FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Media Contact:          Gabrielle Hewson
                                                                                                                           Dir. of Marketing & Development

                                                                                                                           585-271-8640 x 207

CAR WASH AT IHS TO BENEFIT HICKOK CENTER FOR BRAIN INJURY

ROCHESTER, NY, July 2, 2009 – The Hickok Center for Brain Injury’s “Help Our Van Go!” Car Wash will be held Friday, July 17, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of Irondequoit High School (IHS) located at 260 Cooper Road, West Irondequoit, 14617.  IHS student volunteers, Hickok Center members, families, friends and staff will don buckets, sponges and hoses washing cars for suggested donations of $5 or more per car.  Donations of $20 or more receive a special edition pack of blank note cares with original artwork by members of the Hickok Center.  Baked goods will also be available for sale in front of the school.  Proceeds from this event help support the Center’s recent purchase of a much-needed wheelchair-accessible van used to transport members to a variety of activities outside the Center which also happen to include community service projects such as the car wash itself.  For more information, please contact Gabrielle Hewson at (585) 271-8640x207 or gHewson@HickokCenter.org. 

The Hickok Center for Brain Injury and IHS have partnered in launching a High School Student Volunteer Program beginning this summer.  IHS students are invited to volunteer to assist our members and staff with daily activities for our Center and fundraising initiatives, like the car wash, that benefit both our Rochester and Newark centers.  Students receive community service credit for the time they donate to our Center.  For more information contact Gabrielle.   

About 5.3 million Americans are living with a disability that resulted from a traumatic brain injury related to impacts from motor vehicle accidents, violence or accidents at work or play.  Brain injury, however, can occur internally anywhere at anytime due to stroke or aneurism, seizure or illness.  People who have suffer brain injuries have to regain lost skills that the rest of us take for granted such as writing or typing, conversing with friends, folding laundry, and shopping for groceries.