Boston (December 20, 2011) A generous donor has issued a $50,000 matching challenge for all donations made to the Travis Roy Foundation’s Annual Appeal, between December 12th and December 31st of this year.

“The current economy has made raising money difficult” said Travis Roy, founder of the TRF.  “This $50,000 matching challenge is a special gift. Hopefully it will inspire people to make a donation or a larger gift than they had initially planned.”

The Annual Appeal plays an important role in funding the Travis Roy Foundation’s mission of helping spinal cord injured survivors live more independent lives and funding critical spinal cord research. This past year, the TRF has given grants to over 100 recipients totaling over $300,000 and awarded over $210,000 in research projects.

“Every letter we receive stems from a story filled with heartache and hardships, and each story comes from a deserving applicant,” stated Marge Oppold, Executive Director of the TRF.  “Our hope is to increase the number of grants we award each year and to alleviate the hardship experienced by individuals and their families.”

With the generous action of our $50,000 Challenge Donor, and with the support of the community, the TRF will have the opportunity to extend the spirit of giving into the coming year.

Donations can be made by visiting www.travisroyfoundation.org, or by mailing a check to the Travis Roy Foundation, c/o Hemenway & Barnes, 60 State State Street, Boston, MA 02109.

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TRAVIS ROY FOUNDATION: Founded in 1997 by former Boston University hockey player Travis Roy and his family, this Boston based 501 (c) 3 Foundation distributes grants to spinal cord injury survivors and to research projects in search of a cure.  With its mission, “Help Others Move Forward”, The Travis Roy Foundation is uniquely positioned to touch the lives of individual survivors and their families.  In the US alone, there are approximately 1,275,000 people currently living with a spinal cord injury and 13,000 new injuries each year.  Since its inception, the TRF has awarded $2.5 million in grants for adaptive equipment and vehicle and home modifications. The TRF has also funded $1.5 million in research.