LYB Annual Report 2016

ANNUAL REPORT | FISCAL YEAR 2016

THE INVISIBLE CHALLENGE
Over 2.5 million traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur in the US annually
The cost of care over a lifetime can be as high as $3,000,000
For many brain injury survivors, access to a community of individuals who
understand the challenges of living with an invisible injury is very limited.
OUR APPROACH
We implement programs designed to build community, foster resilience, and
help people understand the importance of loving their brain.
OUR MISSION
We aim to improve the quality of life of people affected by traumatic brain
injury and raise awareness about the importance of brain health.
OUR VISION
A community that realizes the mind's power to heal and transform.
LOVEYOURBRAIN | ANNUAL REPORT

OUR PROGRAMS
pg. 3
Yoga Program
Educational Curriculum
Annual Retreat
Yoga class gave me something to look forward to in contrast to so many days
that I feel I have no purpose (and the things I want to do I cannot tolerate or
do not have the energy or ability). My "best" days (or parts) are always
followed by my "worst." Yoga helped me with balance.
Ellen Curran, TBI Survivor and Yoga Program Participant

OUR APPROACH
PLANNING
Selecting a Partner Studio
Creating a Referral Network
YOGA PROGRAM
This program supports people who have experienced
a TBI and their caregivers to participate in gentle
yoga and meditation classes tailored to their needs.
Our free 6-week series, called the FUNdamentals
series, integrates breathing exercises, gentle yoga,
meditation, and group discussion. We believe that
everyone should have an opportunity to improve and
restore their physical and emotional wellbeing
through these practices.
Building Community Connections
IMPLEMENTATION
IMPACT
Hosting Yoga Teacher Training
Hosting Community Event
Launching our Program
MONITORING &
EVALUATING
Ongoing Support
Developing
Evidence-Based Practices
DISSEMINATION
Sharing the TBI perspective
Hosted 4 yoga teacher training workshops in
Burlington, Pittsburgh, Sedona, and Boston. The
trainings were attended by 113 teachers,
clinicians, and survivors who rated their overall
experience a 9.6 out of 10.
Established partnerships with 5 studios in 4
locations: Lebanon, Burlington, Pittsburgh, and
Boston.
65 people completed the FUNdamentals series
and rated their experience a 9.4 out of 10.
Participants in the FUNdamentals series reported
improvements in their level of stress (92%),
reactivity (77%), ability to focus (92%), and
optimism (85%).
Conducted outreach at 5 clinical in-service
meetings, 2 Brain Injury Association Annual
Conferences, 3 brain injury support groups, and 1
yoga festival, reaching over 400 individuals.
LOVEYOURBRAIN | ANNUAL REPORT

ANNUAL RETREAT
This six day gathering brings together a group of TBI survivors, caregivers, neurologists,
nutritionists, athletes, speakers, and yoga and meditation teachers to foster community and
wellness. The retreat provides fun and supportive spaces for people to share their personal
stories, engage in group activities, learn about brain health, exercise, and practice self-care
through yoga, meditation, and alternative therapies, including art and music.
IMPACT
At our 3rd annual retreat, 50 people attended, including 21 individuals with brain injury, their
siblings, healthcare providers, yoga instructors, and many LYB supporters.
100 LYB supporters ran in the Vermont City Marathon, where we collectively raised $68,000.
LOVEYOURBRAIN | ANNUAL REPORT

EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM
In partnership with TriBeCa Film Institute, LoveYourBrain created a curriculum for high school
students based on themes explored in the film, The Crash Reel: risk taking, family, resiliency,
and mindful performance. The curriculum will be formally launched in the fall of 2016. In
conjunction, we are pioneering a speaker series for former athletes to share their concussion
experiences and spread the LoveYourBrain message to student-athletes.
IMPACT
Piloted at 15 New York schools
19 teachers implemented our curriculum in grades 9-12
412 students have used our study guide
LOVEYOURBRAIN | ANNUAL REPORT

BUILDING AWARENESS
& CREATING CHANGE
pg. 8
OUR SUPPORTERS
pg. 9
FINANCIALS
pg. 11
It comes to me upon the strings
When i hear it when i sing
I can't say it's my creations
Staying patient what it brings
Let me say i'm coming humble
I don't know what's right or wrong
I just keep keep on believing
You Can’t Rush Your Healing
Trevor Hall

BUILDING AWARENESS AND CREATING CHANGE
Through our partnerships, events, speaking engagements and our strong presence on social
media, we’re helping more people understand the importance of movement and meditation
for the health of their brain.
LoveYourBrain was recognized as one of the top 20 organizations using yoga
to change the world. - Yoganonymous
We deepened our partnership with lululemon by becoming a national partner
Kevin spoke at the NFL Former Players’ Association in Hawaii increasing
awareness about TBI and our mission
LoveYourBrain partnered with Wanderlust Hollywood to host a fundraising event
featuring musician, Trevor Hall. 250 people attended raising $17,000
We increased social media visibility: increased Facebook followers by 10,000,
increased Twitter followers by over 200%, and added an average of 100
Instagram followers per week over the year
LoveYourBrain hosted three community events featuring screenings of The Crash
Reel in Boston, Pittsburgh and Burlington: 176 people attended raising $31,769
Grew our flagship fundraising event, MindfulMarch:
• 75 studios participated
• 90 yoga teachers participated
• Over 1,100 yogis attended the donation-based classes
• $60,081 was raised!
LOVEYOURBRAIN | ANNUAL REPORT

