Aspen nonprofit announces ‘transformational’ grant for neurorehabilitation center

Bridging Bionics Foundation has announced a “transformational” $1,500,000 grant, gifted from an anonymous donor, just in time for the season of giving thanks.

According to a press release, $1,000,000 will immediately be able to support the acquisition of Bridging Bionics Foundation’s Center for Neurorehabilitation at 2605 Dolores Way in Carbondale, ensuring “the organization can continue providing affordable, ongoing physical therapy, and access to advanced technology for individuals with neurological mobility challenges,” the release states.

“Our Center for Neurorehabilitation is a space for healing, health, and hope that serves as the heart of our program,” Amanda Boxtel, founder and executive director of Bridging Bionics, said in the release. “We can now call 2605 Dolores Way in Carbondale our permanent home. It is literally a dream come true. This new, 1,824-square-foot space has enabled us to deliver higher quality service for our clients. We can now take the next steps as we transform lives through our therapy sessions using state-of-the-art technology.”  

The remaining $500,000 has been committed as a three-year matching challenge to support Bridging Bionics’ new Bridging Lives campaign, according to the release, offering mobility programs to qualifying individuals from out-of-town. 

Boxtel established Bridging Bionics on Oct. 19, 2015, with the aim of changing the lives of individuals suffering loss of movement through the gift of mobility. Bridging Bionics offers physical therapy, neuromuscular training systems, bionic exoskeletons, and other advanced technologies for free, or close to free, for hundreds of clients, many of whom couldn’t walk before the founding of Bridging Bionics and now have taken true meaningful steps.  

The press release acknowledges not only this generous grant, but also the donations from other contributors to the capital campaign in addition to the time and resources of hundreds of local residents. 

“Not all heroes wear capes,” said Bridging Bionics Board Member and Patron Anne Spellings in the release. “Some quietly make generous donations that provide sustainability and financial security for special programs. That is exactly what happened here when our Anonymous Angel made a generous donation, allowing Bridging Bionics to have the stability and ownership of the Center for Neurorehabilitation.” 

This month, Bridging Bionics also had a newly produced promotion update air on CNN, which named Boxtel as a CNN Hero in 2018. 

“I have been getting inquiries from clients all over the country this week,” Boxtel said. “We have a growing list of individuals who can potentially visit us next year with the launch of our Bridging Lives program.”