GREENFIELD, NH - Crotched Mountain Foundation, which operates a specialty rehabilitation hospital in Greenfield and community services throughout New Hampshire , announces a Veteran's Day grant of $25,000 from BAE Systems in support of its work with veterans. The funds will support Crotched Mountain's Center for Excellence in Neurorehabilitation, which is a national model of the continuum of services required to support people who have experienced brain injuries. Throughout its network of programs and in its own hiring practices, Crotched Mountain has demonstrated its commitment to support veterans.

"We are proud to make this grant to the Center of Excellence at Crotched Mountain through our community support activities—part of our ongoing pledge to serve veterans and their families," saidMichael A. Heffron, president of BAE Systems' Electronics, Intelligence & Support operating group. "We chose Crotched Mountain for this grant because they are nationally recognized for specialty rehabilitation services and have made outreach to include veterans in their work. These resources will allow them to continue offering top quality care to veterans and their families," he added.

"We're using state of the art technologies and rehabilitation practices to extend independence, advance recuperation time, and enhance physical, occupational and cognitive recovery for people who have suffered brain injuries, including veterans," explained Donald Shumway, president and CEO of Crotched Mountain. "BAE Systems' donation will help us to improve the lives of men and women injured in service to our country. On Veterans Day, we honor the commitment of all veterans and we pledge to continue our mission to care for our national heroes--as patients, as coworkers and colleagues and as active members of their communities."

The Crotched Mountain Specialty Rehabilitation Hospital provides acute, post-hospital rehabilitation for people with brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and other neurological conditions. Crotched Mountain Community Care provides care management services to over 800 seniors and adults with disabilities, including veterans, so they can continue to live in their own homes and be vital parts of their communities. Services include arranging for home adaptations to make homes accessible for returning veterans. The Harry Gregg Foundation provides financial assistance to improve the lives of people in New Hampshire with physical, intellectual, or emotional disabilities. Veterans also benefit through Crotched Mountain's many outpatient clinics.

Crotched Mountain also supports veterans and active duty members of the military through its hiring policies. Crotched Mountain is a member of the "Hire A Hero" organization that is a clearinghouse of employment opportunities for veterans and regularly attends local job fairs for veterans. Its employment policies support military personnel on active duty and more than a dozen of its employees have served their country on active duty in Iraq or Afghanistan and returned to employment at Crotched Mountain.

BAE Systems' Community Support Activities include those that focus on care for members of U.S. Armed Forces. This grant will aid returning veterans suffering from brain injuries and provide resources for care from both the Crotched Mountain specialty hospital and its community support programs.

For more information on the BAE Systems grant to Crotched Mountain, please contact Lu Goncalves-Getty at 603/885-6911 (office), 781/640-0404 (mobile), or
lu.goncalves-getty@baesystems.com.

Crotched Mountain is a charitable organization employing 900 people. Its mission is to serve individuals with disabilities and their families, embracing personal choice and development, and building communities of mutual support. Crotched Mountain provides specialized education, rehabilitation, community, and residential support services for more than 2,000 consumers, including individuals with disabilities and the elderly, living in New England and New York. For more information about Crotched Mountain, please visit their web site: www.crotchedmountain.org or contact Michael Redmond at 603/547-3311.

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