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Outreach Update

I was recently asked what makes Triumph Foundation different than other charities?

I thought for a moment, and replied that Triumph Foundation makes quality of life a reality for people dealing with paralysis. We are a high impact, grass roots, non-profit organization. We have kept our hearts in the right place, and just try to serve people.

Triumph provides emotional, practical, and physical support programs.

Read the outreach update below to see what your support enabled just in the last month. I know we sent you an outreach update in June, but we are going BACK-TO-BACK eNewsletters. This is what it is all about.

Triumph exists because of your generosity. We don't have a rich uncle, daddy warbucks, big celebrity connections, or an institution that predominately funds us...yet. We rely on people like you and our Let'em Roll fundraiser.

We can do all the good works in the world, but we need capital to fuel the engine. Our Casino Night is what propels us forward.

Your donation will help continue Triumph's critical support services.

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Thank you for your support,

Andrew Skinner
(661) 803-3700
www.Triumph-Foundation.org

Keep Moving Forward Grants

One of our organization's biggest program expenses is our Keep Moving Forward Grants. Your donations to Triumph helps offset financial burdens for people living with SCI. Each month we give away thousands-of-dollars worth in assistance to people with spinal cord injury. Here are some of the highlights of people you've helped:

Rosa was involved in a car accident in 2010 leaving her a T9 paraplegic. She feels like she lost a part of herself when she lost the ability to go places on her own. She works two part time jobs and attends college. She has to rely on family, friends, and Access paratransit to get where she needs to go. Your support helped Rosa get one step closer to regaining her independence by providing her with drivers training at Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center.

Aaron was injured in a snow boarding accident in 2013 leaving him with a complete spinal cord injury. He is unable to move his arms or legs but fortunately he is able to breath on his own. We hooked him up with a voice IR environmental control unit. Now he is capable of controlling his T.V., lights, and thermostat.

Jessica is our Ballard Rehab Life Series Group leader. She was injured in 2003 from a roll over car accident suffering a C6-7 spinal cord injury. She credits her accident to helping her find purpose in life and making an impact on this world in a positive way. She gained a new lease on life. Her and her husband recently moved into a new house and they needed help modifying the bathroom. They widened the doorway, created a roll in shower, and installed a new sink and toilet. Their new bathroom will be fully accessible so Jessica can take care of herself independently.

Care Basket Outreach

Our Care Baskets & Backpacks are the first line of support providing the injured person and their family with resources to guide their way. They are a tool-kit to help someone rebuild their life after becoming paralyzed. Triumph Ambassadors visit hospitals providing mentorship and bringing a message of hope to people that are newly injured.

UCLA MEDICAL CENTER
We met Jason recently after he suffered a C6-7 spinal cord injury while he was practicing his acrobatic skills. Jason is a professional gymnast and performance artist from Las Vegas. While he was training on the cables and was suspended upside down they suddenly snapped causing him to fall and Jason broke his neck. His friends helped him come out to Los Angeles to go to UCLA and plans to transfer to Casa Colina. He is making an awesome recovery and we are excited to watch him triumph.

CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES
Triumph recently met Jacob who broke his neck in a diving accident. He lives in Guam and was going with family and friends to their favorite swimming spot. Without thinking he dove in like he had always done, but the water level was much shallower than normal and he went headfirst into the ground breaking his C5 vertebrae in his neck becoming a quadriplegic. At 17 years old he has a lot of life in front of him and we know that it is going to have a greater purpose than he ever imagined.

RANCHO LOS AMIGOS NATIONAL REHABILITATION CENTER

When populations are high at hospitals we hold an inpatient party so we can connect with everyone all together that way no-one slips through the cracks. Triumph Foundation visited Rancho Los Amigos Hospital to meet 8 people that recently suffered Spinal Cord Injury. With our team of Ambassadors, we delivered our Care Backpacks full of resources.

Thank you to our Ambassadors for coming out to meet the newly injured people. We were all fortunate to have people who got injured before us be our mentors. We made a lot of friends that day that will last a lifetime and are the future of Triumph Foundation. It is all about paying it forward.

Home Modifications

Our goal is to minimize the obstacles that people face after suffering a spinal cord injury. One challenge that many people face after being injured is wheelchair accessibility at home. Most people never plan to spend a large part of their life using a wheelchair, so they are not prepared to deal with the challenges of accessibility that that requires. Triumph helps people with planning, consulting, referrals, and at times, performing accessible remodels. We know that having access is having freedom and independence.

Triumph Foundation met Caesar at Henry Mayo after he got into a car accident. He suffered a spinal cord injury becoming a quadriplegic. We followed him along his journey to Rancho Los Amigos Hospital providing him mentorship and a Care Basket full of resources. When it was time for him to come home, his family asked for help building ramps to give him access. Triumph partnered with the men's group from Heart of the Canyons church. The workers came out and built ramps to allow Caesar to come home.

Roll On Capitol Hill

Triumph Foundation is proud to be the Golden State Chapter of the United Spinal Association. Our founder, Andrew recently visited Washington DC and attended the 5th Annual Roll on Capitol Hill Legislative and Advocacy Conference to advocate for legislation that impacts people with disabilities.

Roll on Capitol Hill is United Spinal's annual legislative advocacy event that addresses issues that impact the health, independence, and quality of life of individuals living with spinal cord injuries and disorders. He along with a group of others from California met with the states Congress members to discuss several pieces of legislation that matter to people with disabilities.

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Women's Retreat

Triumph Foundation held it's 3rd annual Women's Retreat for wives, girlfriends, and partners of men with SCI. This year they went to Ventura and stayed at a beach resort. They spent the day socializing and discussing issues of having a significant other and companion who is paralyzed. Spinal cord injury doesn't just affect the person who is injured, it also affects their loved ones and people around them.

Cooking with our Veterans

Triumph Foundation held a wheelchair friendly cooking clinic and made lunch for around 20 veterans at the Long Beach VA hospital. Andrew, showed that even a quadriplegic is able to cook a good tasting, healthy, and nutritious meal. He and Triumph Ambassadors Walter, Erik, Luis, Jimmy, and Damon cooked up some food to feed the paralyzed vets and tried to inspire and challenge everyone in attendance to make better food choices and cook their own meals. We hope this is just the start to their post spinal cord injury culinary skills.

Thank you

There are so many more stories worth sharing...your support changes lives.

Even if you can't personally attend our fundraiser, please consider buying a ticket for someone who otherwise could not afford one.

Make a Donation

We are so thankful for your support,

Andrew Skinner
www.Triumph-Foundation.org