The Toral Family Foundation Supports Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week Initiative with Substantial Gift

Davie, FL, October 04, 2012 --(PR.com)-- The Toral Family Foundation (TFF) and the Toral, Garcia, Battista Attorneys at Law, have joined the Darrell Gwynn Foundation in its mission of increasing awareness of spinal cord injuries through a combined $150,000 donation to support Florida’s Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week (SCIAW) initiative taking place November 11-18, 2012. Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week was successfully lobbied for and established by the Darrell Gwynn Foundation in 2006 and is recognized annually as a result of a resolution passed by the Florida Legislature. The Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s mission is to provide support for people with paralysis and prevent spinal cord injuries.

In addition to the Foundation’s generous $100,000 contribution, Frank Toral, Senior Partner of Toral, Garcia, Battista Attorneys at Law and founder of the Toral Family Foundation, has committed to donating an additional $50,000 to the SCIAW initiative on behalf of his firm, one of the nation’s leading law firms specializing in brain and spinal cord injuries. The firm’s financial contribution further underscores its commitment to Brain and Spinal Cord Injury survivors. Toral, Garcia Battista has built its reputation on differing from traditional legal practices with its provision of a support care management team that address the comprehensive needs of their clients and facilitate navigating the complex system of care.

“I am excited to partner with Darrell to give the gift of mobility which really makes a big difference in the lives of persons living with a spinal cord injury," said Toral. The substantial gifts will greatly elevate the Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s awareness, support, and prevention campaigns that week in Florida.

The Toral Family Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based out of Ft. Lauderdale, was established by Frank Toral and his wife Olivia, after witnessing the need for more resources and support by victims suffering from traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. The foundation collaborates with the healthcare community to provide hope and improve the lives of all persons impacted by brain and/or spinal cord injury throughout Florida through investments in research, education and access to community resources.

“I’m thrilled to have someone like Frank, his firm, and foundation on board to elevate our efforts during Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week,” said Darrell Gwynn. “Frank and his work share in our mission to support people with spinal cord injuries and educate people on ways to prevent them. His involvement will allow us to donate more wheelchairs, send speakers to more high schools and generate more awareness of spinal cord injuries through events that week and public service announcements throughout the State of Florida.”

Each year during SCIAW, the Darrell Gwynn Foundation is charged by the State of Florida to increase awareness of spinal cord injuries and ways to prevent them. As part of this year’s campaign, the Darrell Gwynn Foundation has partnered with the Florida Department of Health, NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Driver Tony Stewart and the Toral Family Foundation to create a Public Service Announcement (PSA) that will warn drivers of the risk of texting and driving, drinking and driving and not wearing seatbelts in order to prevent spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries.

This year the Darrell Gwynn Foundation, through its Wheelchair Donation Program, will donate several custom power wheelchairs to individuals facing medical and financial hardships during SCIAW. The wheelchairs being donated are at an average cost of $25,000 per wheelchair and the donations are made possible in large part by the financial support of the Toral Family Foundation and Toral, Garcia & Battista Attorneys at Law. Frank Toral will join Darrell Gwynn for each wheelchair donation.

Also during SCIAW the Darrell Gwynn Foundation, through its Education & Prevention Program, will send speakers in wheelchairs and show its powerful “It Could Happen to You” video to dozens of Florida high schools in an effort to prevent spinal cord injuries. The school presentations warn high school students, the most at risk age group, of the dangers of risky behavior such as texting and driving, drinking and driving, diving in unknown waters, playing with guns and engaging in reckless horseplay that can lead to spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries or death. Speakers in wheelchairs share their stories in an effort to have teenagers “think twice” before they make a mistake that will change their life forever.

For more information on SCIAW or to have your school or child’s school receive a safety presentation from DGF, please visit www.darrellgwynnfoundation.org.