Here is an open letter recently sent out by the Friends of REACH Auxiliary Committee in an effort to ensure the REACH Program is able to continue to serve stroke victims and acquired brain injury survivors.
Dear Friend,
Stroke is a life-changing event that can affect you or someone you love. It is the number one cause of adult disability and the third leading cause of death in the United States. The results may be devastating, often affecting the ability to communicate and leading to paralysis on one side of the body. Rehabilitation may take years, but insurance covers very little of the costs.
What options do stroke survivors and their families have?
Since 1989, the Foothill College REACH Program has served post-stroke survivors and those with acquired brain injury with affordable classes taught by licensed and experienced therapists. Unfortunately, the existence of this valuable community resource is now threatened. Until Summer 2010, REACH was part of Foothill College's Adaptive Learning Division. Due to drastic cuts to community colleges, REACH was eliminated as a funded credit program.
Heralded as a vital resource to our community, REACH has been reconstituted as an entirely self-supporting program under Community Education, with 100% of the costs of the program being borne by students. This has led to a nearly 600% increase in quarterly student fees. Many students and families, now limited by disability, are struggling to afford these necessary classes.
We are asking for your help in order to continue providing rehabilitation opportunities to the students of REACH. Our goal is to raise $100,000 this year to ensure the continuation of classes both now and in the future. Your entire tax-deductible donation will be used to provide scholarships and fee subsidies to ensure no student is ever turned away.
Please take a few moments to watch the video, "I Will Win: Stories from Foothill College's REACH Program" displayed above. To donate, you may go to www.friendsofreach.org and make a secure online donation to the Foothill-DeAnza (FHDA) Foundation.
No matter the amount of your gift, know that it will be used to ensure that every stroke survivor will be able to REACH his or her full potential.
We thank you in advance for your support,
The Friends of REACH
