Charles Fleisher of Kessler Foundation’s ThinkFirst Chapter Named VIP of the Year
WEST ORANGE, N.J.—Charles Fleisher, from the N.J. chapter of ThinkFirst, won the national ThinkFirst VIP of the Year Award for educating students on the potential consequences of risky behaviors. He accepted the award at the ThinkFirst Awards Luncheon on April 24 in New Orleans. This marks the first year that an individual from N.J. earned VIP of the Year.
ThinkFirst is a national injury prevention program that educates students K-12 about avoiding disabling injuries of the brain and spinal cord injury. Voices for Injury Prevention (VIPs) tell their own stories to illustrate how taking the time to ‘think first’ could have prevented serious injury. Kessler Foundation has sponsored the New Jersey chapter of ThinkFirst for 20 years. During the past two decades, more than 300,000 students have heard the message of personal responsibility and disability awareness, as well as the importance of safety measures.
“I was amazed when I received the call that I was named ThinkFirst VIP of the Year,” said Fleisher. “To share my experience for the benefit of young people is a great opportunity. Being recognized by the national organization of ThinkFirst gives me an incredible feeling of accomplishment.”
In 1988, at 18 years old, Fleisher was in a car accident. Not wearing a seatbelt, he was ejected from the vehicle. Paralyzed by a spinal cord injury, he learned to adapt to life in a wheelchair. In 2005, he became a VIP for the N.J. chapter of ThinkFirst. Since then, he has delivered more than 400 presentations to 40,000 students. After each presentation, he reminds his young audience that they now know the importance of buckling their seatbelt, wearing a helmet, using caution when diving, and the risks of driving under the influence or with someone under the influence.
“The most enjoyable and satisfying aspect of being involved with ThinkFirst is the realization that my injury is being put to good use,” he said. “Being able to use the consequences of my injury to influence the decision-making of children and young adults is a great feeling. If I can prevent future spinal cord injuries - that is a worthy life's work.”
In addition to his role with ThinkFirst, Fleisher owns a small healthcare agency and works with Friends Overcoming Adversity, an organization that promotes sports and recreation for people with disabilities. In addition, Fleisher serves as president of the Red Bank Toastmasters. He also offers personal mentoring and coaching as well as teleseminars to hospitals and individuals with spinal cord injuries, designed to facilitate adjustment to living with spinal cord injury. Earlier this year, he released his book, The Secret of Difficulties: 4 Steps to Turn Tragedies into Opportunities, which details how incredible opportunities rose from some of life’s greatest challenges.
About Kessler Foundation
Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research that seeks to improve cognition, mobility and long-term outcomes, including employment, for people with neurological disabilities caused by diseases and injuries of the brain and spinal cord. Kessler Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities. For more information, visit KesslerFoundation.org.
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Contacts:
Lauren Scrivo, 973.324.8384, 973.768.6583 - c, [email protected]
Carolann Murphy, 973.324.8382, [email protected]
