for neurodiversity and community workforce development; and Dr. Brad Schlaggar, the Institute’s president and CEO, at the 2024 Neurodiversity in the Workplace National Conference in October
Letter From Our President
Hello, Friends!
This issue of Kennedy Krieger Magazine is devoted to some of the many community programs that Kennedy Krieger Institute supports, and to those we provide to the patients, students and families we serve in our larger community.
From our Neurodiversity at Work department to our partnership with Special Olympics Maryland to our Bennett Blazers adaptive sports teams that launched the careers of four Paris Paralympians, our efforts do not stop in the hospital, clinic or school.
Children and youth, and their families, are at the very heart of all we do. We know that for children and families to pursue all that’s possible in their lives, they need to be able to get involved in their communities. So, we are always looking for new ways to help our patients and students do just that, and for local organizations to engage with them— and with Kennedy Krieger.
We hope you enjoy these stories! If you have ideas of ways that Kennedy Krieger can work with your community, employer or organization, please reach out.
Wishing you all a very safe, healthy and happy 2025.
Bradley L. Schlaggar, MD, PhD
President and Chief Executive Officer
The Zanvyl Krieger Faculty Endowed Chair Kennedy Krieger Institute
INSTITUTE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chair
Ronald R. Peterson
Vice Chair
Matthew A. Gotlin, CFA
Preston G. Athey
Michael J. Batza Jr.
Sandra R. Berman
Van D. Brooks
Watchen H. Bruce
Richard W. Cass
Ikechukwu Tony Chukuka
Stephanie Cooper Greenberg
Nancy S. Grasmick, EdD
Michele J. Guyton, PhD
Richard J. Himelfarb
Renee R. Jenkins, MD, FAAP
Stephen M. Keelty
Daniel S. Koch, JD Maynard McAlpin
Beth F. McGinn
Howard B. Miller, Esq.
Patricia J. Mitchell
Wendy L. Morris
Stephanie L. Reel, MBA
Bradley L. Schlaggar, MD, PhD
Kenneth C. Schuberth, MD
Andrew H. Segal, MD
Robert L. Sloan
Barbara S. Slusher, PhD, MAS
Amy B. Solomon
Francie C. Spahn
David G. Sweiderk
Paul S. Thesiger, MD
Melissa K. Trovato, MD
Alicia L. Wilson, JD
Judy C. Woodruff
Adam S. Zarren, Esq.
FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chair
Preston G. Athey
Vice Chair
Nancy S. Grasmick, EdD
Vice Chair
Patricia J. Mitchell
James M. Anders Jr., CPA, MBA, CGMA®
Alexander B. Bartlett
Robert A. Baruch
Linda S. Cameron, MBA
Richard W. Cass
EDITOR
Laura Thornton
ART DIRECTOR
Erin Parsons
DESIGNER
Tom Czajkowski
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Laura Farmer, Susan Ingram and Katie Willmott
PROOFREADER
Nina K. Pettis
PHOTOGRAPHY
Nahir Moreno and others
For media and public relations inquiries, email: Media@KennedyKrieger.org
Cynthia Cavanaugh
Aimee Fulchino
Matthew A. Gotlin, CFA
Alvin D. Katz, CPA
Beth F. McGinn
K. Brigid Peterson, JD
Ronald R. Peterson
Bradley L. Schlaggar, MD, PhD
Robert L. Sloan
Francie C. Spahn
David G. Sweiderk
January 2025 Volume 25, No. 1
Sarah Mooney
AVP OF MARKETING, PR AND COMMUNICATIONS
Lisa Nickerson
DIRECTOR OF PR AND SOCIAL MEDIA
Jessica Gregg
PR MANAGER
Taylor Gleason
For more stories, news and updates, visit: KennedyKrieger.org/Magazine
On the cover: Alums of the Bennett Blazers, the Institute’s adaptive sports team, competed in the Paris Paralympics this past summer. Read their stories on Page 8.
Left to right: Ron Peterson, chair of the Kennedy Krieger Institute Board of Directors; Stacey Herman, Kennedy Krieger’s assistant vice president
What’s inside...
