2026 Annual Meeting and Socrates Award Presentation

The 2026 Brennan Rehabilitation Fund Annual Meeting and Socrates Awards Ceremony was held Sunday, March 1st at the Michigan Shores Club in Wilmette, IL. The Foundation was honored to have Andrew J. Valadka as our featured guest speaker at this year’s event. After a life-altering high school football accident, Andrew chose a path of resilience, purpose, and perseverance. Today, as a Private Wealth Advisor at Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., he exemplifies the extraordinary heights possible when determination defines one’s journey. Congratulations to this year’s Socrates Award Winners, including RaeAnne Lindsay, Andrea Ritchie, and Abbey Weiss.

2025 Socrates Award Grants Announced

Three Inspiring Paralyzed Individuals Awarded Lifetime Grants from Brennan Rehabilitation Foundation

The Socrates Award recognizes individuals who have overcome disability with annual grant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Christopher Brennan
Brennan Rehabilitation Foundation
847-372-7429
cjb1133@gmail.com

CHICAGO – January 14, 2026 – Each year, an estimated 17,000 Americans survive a spinal cord injury, often facing first-year medical costs exceeding $500,000. To help ease this burden, the Brennan Rehabilitation Foundation awards the Socrates Award, a lifetime cash grant supporting individuals living with paralysis.

The grant provides financial assistance for therapy, medical equipment, prescriptions, and in-home care. In 2026, three individuals were selected for their resilience, achievements, and commitment to recovery:

• RaeAnne Lindsay (34): Ms. Wheelchair USA 2024–2025, licensed social worker, and national disability advocate living with Transverse Myelitis.

• Andrea Ritchie (19): Award-winning wheelchair racer and IHSA All-State athlete, recognized for her perseverance and athletic excellence following a childhood spinal cord injury.

• Abbey Weiss (32): Paralyzed from the neck down following a 2021 acroyoga injury, Abbey continues intensive rehabilitation and inspires fellow patients through her determination and positive outlook.

Founded in 2018, the Socrates Award honors individuals living with paralysis who exemplify the creed “mens sana in corpore sano” which translates to “Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body.” Each 2026 recipient will receive a $1,000 grant and be recognized at the Foundation’s Annual Board Meeting in early March 2026.

About

The Brennan Rehabilitation Foundation The Brennan Rehabilitation Foundation is a 501c3 charitable foundation located in Lake Forest, Illinois. The Foundation is committed to helping individuals, who have suffered cervical spinal injuries causing physical and cognitive disabilities, and their families and communities, by providing financial resources to help ensure a continuum of rehabilitation resources and provide opportunities for individuals to ultimately reach optimal health and independence. Please visit www.brennanrehabfoundation.org to learn more about donation opportunities and future fundraising events.

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Giving Tuesday 2025

Dear Supporters,

The Double Down on Disabilities Fund is participating in Giving Tuesday on November 25, 2025, and we hope you will join us. This year, we have an important fundraising goal that will directly support our Socrates Grant recipients on their path toward recovery from paralysis. Your donation is truly meaningful—it fuels our ability to provide essential resources such as therapy, equipment, prescriptions, and in-home care.

Here’s how you can get ready to give:

• Mark your calendar: November 25, 2025 is Giving Tuesday.
• Give anytime: From November 25 through December 31, you can make your gift by clicking here to donate.
• Spread the word: Encourage your friends and family to support this mission by sharing what the Brennan Rehabilitation Foundation and its Double Down on Disabilities Fund mean to you. You may also donate by mailing a check to:
  The Brennan Rehabilitation Foundation,
  1401 North Western Avenue, Unit 13,
  Lake Forest, Illinois 60045

Your kindness and generosity over the years have allowed us to continue offering meaningful medical grants to our Socrates Winners—providing opportunities that improve treatment options and overall quality of life for those living with paralysis. As an all-volunteer organization, 100% of every donation goes directly toward our mission.

Several members of our Board and Advisory Board remain actively involved in research studies at leading medical institutions across the country, all focused on advancing care and improving outcomes for individuals affected by paralysis.

The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our tax identification number is 84-3922164.

Thank you in advance for your continued generosity and support of this important work.

2025 Casino Night Thank You!

On Saturday, November 1st, the Brennan Rehabilitation Foundation held a successful Casino Night raising money for the Double Down on Disabilities Fund.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the event!

2025 Casino Night Attendees

Welcome photos from Casino Night 2025

2025 Annual Meeting and Socrates Award Presentation

The Brennan Rehabilitation Foundation’s 2025 Board and Advisory Board meeting was held Sunday, March 2nd at Sunset Ridge Country Club in Northfield, IL. This event included the presentation of the 2024 Socrates Awards. Amanda Hogle, Recreational Therapist with Shriners Childrens Hospital, was the guest speaker.