Special Initiatives Grant Program

Special priority is given to projects that primarily serve individuals with physical disabilities (65% of project population). These may include:

• Education and training for people with physical disabilities, their families, healthcare professionals and the public in areas such as medical rehabilitation and disability prevention.
• Community programs and services related to improving the lives of people with physical disabilities, such as arts, recreation, social services, health, transportation, assistive device acquisition, and home/automotive adaptations.
• Projects, programs, pilot initiatives, and creative solutions that work toward improving the employment and career advancement of New Jersey citizens with disabilities.

Grants are for one year and range from $5,000 - $20,000.

This grant program is by invitation only. For more information contact: KFgrantprogram@kesslerfoundation.org.

2008 SPECIAL INITIATIVE Grants Listing

• Bergen Performing Arts Center (Englewood, NJ) - To improve the public spaces of the theater and add a 3-stop elevator and accessible restroom facilities so that the building is ADA compliant and available to all members of the community: $20,000.
• County of Bergen (Hackensack, NJ) - To defray the costs of providing speakers and therapists presenting education programs to Post Stroke and Disabled Support Group Program in Bergen County: $10,000.
• Cerebral Palsy of North Jersey (Maplewood, NJ) - To help support the purchase of a van that will be used for the school's life training and job training program as well as school trips and any other transportation needs: $20,000.
• First Occupational Center of New Jersey, (Orange, NJ) - To provide emergency funds after fire damage: $5,000.
• Montclair Rehabilitation Organization (Little Falls, NJ) - To provide funds to transport individuals with disabilities to medical appointments: $15,000.
• New Jersey Connect, Inc. (Westfield, NJ) - To underwrite pre-construction costs necessary towards renovating a vacant convent to provide 12 barrier free apartments for people with physical disabilities: $25,000.
• Newark Museum Association, (Newark, NJ) - To provide programming for two annual Arts Enrichment & Science Education Days for 1,000 children with disabilities and 2 workshops for 50 special education teachers: $20,000.
• North Jersey Navigators, Inc. (Bayonne, NJ) - To help support the expenses related to the 2008 National Jr. Disability Championship games; including registration fees, uniforms, transportation, lodging and meals and/or purchase new adaptive sports equipment for the team need to compete: $20,000.
• St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, (Paterson, NJ) - To fund the International Behavioral Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Symposium, a gathering of international experts to develop a report to the US Congress, as well as a budget for funds to be allocated for brain injury research and treatment: $15,000.
• Village Resources, Inc. (Ewing, NJ) - To provide under-employed people with disabilities personalized career planning and function work skill development to enhance employability and promote their careers: $10,000.
• Wheelchair Sports USA (St. Peters, MO) - To fund the travel and living expenses of 12 elite high school wheelchair athletes to the 2008 Glenn D. Loucks Games in White Plains, NY: $6,900