The Power of Possibility
Four Paralympians who once competed for the Bennett Blazers, Kennedy Krieger’s adaptive sports team, made their mark in Paris.
Teaming up with Special Olympics Maryland
HELPING KIDS BE KIDS
Kennedy Krieger’s child life specialists and recreational therapists use games, crafts, music and more to help kids and teens in the hospital stay positive and meet their rehabilitation goals.
By Laura Thornton
As music and laughter filled the hallways of Kennedy Krieger Institute’s inpatient rehabilitation hospital, Pickles the Clown called out, “It’s the Pickles Positivity Parade—join us!”
Everyone—patients, parents and other caregivers, hospital staff members— turned out for the parade, holding signs saying “Keep up the great work!” and other messages of positivity. Pickles gave out prizes and did magic tricks—it was like a giant, happy block party, right in the heart of the hospital.
“We put the ‘fun’ in ‘functional.’”
– Sharon Borshay
“I’m happiest when I’m Pickles the Clown,” says Sharon Borshay, who leads the Institute’s Child Life and Recreation Therapies Department. A recreational therapist by training, Borshay guides her staff in supporting the patients receiving care in the Institute’s hospital.
“We normalize the hospital experience for our patients, making it less intimidating,” Borshay explains. “Child life specialists prepare kids for medical procedures. Recreational therapists help them keep up with their favorite activities, post-injury or illness, and learn new ones. Patients form friendships in our Rec Room.”
The department is unusual among pediatric hospitals in that it employs a broad range of specialists who are integral members of the hospital’s interdisciplinary care team. “Our patients are kids and teens working hard to meet their rehabilitation goals,” Borshay says. “We ensure they’re doing that in as normal an environment as possible, and that they’re having fun along the way.”
Use the QR code or visit KennedyKrieger.org/CLRT to learn more. Visit KennedyKrieger.org/Give to support our patients today!
WHO’S WHO ON OUR REC TEAM
Child life specialists help patients feel more at ease through creative play, whether it’s incorporating a fun art activity into a medical procedure or explaining a diagnosis in kidfriendly terms. They support siblings, too!
Recreational therapists adapt sports, crafts and games to help patients meet their therapy goals while socializing and doing activities they enjoy. They also take patients on fun outings to help them practice new skills and reintegrate into the community.
Music therapists use music to encourage patients to express their feelings, relax and even improve their motor skills. They also offer fun activities like music bingo for parents and other caregivers.
Recreational activities staff members work in our Rec Room in the evenings and on weekends, so patients always have a place to go to do something fun and relax.
Our patient and family experience manager makes sure patients’ caregivers are well taken care of. It’s the little things that make a big impact, whether it’s running errands for caregivers, planning a weekly lunch for them, answering questions or being their advocate.
A Perfect Partnership
By Jessica Gregg
Kennedy Krieger’s partnership with Special Olympics Maryland includes Healthy Young Athletes screenings and the new Child and Family Health Pilot.
The partnership flows easily between Kennedy Krieger Institute and Special Olympics Maryland— some might say it’s like a flawless baton handoff in a relay race.
For many years, Special Olympics Maryland has run the Healthy Athletes program, providing its athletes ages 8 and older with the opportunity to receive regular medical screenings. This pairs seamlessly with the Special Olympics mission of offering year-round sports training to people with intellectual disabilities, and in this effort, Kennedy Krieger and Special Olympics Maryland have become close partners.
Individuals with intellectual disabilities often have reduced access to quality medical care, an issue that has always been a concern to the Institute’s clinicians, who count among their patients many Special Olympians from around the Mid-Atlantic area. For many years, Kennedy Krieger staff members have assisted with Healthy Athletes screenings. This year, for example, they worked with other healthcare professionals and student volunteers to help with 660 screenings at the Special Olympics Maryland Summer Games, says Dr. Chris Joseph, senior director of physical therapy at Kennedy Krieger.
