The Jorge Posada Foundation

The Jorge Posada Foundation is a non-profit organization established by the New York Yankees’ All-Star Catcher, Jorge Posada, and his wife, Laura. Their son, Jorge Luis, was diagnosed with Craniosynostosis when he was just ten days old and has undergone eight major surgeries to correct the condition. Jorge and Laura are very grateful that all of Jorge Luis’ surgeries have been successful and that they were able to financially support the procedures. However, there are many other families who are not as fortunate. 

The purpose of The Jorge Posada Foundation is to: reach out to families in need, whose children are affected by Craniosynostosis, and provide them with emotional support through its family support network; provide financial assistance to underwrite a portion of the costs of initial surgeries in its partner medical centers; and encourage further research of this medical condition. The Foundation also strives to create awareness about the condition through events and through funding other educational outreach efforts.

KEYS ISSUES: WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE HELP?


SUPPORT FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN
Jorge Posada Foundation’s Mentors Program
Sponsor of family conferences and events, such as: the North American Craniofacial Family Conference and the Children’s Craniofacial Association Cher’s Family Retreat

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES IN NEED
Provide grants to and partner with medical centers to increase their capacity to provide pro-bono surgeries and underwrite associated costs, such as: The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore; The Institute for Reconstructive Plastic Surgery at New York University Hospital through NFFR; Connecticut
Children’s Medical Center Foundation; and Winthrop Medical Center

EDUCATION & TREATMENT - EARLY AND ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS
Sponsor educational seminars for pediatricians, such as the 2008 Craniosynostosis Symposium in partnership with Montefiore Medical Center
Partner with the National Foundation for Facial Reconstruction to develop a virtual teaching tool to be distributed to 15,000 doctors in third-world countries and throughout the U.S.
Provide grant to rehabilitate Craniosynostosis surgery recovery room at Centro Medico Hospital, Puerto Rico

INCREASE AWARENESS
Events such as the Annual Heroes for Gala in New York City and the Celebrity Base-Bowl Tournament in Puerto Rico
TV & Radio Public Service Announcements
TV programming placements, such as: ABC’s “Extreme Makeover Home Edition”; Fox Channel nationwide movie promotion of “Everyone’s Hero”; Discovery Channel’s “American Chopper” and “Pioneros”; YES Network’s “Ultimate Road Trip” and “Kids On Deck”; and other television and news programming in the U.S. and Puerto Rico
Newspaper & magazine articles, features, and PSAs, both in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, such as: Gotham Magazine, Daily News, Chicago Sun Times, El Vocero
“Play Ball” book signings, multiple locations