TBI Warrior Foundation Selected to Receive Grant from Toyota’s Way Forward Fund
Funding will propel the San Antonio based organization’s mission to improve the health and well-being of children and individuals affected by traumatic brain injury
SAN ANTONIO (March 27, 2024) – TBI Warrior® Foundation today announced it has been selected to receive a grant from Toyota Motor North America’s (TMNA) Way Forward Fund, a multi-year initiative aimed at strengthening access to care and injury recovery support for individuals and their families, with a focus on children with traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
Inspired by his personal experience regaining independence after sustaining a TBI during a combat mission in Iraq, Purple Heart recipient U.S. Army Retired Sergeant First Class Victor L. Medina, and his wife Dr. Roxana E. Delgado established TBI Warrior® Foundation (TBIWF) in 2018. TBIWF serves veterans, civilians, and children with TBI and comorbidities that result in significant physical, cognitive, and psychological disabilities. The organization aims to improve the health and well-being of individuals affected by TBI through rehabilitation and vocational counseling, strengthened access to care via financial assistance and case support, and dedicated programming for these individuals and their family caregivers.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Toyota for recognizing the gap in support available to individuals, especially children, living with the long-term effects of TBI,” said SFC(Ret.) Victor L. Medina, MRC, CRC, Founder and President of TBIWF. “As someone whose life was forever changed by a TBI, I saw firsthand the lack of assistance available to those affected by TBI. Thank you, Toyota, for enabling TBIWF to provide this population the critical resources they need to regain their independence like I did after many years of recovery and support.”
As part of Toyota’s commitment to sustainable programs with long-term impact, the corporation’s Way Forward Fund is investing in and partnering with the TBI care community to address gaps in TBI funding for children, support health equity, and strengthen the recovery journey for kids, families and caregivers.
According to the National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), TBI is a major pediatric health condition that is often under-recognized, and urgent and long-term care is often under-resourced. Children have the highest rate of emergency department visits for TBI of all age groups. TBI affects children differently than adults and an injury of any severity to the developing brain can disrupt a child’s development. TBI-related disabilities and their challenges not only affect the child, but also affect the family unit as a whole.
“TBI in children 17 years of age and younger is one of the leading causes of disability, often requiring long-term care,” said Dr. Roxana Delgado, health scientist and co-founder of TBIWF. “TBIWF is proud to be at the forefront of supporting children and others affected by TBI and provide them with personalized tools to achieve success, receive the care they need, and ultimately, regain independence. In 2023, our organization directly served 1,200 individuals, and thanks to Toyota’s Way Forward Fund, we look forward to serving even more in 2024 ”
The Toyota Way Forward Fund will enable TBIWF to continue its individualized approach to supporting children affected by TBI. For example, TBIWF provided the gift of mobility to a three-year-old boy by purchasing him his first adaptive, medical wheelchair and covering costs associated with ongoing care. Additionally, TBIWF supported a freshman college student who suffered a catastrophic stroke by providing at-home medical equipment, financial assistance, and mobility and cognitive performance aid that ultimately enabled her to re-enroll in classes after one year of rehabilitation.
TBIWF was selected to receive a grant from Toyota’s Way Forward Fund alongside 10 other organizations including The Center on Brain Injury Research and Training from University of Oregon; Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin; National Association of State Head Injury Administrators; The Shaken Baby Alliance; University of Michigan; Williamson County Children's Advocacy Center; Yale University School of Medicine; and Youth World. These organizations will use the grants to advance pediatric TBI care in their areas of specialties.
“The organizations represented in this year’s grantees illustrate the variety of ways our communities can care for the health of children,” said Tellis Bethel, group vice president of social innovation at Toyota. “The Way Forward Fund helps Toyota realize its vision of creating mobility for all by implementing the Toyota Way values of continuous improvement and respect for people.”
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About TBI Warrior® Foundation (TBIWF)
Inspired by his personal experience regaining independence after sustaining a TBI during a combat mission in Iraq, Purple Heart recipient US Army Retired Sergeant First Class Victor L. Medina, and his wife Dr. Roxana E. Delgado established TBI Warrior® Foundation (TBIWF) in 2018. TBIWF serves veterans, civilians, and children with TBI and comorbidities that result in significant physical, cognitive, and psychological disabilities. The organization aims to improve the health and well-being of individuals affected by TBI through rehabilitation and vocational counseling, strengthened access to care via financial assistance and case support, and dedicated programming for these individuals and their family caregivers. For more information, please visit www.tbiwarriorfoundation.org.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 26 electrified options.
For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
