Our Partners in Progress initiative is designed to bring together existing non-profits and other strategic partners in order to . . . advance the lives of individuals with disabilities.

The goal is to provide the funding, the resources, or the personnel necessary to assist each organization to achieve their mission and goals, not to burden them with unnecessary paperwork, administrative costs, or overhead.

Through this initiative, we’re are now working with organizations that are pioneering, developing, or exploring the latest advancements in the fields of technology assistance, teaching and learning, communications, career and entrepreneurial training, and health and nutrition for individuals with disabilities.

In September, Laurus Foundation proudly added Salute, Inc. to our growing list of Partners in Progress. Salute is very sensitive to the special needs and concerns of veterans disabled during their military service. Due to the extent of their injuries, veterans are faced with long periods of hospitalization and rehabilitation along with the challenge of finding new careers after their recovery.

Salute began the Nightingale Program which provides assistance to families of injured military personnel hospitalized at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (R.I.C.). The experience of having a family member hospitalized with severe injuries can be overwhelming. Salute works with families to eliminate some of the logistical and financial stress associated with long hospitalizations and relocation to Chicago.

By meeting some of their practical needs while at R.I.C., Salute hopes to make the recovery of their loved ones the sole focus of affected families. Salute can provide financial assistance in areas including, but not limited to, air travel/ground transportation, personal needs, supplemental housing/moving costs, computer purchases, and other incidental living expenses.

Laurus Foundation will bring together the resources of our existing Partners In Progress, including First Step Foundation, Assistive Technologies, and others to meet the needs these amazing veterans and their families. One such family is the Edmondson’s.

Eric Edmonson was severely wounded in Iraq by a roadside bomb. Eric was treated at RIC and has made a remarkable recovery. Along with his dad, Ed, Eric is championing the cause of other wounded veterans to receive the care they need at private hospitals and world-class rehabilitation facilities like RIC. We’ll keep you posted on their progress in the coming months.

In the meantime, visit Salute, Inc. at . If you have a friend or family member who was wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan and who may need assistance, please contact Jim Dolan at or call Jim’s cell at .

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To see and hear more about Eric and Ed, go to:

To learn more about the Nightingale Program go to: