful to have his leadership in the enormous challenge we face in addressing the needs of persons with brain injury and helping prevent the 1.6 million new brain injuries a year.”
Following a car accident in which Mr. Foil’s son, Philip Lance Van Every Foil, suffered a severe brain injury, the Checkered Ball was created with help from the Lance Corporation to raise money and awareness for TBI. To date, The Checkered Ball has raised over $2.9 Million for such worthy organizations as: The Brain Injury Association of America, The International Brain Injury Association, and the National Brain Injury Research, Treatment & Training Foundation.
Previous winners of the Philip L. Lance Award include James and Sarah Brady, Senator Orrin Hatch, Congressman James Greenwood and Dr. Graham M. Teasdale.
“With thousands of wounded warriors returning home from the war on terror with TBI, we have our work cut out. Now is the time to act. From the upcoming Brain Injury Fair next month in Washington, to the International Brain Injury Symposium coming to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson this October, I am look forward to an aggressive year in innovation and advancement on behalf of the victims of the silent epidemic-traumatic brain injury,” concluded Pascrell.
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