“These screenings are so important for finding out what their needs are,” Dr. Joseph says. “Many of the Healthy Athletes have aged out of seeing a pediatrician, and these screenings help get them back into the medical system.”
Two years ago, Special Olympics decided to expand its screenings to even younger children. A team of Kennedy Krieger clinicians—including a
pediatrician, a physiatrist and a physical therapist— screened athletes, ages 2 to 7, at schools and community centers around the state. They also created the screening protocols for this new Healthy Young Athletes program, which can be replicated by Special Olympics programs across the country.
In 2023, Kennedy Krieger received the Golisano Leadership Award from Special Olympics Maryland in recognition of these efforts to increase healthcare access.
“This award was a wonderful surprise, because the work is something we would have done without recognition,” says Dr. Bradley L. Schlaggar, the Institute’s president and CEO. “It’s so essential to our mission and to what our patients need.”
This year, Kennedy Krieger and Special Olympics Maryland collaborated on another new initiative, the Child and Family Health Pilot, which included health screenings for students at Kennedy Krieger’s Early Childhood Development and Education Center in Baltimore County and Southeast Early Head Start program in Baltimore City. Parents there also participated in one of Special Olympics’ family health forums, giving them access to even more health information.
To learn more about Kennedy Krieger’s early childhood programs, including Southeast Early Head Start, use the QR code or visit: KennedyKrieger.org/EarlyChildhood
Photo by Drew Koritzer
CaringCollaboration
Through its partnership with the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore, Kennedy Krieger supports patients and their families in innovative, holistic ways.
By Laura Thornton
It was a night to remember: a “Family Feud” face-off between kids staying in Kennedy Krieger Institute’s rehabilitation hospital and kids—along with their siblings—staying just a few blocks away at the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore. Adrenaline levels ran high as hands hovered over make-pretend buzzers, poised to win.
But it was all in good fun. “The kids had an absolute blast,” says Elisa Delia, the Institute’s vice president and chief of staff and strategic initiatives, who came up with the idea after talking one evening with Liam, 7, a patient of Kennedy Krieger staying at the Ronald McDonald House with his family.
“He told me his dream was to be on ‘Family Feud,’ so of course we had to make that happen for him,” says Delia, who is also a board member for Ronald McDonald House Charities® Maryland, the nonprofit organization that runs the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore.
As the icing on the cake, Liam’s team won. “But we will have a rematch,” Delia says. “It was just too much fun to not do again!”
A History of Support
Ronald McDonald House Charities Maryland opened Maryland’s only Ronald McDonald House in 1982 to provide a home away from home for families with children receiving medical care at Baltimore-area hospitals. In 2019, it moved to its current location, a few blocks from Kennedy Krieger. It’s a stunningly beautiful space, bathed in natural light, with 55 hotel-style rooms, plus family living and dining rooms, teen and game rooms, lots of informal gathering spaces, and more. It serves about 2,400 families a year.
“It’s such a relief for families to stay there,” says Alexis Bruce, the Institute’s inpatient social work manager. “It takes the financial burden off families by offering meals, a comfortable room and a community of support.”
The goodnatured “feud” is just one of many ways that Kennedy Krieger and the Ronald McDonald House have worked together to help kids and families. For many years, Kennedy Krieger staff members have participated in the Ronald McDonald House’s annual fundraising gala and Red Shoe Shuffle 5K, explains Sandy Pagnotti, president and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities Maryland. And teams from Kennedy Krieger frequently volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House to cook dinner for the families staying there.
The Partnership That Love Built
More recently, the two organizations have stepped the collaboration up a notch. A couple of years ago, as they were developing their strategic plans, they brainstormed new ways to serve each other. Delia, Pagnotti and their colleagues swiftly solidified a partnership that Kennedy Krieger approaches exactly as it does its patients: “We wrap our arms around this partnership and embrace it,” Delia says.
