2014 Annual Report

The Foundation for Rehabilitation Psychology (FRP) was established in 2005 by a group of past presidents of the Division of Rehabilitation Psychology (Division 22) of the American Psychological Association (APA). They envisioned the foundation as the means through which all who care about the future of rehabilitation psychology could invest in its vitality and growth through tax-deductible donations and planned gifts.

MISSION AND STRATEGIC PLANNING

The Foundation for Rehabilitation Psychology is a charitable 501(c) 3 corporation. In 2013 the FRP board completed strategic planning resulting in an enhanced mission and vision statement, with specific strategies, goals and timelines delineated for the next five years. During 2014, the Board voted to include the president-elect of Division 22 and a student member as ex-officio members. Dr. Gitendra Uswatte was the first president-elect to serve, followed by Dr. Kathleen S. Brown who currently holds that position. Gillian Mayersohn of Nova Southeastern is the first student to serve. Dr. John D. Corrigan and others are leading current efforts to increase the FRP endowment thru a direct solicitation campaign and exploring crowdfunding possibilities. Dr. Scott Richards has worked with Division 22 to enhance the FRP presence on the division's website. Dr. Barry P. Nierenberg is coordinating ongoing submissions of classic papers reflective of “foundations from the Foundation”: the FRP's strategy of highlighting the field's academic legacy. Dr. Steve T. Wegener and others are spearheading development of a special issue of Rehabilitation Psychology, and other activities for the annual meeting reflective of the FRP goals. Dr. Dawn Ehde continues to coordinate the process of soliciting and selecting dissertation and student research award winners. Finally, the FRP was fortunate to have Dr. Dana Dunn join the board. His scholarship in the social psychology of disability will further the FRP mission of “Advancing the Psychology of Disability and Chronic Health Conditions.”

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND GOALS

The board planned on distributing grants when the foundation's funds reached $100,000. We reached that level in 2012 after seven years of the foundation's existence. Expenditures in 2014 in support of the field were as follows:

ANNUAL CONFERENCE SUPPORT

The foundation provided a $500 grant to support the 2014 Rehabilitation Psychology annual conference and committed a similar amount to the 2015 meeting. This grant makes the educational meeting more affordable for rehabilitation psychologists and graduate students. Grants in support of the conference were made in the five previous years.

STUDENT RESEARCH AWARDS

The foundation provided $500 for student research awards at the 2014 Annual Conference and committed $1,000 for the 2015 meeting.

Trey Anderson is a doctoral student of Timothy R. Elliott, PhD, at Texas A&M University. He won the 2014 Student Research Award and presented his research project on “Depression among Persons with Sensory Disabilities in a Rural, Underserved Region” at the Mid-Winter meeting.

DISSERTATION AWARDS

The foundation held its third competition in 2014 for rehabilitation dissertation grants, and awarded three grants for the 2014-2015 academic year for a total of $5885 (including $500 for travel support to each of the three recipients to present their findings at the mid-winter meeting).

Preeti Sumderaraman is a doctoral student at Drexel University. Her dissertation research is focused on financial capacity and neuropsychological performance in acquired brain injury. Her mentor is Division 22 member, Dr. Maria Schultheis.

Victoria Bangieva is a student at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFUMS). Her dissertation concerns coping, optimism, and physiological outcomes in cardiac rehabilitation. Her dissertation chair is Dr. Lawrence Perlmuter.

Stephanie Leung, also a student of Dr. Perlmuter and in the clinical psychology program at RFUMS, is conducting a dissertation on intergenerational psychosocial factors and healthcare utilization in cardiac rehabilitation.

FUND RAISING GOAL

The Foundation's intermediate fund raising goal is to raise $40,000 with the intention of sustaining and enhancing the level of conference and student support. The long-term goal is to establish an endowment of $1 million. This endowment will permit investment earnings to substantially underwrite the annual conference and provide graduate student dissertation research grants in perpetuity.

FUNDS

In addition to a General Fund, the Foundation for Rehabilitation Psychology has established two special funds that align with our mission and honor two individuals with notable contributions to our field.

The Bernard Brucker Continuing Professional Educational Fund supports the Rehabilitation Psychology annual meeting. Bernie was a president of Division 22, a founding member of FRP, and a founding member and president of the American Board of Rehabilitation Psychology. He was also an innovative researcher and internationally renowned speaker until his death in 2008.

The Mitchell Rosenthal Fund provides funds to support doctoral dissertation and student research in Rehabilitation Psychology. Dr. Rosenthal was a president of Division 22 and a founding member and president of FRP until his death in 2007. He was also a founding member and President of the American Board of Rehabilitation Psychology. He was a world-renowned leader in the field of brain injury rehabilitation as a researcher, writer, and mentor to hundreds of students and colleagues.

ENDOWMENT FUND MANAGEMENT

The Foundation for Rehabilitation Psychology works with the Columbus Foundation, a large community foundation, to manage the operational aspects of our endowment. Their low fees minimize expenses and allow the Foundation to function without paid staff. The Columbus Foundation offers over 70 years of experience and manages over $1.5 billion in assets. They have expertise in planned giving and consult with donors for gifting in their wills.

YEAR-END FINANCIAL SUMMARY FOR 2014

The Foundation maintains a checking account for small expenses; the balance at the end of 2014 was $223.11. The Columbus Foundation maintains the “Foundation for Rehabilitation Psychology Organization Endowment Fund (2306)” with assets of $130,306.12 at the end of 2014. Total assets of the Foundation at the end of 2014 were $130,529.23

2014 FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTORS

The Board of Directors extends a sincere thank you to our generous donors.