United Spinal Association’s Ready to Roll emergency and disaster relief program distributed $500,000 to over 50 families and individuals with SCI affected by natural disasters in 2021. The funding was made possible by a generous grant from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation.
Terrell Patterson, 28, was one of the millions of Americans whose lives were upended by a natural disaster in 2021. The Louisiana home he shares with his girlfriend and daughter was severely damaged by Hurricane Ida. As he struggled to find accessible temporary housing, he looked for ways to cover the extensive repair costs. One of his therapists suggested he apply for funding from United Spinal.
“At first I didn’t call because I didn’t believe they were going to be able to help with as much damage as I had,” he says. “When I gave them the estimate, it was a lot, and I didn’t think they were going to do that much. When she called me back and told me they were going to take care of the whole renovation, I was like, ‘Seriously?!’’’
“If it wasn’t for United Spinal I’d probably still be trying to be do the repairs,” he says. “They gave me the hope that I needed.”
Learn more about Ready to Roll, and watch videos from grant recipients at unitedspinal.org/ready-to-roll.