To kick things off, the Ronald McDonald House gave Kennedy Krieger a snack cart—not just any snack cart, but the Rolls-Royce of snack carts, custombuilt by the Construction Owners Association of America for the Ronald McDonald House and dubbed “The Cart That Love Built.” Kennedy Krieger staff members—including President and CEO Dr. Bradley L. Schlaggar—use the cart regularly to hand out snacks, prizes and more to patients and coworkers in the Institute’s inpatient hospital.
And this January, Kennedy Krieger child life specialist Eve Kenney begins workshops for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House. The workshops include groups for parents and other caregivers, recreation groups for patients, and Sibshops for patients’ siblings. Developed by the Sibling Support Project, “The Sibshops are therapeutic gatherings where kids can talk with each other and with me about what it feels like to have a sibling with a chronic diagnosis, and strategies to help them get through tough days,” Kenney says.
“We couldn’t wait to plan these groups because we knew the difference they could make,” Delia says. “This collaborative effort is inspiring.”
And it’s only just beginning. Stay tuned for news of more joint programming from Kennedy Krieger and the Ronald McDonald House!
Sibling and family support services aren’t always covered under insurance, although the Institute offers them free of charge. Use the QR code or visit KennedyKrieger.org/Give to support our patients and their families today!
“We wrap our arms around this partnership and embrace it.”
– Elisa Delia
POWER of Possibility
Four Paralympians who once competed for the Bennett Blazers, Kennedy Krieger’s adaptive sports team, made their mark in Paris.
By Katie Willmott
Cheers and excitement filled the air as a group gathered around a large screen to watch the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Kennedy Krieger Institute was hosting a special watch party, inviting staff members, Bennett Blazers athletes and their families to come together to witness a momentous occasion.
Four alums of the Bennett Blazers, Kennedy Krieger’s adaptive sports program for kids and teens with physical disabilities, were getting ready to compete in the Paralympics. Those four would be representing not only Team USA, but the program that introduced them to adaptive sports.
To the young Blazers at the watch party, these accomplished athletes were major celebrities—living proof that a disability doesn’t define a person, and that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.
“I often tell people I have the best job around,” says Gwena Herman, who co-founded the program with her husband, Gerry, in 1990.
“I get to use sports as an avenue to help kids see and reach their potential.”
“I can’t imagine how different my life would be if it weren’t for the Blazers.”
– Daniel Romanchuk
Paralympians and Bennett Blazers alums Daniel Romanchuk and Tatyana McFadden with Kennedy Krieger President and CEO Dr. Brad Schlaggar at a Halloween-themed party for the Bennett Blazers
Tatyana the Titan
One of the athletes who credits the Hermans with helping her envision and accomplish her athletic possibilities is Tatyana McFadden.
Tatyana was born with spina bifida and participated in a variety of sports as a Blazer, but it was wheelchair racing that turned out to be her true passion. Today, her name is synonymous with the sport. It’s nearly impossible to think about wheelchair racing without also thinking about Tatyana McFadden.
Noah the Noble
Noah Hanssen was introduced to the Blazers while receiving care at Kennedy Krieger’s International Center for Spinal Cord Injury. Through years of competing in adaptive sports, he developed a love and talent for wheelchair fencing.
Paris marked Tatyana’s seventh Paralympic appearance, which also proved to be a recordbreaking moment in her career. Tatyana won a silver medal and a bronze medal, raising the total number of Paralympic track-and-field medals she’s won to 21, and making her the most decorated track-and-field athlete in American Paralympic and Olympic history, Tatyana says. (She has also won a medal for cross-country skiing.)
Dynamic Daniel
It was actually Tatyana’s mother, Debbie, who introduced wheelchair racer Daniel Romanchuk and his family to the Blazers at a Spina Bifida Association event. The rest is history.
“It taught me not only about sports, but also about life,” Daniel says of his time with the program. “I can’t imagine how different my life would be if it weren’t for the Blazers.”
By the time Daniel concluded his Bennett Blazers career, he had become one of Kennedy Krieger’s most celebrated athletes. Now, he’s one of the most elite wheelchair racing athletes in the world.