SUPPORTERS
Thank you to all of our donors for making our second year such a success! We would not exist
without all of you! $375,025 Raised
$10,000+
Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation
Jake and Donna Carpenter
JJ Virgin
lululemon athletica
Mark and Kathryn Whiteside
Simon Pearce Inc
Stephanie Peters
$1,500-$9,999
Erin Martin
Ettinger Foundation
Jamie Varvaro
Jennifer Martin
Keats College at Ormskirk School
KP Rides Again LLC
Marathon Health
Muse
Patricia and Simon Pearce
Vew-Do Balance Boards
$1,000-$1,499
Amy Parker
Andrew Shipley
Bruce Levine
Catherine Marich
David Adler
Do Lectures
Jess and Shawn Taker
John Murphy
Joyce Conwell
Mariangela Prada
Michael Capponi
Morgan Stanley | Private Wealth Mgt.
Nancy Marcus
Nina Mccampbell
Olivia Tucker
Omaha Community Foundation
Tahoe Forest Health System
White Light Foundation
$500-$999
Anonymous
Clayton Adams
Stuart Baker
Coco Bernard
Elizabeth Clark
Connecticut Section AWWA
Jared Dubey
Phillip Elliott
Marianna Frame
Robbie Holdcroft
Huntsville Community of Christ
Thomas Cooper
Jamie Dickow
Edwin Leach
Amir Levin
Suzy McCarthy
Memton Fund
Deborah Mosher
Robert Myers
Katie Probst
Dina Steinfurth
VT Juice Company
Abhilash Patel
$250-$499
Anonymous
Bernie Sanders
Brian Walsh
Frank Damasceno
Hannah Funk and Elizabeth Maher
Jake Knigge
Jeremy Gates
Jessica Filson
JoAnna Lund
Joy Hermann
Justin Blazejewski
Laurent Potdevin
Leslie Pippin-Tepper
Lucas Wynn
Michael and June Heston
Mary Milgrom
Mike Patton
Peter Cirili
Randi Morgenstsern
Rebecca Hill
Reedell Nowell
Reid Genauer
Richard Levin
Robert Myers
Sanaz Farokhdad
Seth Weissman
Sharon Skittle
Shelley Lowther
Trevor Hall Touring Inc.
Yoga Roots
LOVEYOURBRAIN | ANNUAL REPORT

OUR STANDOUT SUPPORTERS
We are extremely grateful to our supporters who continue to go above and beyond to support
the work of our organization both financially and through their actions.
DOROTHY BYRNE
The Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation generously contributed a matching gift of $25,000
for MindfulMarch.
STEPHANIE PETERS
Continues to be an integral part of the LYB family; helping us reach our financial goals and
without hesitation investing her time and energy to further our mission.
JASON MARDER
For the second year in a row, Jason ran a successful peer-to-peer fundraiser growing his
moustache in Movember in honor of LYB, reaching his goal of raising over $2,000.
LAUREN SMITH
Courageously embarked on hiking the nearly 3,000 mile Appalachian Trail and raising money
for LYB to boot. Already, she has raised $2,306 with a goal of reaching $14,000.
TREVOR HALL
Trevor is an incredible supporter and friend. We’re so appreciative of his kind words,
beautiful music and unwavering compassion for brain health and LYB family.
LOVEYOURBRAIN | ANNUAL REPORT

OUR TEAM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ADVISORY TEAM
Kevin Pearce,
Co-Founder
Adam Pearce,
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Kim Baker
Daya Grant
Kyla Pearce
Courtney Ruoff
Megan Whiteside
Abbie Eldridge
Patricia Pearce
June Heston
Geoffrey J. Vitt
Clayton R. Adams
Michael Jager
Doug Ulman
Chris Giza
David de Rothschild
Duke Stump
COMMUNITY AND CLINICAL CONNECTORS
LYB Connectors are an extension of the LYB team and a growing network of amazing, open
individuals who harness their experiences to elevate and create change in their communities.
They volunteer their time to spread awareness for our work and help keep us connected and
learning from the TBI community, yoga studios, and medical field.
STEVE KUHN
Community Connector based in Vermont
Steve is a TBI survivor and overly inspiring individual. He is active in his
community, compassionate, a devoted yogi and currently teaches and is a
Board Member at Sangha Studio in Burlington. Yoga and meditation have
helped him learn to detach from negative thinking and acknowledge that
thoughts are just mental activity and not necessarily the truth.
JOAN DANKS
Clinical Connector based in Colorado
Joan is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist at Craig Hospital in
Denver. She attended the LYB Yoga Teacher Training this past summer
because she saw it as a platform to learn new skills to apply to her patients
within the hospital, and wanted to help the other teachers in the training
better understand the TBI population.
LOVEYOURBRAIN | ANNUAL REPORT

FINANCIALS
Young and vastly growing, LoveYourBrain strives for sustainability in the design and implementation
of our programs as well as how fundraising is achieved. We promise to always be transparent and
allocate the maximum funds towards the delivery of programs. It’s our goal to always make you
feel informed.
Other
8% | $26,525
Product Sales
16% | $62,000
Business Contributions
25% | $92,000
Revenue
Events
20% | $78,000
Grants
2% | $6,500
Individual Contributions
29% | $110,000
Annual Retreat
6% | $14,732
Operations
40% | $100,552
Educational Curriculum
4% | $9,049
Expenses
Yoga Program
50% | $120,198
LOVEYOURBRAIN | ANNUAL REPORT

We would like to personally thank each and every one of you who has been a part of helping us build
LoveYourBrain. Our success in establishing and growing this supportive community is based upon a
collective effort from our Board of Directors, Advisory Board, the TBI community, our generous
supporters, advocators, and our many compassionate volunteers. We are extremely excited with the
progress we have made in our first two years and continue to be inspired by the opportunities ahead.
Let us build on this momentum and together we’ll make amazing things happen in 2017!
Much Love,
Adam & Kevin Pearce

Thank you Audrey Rudolf, Colin Adair, Homer Horowitz and
Melissa Gayle Fuller for contributing your beautiful photography.