From the National Spinal Cord Injury
Association
Philanthropist / Entrepreneur Robert
Klein Donates Half Million Dollars to Directly Aid Hurricane
Survivors with Disabilities
Gift named “The Brian Joseph McCloskey Katrina Survivors
with Disabilities Fund”. NSCIA head says “needs of people
with disabilities” in hurricane disasters “almost entirely
lost” until Klein donation
(Bethesda, MD – November 22, 2005) – A gift of
$500,000 for the relief of people with spinal cord injuries
and other disabilities who survived the ravages of Hurricane
Katrina and other recent hurricanes, has been made to the
National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA) by Robert
Klein, CEO of Safeguard Properties, Inc. and his wife Ita.
The gift is a personal donation from the Kleins.
Safeguard Properties is the nation’s largest privately
held property preservation/mortgage field services company.
The NSCIA is headquartered in Bethesda Maryland; and
Safeguard Properties is based in Brooklyn Heights, Ohio.
Marcie Roth, Executive Director/CEO of the NSCIA said that a
special restricted fund, which has been named The Brian
Joseph McCloskey Katrina Survivors with Disabilities Fund
will be used exclusively to provide direct services to
hurricane survivors, especially Katrina survivors, with
spinal cord injuries and other disabilities that have a
significant impact on daily life and recovery from these
devastating hurricanes. The fund has been named in honor of
Brian McCloskey, the late 18 year-old son of Joseph
McCloskey, a close personal friend of Mr. Klein, who died
suddenly last week.
In a statement issued today, Ms. Roth said: “In the midst
of the largest natural disaster in this country’s history,
the needs of people with disabilities were almost entirely
lost. Despite the best efforts of many of my colleagues, the
vast philanthropic gestures were all directed to the general
relief and recovery needs of people and animals affected by
the devastating hurricanes. Thanks to Robert and Ita Klein,
NSCIA will be able begin to meet some of the many additional
needs of people with spinal cord injuries and other
disabilities in the Gulf States who have lost everything.
Mr. & Mrs. Klein’s vision, leadership and generosity towards
these unmet needs is truly breathtaking. We join the Klein
family in offering condolences to the McClosky family at
this very sad time. We will do all we can to honor Brian’s
life and his memory through our efforts to make a very big
difference for hurricane survivors with disabilities.
Brian’s name will forever be associated with a truly
wonderful effort.”
In making the gift, Mr. Klein said: “My company has been
working non-stop in the hurricane recovery effort by
providing support to homeowners and the mortgage industry in
New Orleans and all the Gulf States devastated by
Hurricane Katrina. In addition, as human beings seeing
the devastation firsthand, we have been deeply struck and
touched by the heartache this and other hurricanes have
caused to people with severe disabilities. Their plight has
stayed hidden under the radar screen, and it is our hope
that this donation will make the first dent in addressing
their special needs. It is also our hope that others within
the business and philanthropic communities will come forth
to help those who have been most in need of recovery and
rehabilitation.”
"The generosity of Mr. Robert Klein will be measured not
in dollars, but in the restoration of dignity, community and
productivity for countless persons with disabilities
struggling for recovery following Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita," said Margaret J. Giannini, M.D., FAAP, Director of
the Office on Disability, U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. "While considerable effort has focused on
the short-term needs of those struggling to rebuild their
lives following these twin disasters, Mr. Klein's generous
gift will help enhance long-term recovery for persons with
serious disabilities in the Gulf Coast region."
Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff has
estimated that there are one million people with
disabilities who were adversely affected by Hurricane
Katrina alone. It is estimated that at least ten percent, or
100,000, were people with significant disabilities, and at
least two percent, or 20,000, were those with severe
disabilities.
Ms. Roth said that The Brian Joseph McCloskey Katrina
Survivors with Disabilities Fund would focus on the
following areas:
- Direct assistance with down payments, deposits and
where other resources are not available, cash to rebuild
homes
- Cash to replace durable medical equipment not
covered by private insurers, Medicaid or Medicare
- Assistance in furnishing homes, replacing items that
will not be replaced through FEMA and other sources
- Replacement of vehicles with wheelchair lifts and/or
hand-controls for those who have lost them.
- Advocacy to create disability specific funding to
address the additional needs of hurricane survivors with
disabilities and to maximize public policy initiatives
to address the current disaster mitigation efforts and
future events, as they affect people with disabilities
In existence since 1948, NSCIA is the nation's oldest and
largest civilian organization dedicated to helping the
hundreds of thousands of Americans living with paralysis
after spinal cord injury and disease.
To make a donation to the The Brian Joseph McCloskey
Katrina Survivors with Disabilities Fund, go to
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr or send check or
money order to: NSCIA
c/o Heymann,
Suissa & Stone, PC
1 Church Street
Suite 600
Rockville, MD
20850 |