Leaving Paris after competing in his third Paralympics, Daniel’s luggage was a bit heavier than it was on the way there. That’s because he was returning home with a gold medal and a bronze medal, bringing his total of Paralympic medals to four.
His dedication to the sport paid off, and he was named to Team USA’s 2024 Paralympic roster. During his time in Paris—his first Paralympics—he competed in four events, giving a strong performance that made the Bennett Blazers community proud.
Terrific Taylor
A series of back injuries and a diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome dashed para swimmer Taylor Winnett’s collegiate swimming dreams. But while attending Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore, she was introduced to the Bennett Blazers and took up para swimming. Soon, her competitive swimming career was back on track, and she secured a trip to Paris.
Taylor competed in four para swimming events during her Paralympic debut, finishing in the top eight in two of them.
The Next Generation
Shortly after winning his second medal, Daniel received a visit from Dakota, a young Bennett Blazers athlete who traveled to Paris specifically to watch Daniel and his fellow Bennett Blazers alums compete. Together, they posed for a photo, with Daniel wearing one of his medals, and Dakota holding the other.
Maybe the next time Dakota poses with a Paralympic medal, it’ll be one of her own.
To learn more about Kennedy Krieger’s adaptive sports team, use the QR code or visit: KennedyKrieger.org/BennettBlazers
Clockwise, from top left: Tatyana McFadden; Noah Hanssen; Taylor Winnett with swim coach George Leatherman; Daniel Romanchuk with Bennett Blazers athlete Dakota; and Daniel and his wife, Hannah Romanchuk (photos provided by the athletes and their families)
All in a Day’s Work
Kennedy Krieger’s CORE Foundations program helps young adults with disabilities find employment and enrichment opportunities.
By Laura Farmer
Tyler Shallue loves his job.
“I’m currently doing an internship with Anne Arundel County government’s Risk Management Division of Central Services,” he explains. “Safety and emergency preparedness has actually become quite a passion for me. I really like the idea of keeping people safe.”
This internship is just the latest in Shallue’s growing resume of employment and advanced education—successes that he asserts are due in part to the guidance and support he receives from Kennedy Krieger Institute’s CORE Foundations program.
CORE Foundations
CORE Foundations—“CORE” stands for Community, Opportunity, Respect and Employment—provides person-centered services that foster individual growth, promote meaningful relationships and empower people with disabilities to achieve independence in their home, workplace and community. Best of all, each participant gets a customized plan for education, enrichment and employment that best serves their needs.
CORE Foundations is offered by Kennedy Krieger’s Neurodiversity at Work department, which offers training and education, conducts research, and provides direct services to support neurodiversity in the workplace. The department also produces the Institute’s annual Neurodiversity in the Workplace National Conference, which took place October 27–29, 2024, with record participation: 258 people from 27 states attended more than two dozen sessions.
“CORE Foundations provides young adults with two types of support: community development and employment,” explains Hannah Wayne, director of Neurodiversity at Work. “Regarding our community development, each day, young adults from across six counties in Maryland meet staff members at a location convenient to their home to participate
in leisure activities, fitness classes, volunteer experiences and other enrichment opportunities. Each participant’s schedule is customized in collaboration with a CORE Foundations staff member to suit their unique abilities, interests and schedules.”
Additionally, the employment support that CORE Foundations offers helps connect program participants—called community members—with jobs that suit their skills, strengths and interests.
Community member Andy Moscoso has appreciated this support. “I work at the Howard County Public Safety Training Center,” he says. “I work the front desk during busy weekday hours. I like that my job gives me purpose. I am allowed to work independently and take ownership of my workspace. My co-workers are understanding and kind. I feel valued at work.”
about the program.
“I like that my job gives me purpose.”
Above: Tyler Shallue, a CORE Foundations community member, and Rachel Tracz, manager of meaningful day services for the Institute’s Neurodiversity at Work department
Tools to Thrive
Kennedy Krieger’s Assistive Technology Clinic uses innovative technologies to help clients with disabilities.
