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Stand Among Friends About Our Foundation Started in the fourth quarter of 1997, Stand Among Friends (SAF) has worked diligently and continues its efforts to promote research, education and advocacy of all neurological disorders. These disorders include spinal cord injury, stroke, Alzheimer's,  Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis and other central nervous system disorders.SAF funded its first grant in 1998 to The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis Male Fertility Program. This program conducts research to determine what effect spinal cord injuries have on male fertility. It also provides male fertility services for spinal cord injured patients who wish to become parents. Their in-vitro fertilization program is directly responsible for the birth of 45 healthy babies, including the Friedkins' daughter, who was born in 1996. SAF continued to develop its relationships during 1999 and funded several programs with such esteemed organizations as the University of Florida (UF) and Florida Atlantic University (FAU). The grant for UF was earmarked for the Human Spinal Cord Tissue Transplant Program. This program was the first in the country to transplant cells directly into the spinal cords of chronically injured patients. The research is under the direction of Dr. Reier and Dr. Anderson at the University of Florida Brain Institute. Their research has progressed through phase I trials with some remarkable results and the program continues its cutting-edge research. SAF continues to fund projects promoting medical research, education and advocacy. Our relationship with FAU started with the idea of utilizing the resources of the University to develop programs that would jointly benefit both parties. Our first project is the development of a published disability impact document with FAU's School of Nursing. "Disability and The American People" is the first of a series of documents to be jointly published by FAU and SAF. It will highlight the costs of disabilities in America and the impact that disabilities have on everyday life. This document is a resource tool targeted towards education in hopes of increasing funding and solutions that will tackle the many problems that disabilities impose on individuals and society. Our fundraisers are incredibly successful, and each year we bring in more charitable dollars than the preceding year. Over the years, SAF has developed a reputation for hosting fun, spirited, family events. The enjoyment of the events reinforces the belief that life goes on! The gravity of neurological disorders and spinal cord injuries and the need for research dollars is not lost in the fun. The fun reinforces "life goes on," greater interest, attendance and hope. Mr. Daniel Cantor of Tamarac, Florida has graciously bequeathed a gift of $200,000 to our Foundation. In tribute to this overwhelmingly generous gift, Stand Among Friends honored Mr. Cantor with the Family Circle Award at our annual benefit on October 18, 2000. The "Family Circle Award" is our most prestigious award. It is an honor bestowed upon those individuals for their generous support in helping us achieve our mission to promote research, education and advocacy of all neurological disorders. The impact of the Internet is overwhelming society. It is a dynamic medium and our site will always be in the process of "construction" as it will be continually updated to bring you the ever-changing developments in medical research, clinical trials, medication, quality of life programs, meetings, links, events, etc. We also understand the need for name recognition and have registered and trademarked our name and logo. It is our goal to develop SAF into the national spokes-organization for neurological disorders. We have launched several new programs such as online charitable giving and membership registration. Our membership register will be used as a clearinghouse for information such as new medical breakthroughs, finding candidates for research and to advocate for positive changes for neurological disorders. We are proud of our accomplishments, and we know that we have much more work to do. We gratefully acknowledge the support that we receive from all of our friends. We understand that Stand Among Friends is entrusted to be responsible and efficient with our resources. To that end, SAF has maintained a very tight reign on its expenses. Because of our strong sense of belief, dedication and purpose, we have been able to draw upon and rely on our very dedicated and strong volunteer base thereby keeping expenses low and morale high. Our organization is fiscally responsible. We are in a growth mode that lends stature to our foundation and belief in the programs we create and/or endorse. SAF is working very hard to fulfill its mission to promote research, education and advocacy of all neurological disorders. We will continue to strengthen current relationships and develop new ones that will move us forward towards achieving our mission. A Letter from the President of SAF  The Reality of Today's Research, and Its Impact on the Neurologically Disordered and Spinal-Cord Injured Community Stand Among Friends is dedicated to finding a cure for all neurological disorders. I believe that effective treatments and cures for neurological disorders will be developed within this decade. I am more confident than ever that this statement will ring true due to the continued progress of ongoing cutting-edge research. The successes of the scientific community, principally in the area of nerve cell transplants, is cause for all of us to renew our efforts and continue to press forward to ensure that our goals become reality. My wife Lisa and I are fortunate beneficiaries of the great strides made in medical research. In 1996, we fathered our miracle child by "in vitro" fertilization. At that time, The Miami Project Male Fertility Program was responsible for forty-five healthy babies. Today, the program is responsible for more than sixty-five healthy "miracles." SAF has been instrumental in funding research that has been successful in advancing the fight for a cure, and we will continue to fund aggressive efforts that bring us ever closer to suppression and/or eradication of neurological disorders. All of us at SAF pledge to continue working towards achieving our goals to promote research, education and advocacy of all neurological disorders. I believe the question is no longer "How will we find the necessary cures?" but "When will we find the necessary cures?" And, my answer is "Sooner rather than later!" - Shawn A. Friedkin On a Personal NoteShawn was just 27 years old when he sustained life-threatening injuries that altered the course of his young life. He was the victim of a tragic automobile accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down and confined to a wheelchair. He was hospitalized for three months having sustained eight broken ribs, a shattered shoulder blade and spinal cord injuries that required surgery. Thereafter, he underwent a year of intensive rehabilitation.Shawn and his college sweetheart, Lisa, were barely married five years and the parents of a two-year-old baby when the tragedy struck. They were very happy, enjoying each other, their child and their families. Their life was wonderful. They never expected the ominous "It could happen to you" to happen to them. It was a miracle that Shawn lived. However, after years of therapy and learning to cope, it is even more miraculous that the tragedy raised his level of consciousness and fortified his strength and energy. It is very difficult to think of Shawn as disabled. He is a strong presence, very self-assured, dedicated and goal-oriented. He founded Stand Among Friends, he stops to smell the roses, and his heart and soul "march to the beat of a different drummer." Shawn and Lisa are completely dedicated to one another and to their foundation. They work tirelessly to raise awareness of all neurological disorders and spinal cord injuries. Shawn and Lisa experience life differently now than they did in 1992. Then, they didn't think about the fragility of life. Now, their life is truly miraculous. They learned to cope, they are happy, they enjoy life, they became the parents of a miracle child fathered by "in vitro" fertilization and Stand Among Friends is an incredibly successful fundraising organization dedicated to research, education and advocacy of all neurological disorders. Contact Us Stand Among friends would love to hear from you. You can reach our foundation as follows: Stand Among Friends 7700 Congress Ave., Suite 1132 Boca Raton, Florida 33487 or P. O. Box 811476 Boca Raton, Florida 33481 Phone: (561) 988-9946 Toll Free: (800) 319-2574 Fax: (561) 988-9341 Charles Mulligan - Executive Director Lisa Friedkin - Director Charmaine Desmeules - Administrator Carol Chenkin - Media relations/Events Coordinator |
