Our Cases Become Our Causes

Two weeks ago, the Anapol Schwartz Foundation received a letter from S.R., a local amputee who with the Help of Magee Rehabilitation, from funding give by the Anapol Schwartz foundation, was able to attend Amputee Coalition Convention in Kansas City, Missouri. (more…)

Anapol Schwartz Honored AJ Nanayakkara as the 2011 Anapol Advocate Award Winner.

Visitors to the Anapol Schwartz Foundation website had 5 Candidates to choose from.  Each candidate a dedicated individual committed to helping those living with spinal cord injuries to lead more productive and enjoyable lives. Each candidate named a charity that benefited individuals living with spinal cord injuries, which, if that candidate won, would receive a grant of $5,000 from Anapol Schwartz comprised of proceeds received from successful cases involving spinal cord injuries.

Over 3,000 people took part in this voting process.

AJ was paralyzed 10 years ago in a Martial Arts accident but is now a gold medal winning U.S. National Wheelchair Rugby Team player, and a National Leader, advising the Department of Defense on how to promote Inclusive Recreation for Wounded Warriors, as well as Community leader, assisting Philadelphia Spinal Cord Injury Victims through various local organizations.

Nanayakkara developed adapted recreation programs across the country and will spend his summer traveling with the Global Abilities Foundation, founded by AJ and his wife, in hopes to  help people with disabilities in developing areas reintegrate into their communities.

In addition to a Plaque, Anapol Schwartz Partner, Joel Feldman, presented a check in the amount of $5,000 to the Legal Clinic for the Disabled on AJ’s behalf.   The Legal Clinic for the Disabled is housed at Magee Rehabilitation and provides free Legal help and advice to low-income disabled individuals.

Feldman was so moved by the accomplishments of all of this year’s advocates that the Anapol Schwartz Foundation decided to award the remaining nominees by donating $1,000 to each of their named charities: The American Spinal Injury Association(MJ Mulcahey), The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation (Dr. Dan Gottlieb), MossRehab (Harry W. Schwartz, MD), and the Adam Taliaferro Foundation (Adam Taliaferro).

“We are so grateful for the generous support from the Anapol Schwartz Foundation, and even happier that they take an active role in the lives of our patients,” said Mark Chilutti, Magee’s Assistant Vice President of Development. “Joel and his partners have spent their lives fighting for others in the courtroom. Now, through the work of their foundation they’re helping people that they may never meet. Caring about others day in and day out is surely an admirable way to spend one’s life.”

View the entire the April 2011 version of Magee magazine.

On October 28, 2010 Joel Feldman took part in MADD’s Death Notification Training Seminar at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia.  The principal trainer was Rebecca Shaver, former MADD PA State Ex. Director,  and additional speakers included Chief Dennis Anderson from the Newtown Police Department, and Rev. Roland Buccialia. 

The Seminar was designed to share experiences of receiving the notification of a death of a loved one and to use those experiences to generate a guide for law enforcement officers, clergy, funeral directors and other service providers on how to compassionately deliver the notification of the death of a loved one. Mr.Feldman  shared his experience as an attorney who has represented many families who have suffered the death of a loved one and from his personal perspective following the death of his 21 year old daughter in a motor vehicle accident.

This seminar was previous presented June 2010  FREE of charge by MADD SE PA through a grant through the Anapol Schwartz Foundation. If you would like to register for future seminars in SE Pennsylvania on “Delivering the News with Compassion for the Bereaved and Concern for the Messenger” call (610) 825-4903.