Like many 16-year-old girls, Annie loves to shop. Her mom, Melissa, recalls one day when they were driving past the exit to the local mall, Annie urged her to stop at her favorite store. But there was something special about this request: Annie is autistic and nonspeaking, so she made her wishes known through an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device.
Annie has learned to communicate through her device thanks to the support and expertise of Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Assistive Technology Clinic, where speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists use innovative technologies to help patients with a variety of communication, learning and mobility needs.
“Kennedy Krieger has been amazing, especially [speech-language pathologist] Laura Dickerson,” Melissa says. “Annie is not fluent with her device yet, because it takes years of modeling how to use the device, just like learning a new language. But we have been working with Laura to expand Annie’s use of the device.”
The work is paying off. Annie was recently able to use her device to share that she felt sad. The moment was a breakthrough, as it meant Annie had advanced from requesting tangible things like food to communicating intangible things like emotions.
“We have seen parents in tears when their child is finally able to say, ‘I love you.’” – Lauren Tooley
By Laura Farmer
“It’s incredibly rewarding to witness a client realize, ‘Wow! I can finally say some of these things I have always wanted to communicate,’” says Lauren Tooley, assistant director for speech-language pathology and assistive technology at Kennedy Krieger. “We have seen parents in tears when their child is finally able to say, ‘I love you’ or ‘Mom.’ Giving someone the tools to communicate is incredibly powerful.”
Expanding Accessibility
Clinic staff members evaluate first-time patients to determine which devices will best meet their needs. Then, they guide families through acquiring and using the devices, which fall into four main categories: power mobility, adapted computer and phone access, adapted reading and writing supports, and AAC.
The clinic works with families to obtain insurance coverage for their devices and share resources that can help when devices are not covered. The Institute offers some grant-based funds and a lending library of devices. School-aged patients may be able to get their devices through school, and the Maryland Technology Assistance Program provides low-interest loans for families.
For Annie’s family, her AAC device is priceless.
“When I see children who struggle with language and don’t have another form of communication, it’s very difficult for me because I know there is help available,” Melissa says. “I want families to know that if their child struggles with communication, they can reach out to Kennedy Krieger’s assistive technology program. They really can help!”
Visit KennedyKrieger.org/ATC or use the QR code to learn more about the clinic.
Annie with her augmentative and alternative communication device (photo by Charles Collins)
Research Roundup
Autism Is More Likely to Reoccur in Families With Autistic Children
A study by Dr. Rebecca Landa, vice president and executive director of the Institute’s Center for Autism Services, Science and Innovation (CASSITM), along with her colleagues, revealed that one in five children with an older sibling diagnosed with autism is also likely to be diagnosed with autism. The recurrence rate rises to over 36% for families with more than one autistic child. The groundbreaking research also showed that younger siblings of girls with autism have a higher likelihood (34%) compared to those of boys (22%). The study emphasizes the importance of early developmental monitoring for younger children, especially for families with older autistic children.
New research at Kennedy Krieger on dyslexia, autism and public health has the potential to improve lives around the world.
By Taylor Gleason
Every day, scientists at Kennedy Krieger Institute study nervous system diseases and disorders with the aim of learning more and developing new treatments. Here are three recent advances we’ve made that reflect the dedication, innovation and collaborative spirit driving our community forward.
How Brain Training Improves Reading for Children With Dyslexia
A recent study by Dr. Tzipi Horowitz-Kraus and the team at the Institute’s Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research tested a special reading program designed to help children with dyslexia by improving their attention and organization— also known as executive function—skills.
In the study, 120 children—55 with dyslexia—practiced reading sentences and did exercises to improve their executive function skills. After the study, the children with dyslexia showed the greatest improvement in their reading abilities, and each child’s brain activity improved in the areas that handle sight and sound. The study concluded that combining reading practice with exercises to improve executive function skills can make a big difference for all children, especially those with dyslexia.
Visit KennedyKrieger.org/Research or use the QR code to learn more about research at the Institute.
