Children's Hospital of Illinois Bloomington issued the following announcement on Oct. 10.
The OSF HealthCare Foundation has received a $1 million gift from Ed and Ann Rapp. The gift will be used to support neuroscience innovation focused on assistive technologies, improving access to care, and aiding in earlier diagnosis to benefit patients with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and other complex neurological conditions.
Ed Rapp retired as Caterpillar Group President in 2016 after being diagnosed with ALS. Since then he has made it a personal challenge to support efforts to find more effective treatment options and, ultimately, a cure. While the Rapps have relocated to Cary, NC, they remain committed to their philanthropic support of the Peoria area they once called home.
“We have focused our efforts on supporting those in search of a cure, those bringing better assistive technologies to those suffering from the disease, and supporting ALS efforts in our hometowns of Peoria and Raleigh,” said Rapp. “The endowment not only supports innovation in the area of assistive technologies but also supports our hometown of Peoria.”
The Rapps created an endowment at OSF HealthCare in 2017 to support neuroscience excellence with a focus on driving innovation and collaboration between OSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological Institute, Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center, and engineers from the University of Illinois. The Ed and Ann Rapp Family Endowment will attract and inspire teams of clinicians and engineers to work together to rethink what is possible and revolutionize neurological care.
In addition to their personal contribution, the Rapps have inspired more than $1.3 million in additional and matching gifts to the endowment.
“What a gift Ed and Ann Rapp are to our OSF Family,” said Sister Judith Ann Duvall, O.S.F., chairperson of the OSF HealthCare board. “Their passion to impact the lives of others in such creative and innovative ways touches my heart, and I know the hearts of many. They are an inspiration to us all and give us fresh eyes to recognize the value and sacredness of human life, and witness to the joy that comes with living your life and sharing your God-given talents to bless others in their life’s journey. I thank God for both of these very special individuals.”It is projected that within the next 30 years more than 12 million Americans – nearly one in 25 – will suffer from a neuro-degenerative disorder or autoimmune condition, including ALS, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis and others.
“The Jump ARCHES program is deeply grateful to Ed and Ann Rapp for their generosity and leadership, and is enriched with this additional directive to engage in Neuro Innovation,” said John Vozenilek, M.D., vice president and chief medical officer of Jump Simulation.
We see this collaboration leading to innovative solutions ranging from tools leading to early diagnosis to allowing remote patient monitoring, lessening the burden on both patients and caregivers.
“We see this collaboration leading to innovative solutions ranging from tools leading to early diagnosis to allowing remote patient monitoring, lessening the burden on both patients and caregivers,” said Chris Zallek, M.D., neuromuscular disorders specialist with OSF Illinois Neurological Institute. “Early diagnosis will be increasingly important as new medications and treatments are developed to slow disease progression.”
Technology developed in the collaborative research effort is being introduced to medical students at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria this fall, with plans to expand to medical students and other health care providers at institutions across the country.
“Gifts to the Ed and Ann Rapp Family Endowment will positively impact the way we diagnose neurologic diseases and provide care for patients and families affected by them,” said Dr. Zallek.
For more information about the Ed and Ann Rapp Family Endowment or to learn more about neuroscience innovation efforts at Jump, contact Lanna Scannell with the OSF HealthCare Foundation at 309-566-5662 or lanna.scannell@osfhealthcare.org.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Children's Hospital of Illinois Bloomington
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