That’s why, this September, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and the National Academy of Neuropsychology Foundation launched a campaign to educate athletes, coaches, teachers and parents about concussion. At the same time, in Washington DC, the House Education and Labor Committee introduced legislation to delineate guidelines for concussion prevention and to create a standardized response plan for treating those that do occur.

“When he was younger, one of my sons went into a coma because he had what is called a traumatic brain injury, or TBI. Through that experience, I learned a lot about TBI and becameinvolved with the Brain Trauma Foundation. I understood the enormous impact that TBI could have on families, both emotional and financial. I was asked to chair the Brain Trauma Foundation and this great organization has made tremendous changes to how TBI is treated throughout the United States and the world.

The experience has taught me lessons that I’d love other organizations to learn. One is that you don’t necessarily need to be a large organization to make something happen.”