Improving COVID-19 Vaccination Rates and Health Literacy
A study conducted by Dr. Ernest Carter, director of health equity, research and innovation in the Institute’s Office for Health, Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity (O-HEID), showed how community health workers can improve COVID-19 vaccination rates and health literacy among members of underserved communities. Members of these communities often face barriers like low income, language challenges and misinformation, factors which contributed to these communities being disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
In the study, local health workers received training on how to provide culturally tailored information, resulting in a 345% increase in vaccinations, including a 512% rise in vaccinations among non-native English speakers. These results underscore the vital role of trusted community members in overcoming vaccine hesitancy and improving health outcomes in underserved populations.
Follow the Institute’s research pages on social media: KennedyKriegerResearch Facebook.com/KennedyKriegerResearch
Planned Giving
Meet Carrie Hull, Kennedy Krieger’s new director of planned giving, whose passion is helping people help others.
By Susan Ingram
Earlier this year, Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Office of Philanthropy welcomed Carrie Hull as its director of planned giving. With a background in wealth management, financial services and philanthropy, Hull brings with her deep experience in helping individuals and families plan their estates to support the causes that are most meaningful to them. Kennedy Krieger Magazine recently spoke with Hull to learn more about her work.
How do you describe your work?
I collaborate with donors and their full team of trusted advisors, which includes their financial advisors, accountants and estate-planning attorneys, to help them create an impactful legacy at Kennedy Krieger. As the director of planned giving, I work one on one with donors to navigate complex plannedgiving vehicles that may provide tax benefits or income replacement during their retirement years. By assessing their overall financial picture, I help them plan for the future and determine the best ways they can support Kennedy Krieger while meeting retirement and estate-planning goals. I love helping people create multigenerational legacies for the causes they care about most.
How can people give to Kennedy Krieger
through
planned giving?
When should people start considering planned giving?
It’s important, even for younger people, to think about estate planning. A significant life change is always a cue to discuss planning with one’s family and trusted advisory team. We can explain how to make an impact with a gift that may also have benefits to the donor. We encourage donors to meet with us annually to review their philanthropy and inform us of any relevant updates to their financial, retirement and estate plans. And don’t forget to review your retirement and insurance beneficiaries periodically with your team of trusted advisors, too.
“I love helping people create multigenerational legacies for the causes they care about most.”
– Carrie Hull
There are many different ways, so it is always best to reach out to determine what best suits your personal situation. I do like to highlight a few common ways that can provide benefits to the donor. With charitable gift annuities, and some charitable trusts, donors exchange assets for an income stream for life while possibly receiving an income tax deduction. Donor-advised funds (DAFs) are a wonderful way to take advantage of an income tax reduction and involve the next generation in philanthropic giving. And the donation of appreciated assets, like stocks and real estate, can fund meaningful gifts over time and may also provide tax benefits to the donor.
How does planned giving benefit both donors and Kennedy Krieger?
Donors may receive tax benefits and/or income for life by making a planned gift. But donors also benefit from the peace of mind and satisfaction that come from knowing they’ve put plans in place to help others in a very powerful way. These types of gifts help Kennedy Krieger plan for the future. That’s why it is so important to share your plans with us.
For more information on planned giving or to schedule a review of your philanthropic giving, contact Carrie Hull at HullC@KennedyKrieger.org or 410-608-4638 .
Visit KennedyKrieger.org/Howard to read one couple’s story of planned giving to Kennedy Krieger. The information in this article is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney, tax advisor or other licensed financial professional.
KENNEDY KRIEGER IN THE NEWS
Scan the QR code or visit KennedyKrieger.org/News for these stories and more!
World Today News
Many Adolescents With Long COVID Suffer From Dizziness or Orthostatic Intolerance (October 29, 2024)
Kennedy Krieger researchers find most kids with long COVID experience orthostatic intolerance, characterized by dizziness, fatigue and body pain.
‘It Can Be Just as Exciting as the Olympics’: What a Paralympian Wishes Audiences Knew (August 30, 2024)
Wheelchair racing gold medalist Daniel Romanchuk is an alum of the Bennett Blazers, Kennedy Krieger’s adaptive sports team.
SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT
Find out what’s happening at Kennedy Krieger in real time and join the conversation!
To find us on Facebook and Instagram, scan the QR code or visit: KennedyKrieger.org/Social
June 21, 2024: Please welcome Dr. Ernestine BriggsKing, PhD, to Kennedy Krieger as vice president of the Department of Family and Community Interventions, which includes the Institute’s Therapeutic Foster Care program and Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress. Dr. Briggs-King conducts research on traumatic stress, mentors staff members and trainees, and supports psychological care for children and families.
Forbes Names Kennedy Krieger Among Top 10 Maryland Employers (September 4, 2024)
The honor reflects Kennedy Krieger staff members’ dedication and commitment to patients and students, say senior leaders of the Institute.
U.S. News & World Report Names Kennedy Krieger Among Best Children’s Hospitals
Kennedy Krieger Institute has been recognized as a 2024–2025 Best Children’s Hospital by U.S. News & World Report. What’s more: The media company’s new specialty behavioral health category praises Kennedy Krieger and the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center for their joint pediatric and adolescent behavioral health program.
EVENTS
Our events are a great way to bring family and community members together! Scan the QR code or visit KennedyKrieger.org/Events to register, sponsor or explore events.
Fall Fête 5 | October 4, 2024: Kennedy Krieger’s much-anticipated fashion event returned to Green Spring Station in Timonium, Md., this year to raise over $105,000 for the Institute’s Read, Imagine, Grow Program, designed to increase reading literacy and access to books for patients and students.
Barrels & Bonfires | November 1, 2024: The Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) for Kennedy Krieger raised $42,000 for the Institute’s sibling and family support groups at WIN’s third annual Barrels & Bonfires at Farmacy Brewing in Reisterstown, Md. The event welcomed over 200 attendees.
Save These Dates!
ROAR for KIDS
Sunday, May 4, 2025
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Champions of Hope Gala
Friday, May 9, 2025
Baltimore Marriott Waterfront
AWARDS
Baltimore Magazine recognized six Kennedy Krieger physicians in its Top Doctors list for 2024:
Dr. Siddharth Gupta, director of our Epilepsy Monitoring Unit and an attending physician in our Center for Synaptic Disorders
Dr. Mary Leppert , director of our Teaching Excellence in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (TEND) Clinic and Project ECHO® programs
Dr. Carmen Lopez-Arvizu, director of outpatient psychiatric services at our Center for Developmental Behavioral Health
Dr. Albert Recio, medical director of our Aquatic Therapy Program and an attending physician for our International Center for Spinal Cord Injury
Dr. Heather Riordan, director of our Phelps Center for Cerebral Palsy
Dr. Joyce Wong, attending physician at our Center for Development and Learning and vice president and presidentelect of our medical staff
This is the first time that six Institute physicians have been named to the list. Dr. Leppert and Dr. Lopez-Arvizu have been included in previous years as well. To be considered for this honor, physicians must be nominated by fellow doctors in the Baltimore area.
Paralympians get their start here.
When you give to Kennedy Krieger Institute, you’re helping us pursue every possibility for kids like our Bennett Blazers, some of whom go on to become Paralympians. Your gift supports groundbreaking education, research and care that bring hope and transform lives. Thank you so much!
Make your donation today! Visit KennedyKrieger.org/J25 or use the QR code, or mail us your donation using the return envelope inside this issue.
Bennett Blazers athlete Dakota receives a medal from Kennedy Krieger’s president and CEO, Dr. Brad Schlaggar, at ROAR for Kids 2024. Dakota placed third in the women and girls’ adaptive athlete/wheelchair division 5K race at ROAR and was also a top fundraiser for the event.
WHY WE GIVE
“As the parents of two children with developmental disabilities, we have been blessed by the services afforded by Kennedy Krieger to our family over many years now. Kennedy Krieger is truly a worldclass organization that, in our opinion, is without parallel in providing interdisciplinary services to help individuals with developmental disabilities achieve all that’s possible.”
The Lewis family