Synapse TBI retreats
Building Connections Together
book bingo and raffle fundraiser
Join us for an afternoon of fun and prizes at our first annual Book Bingo and Raffle Fundraiser Saturday May 31, 2025 at Christ Memorial Church 89 Line Road Malvern, Pa 19355 (half a mile from Bryn Mawr Rehab).
purchase bingo tickets here
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door (if any remain - limited 100 tickets sold). There will be 20 bingo games with books, gift cards, and bookish prizes.
THANK YOU
We are very grateful for the generous and heartfelt bingo event sponsorship by Lead Dog Meeting and Event Management.
why we do what we do
MISSION STATEMENT
Synapse TBI Retreats exists to empower adult brain injury survivors living in the community through retreat opportunities, connections, and shared experiences.
OUR VISION
The vision of Synapse TBI Retreats is to facilitate space for adult brain injury survivors to find peer support and inner strength to flourish post injury.
OUR VALUES
Synapse TBI Retreats believes that all persons have purpose, value, dreams, and a future.
WHAT RETREAT ATTENDEES HAVE SAID ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE
COMMUNITY
"That dynamic of having people...there are certain things you don't have to explain. That thing that is one of the more difficult aspects that is so hard for other people to understand is the very thing that connects you to that person." K.S.
SUPPORT
"Our jobs aren't in common. Our families aren't in common. It is just this injury. And for other people at the camp to see us, they didn't know what we had in common. But if they saw us, they would think that we were a group that had known each other for longer than before we just met there. We became a group. We became a family. Everyone was just there supporting each other." M.M.
ENJOYMENT
"It was absolutely amazing. I feel in some ways there has been a profound influence that will keep going. It was wonderful. I can't overemphasize that enough. It was just one of those things where you realize that human language can't describe enough of a thing." S.S.
CONNECTIONS
"The retreat took it from being just people that struggle like me to individuals who struggle like me. TBI survivors with names and stories and personalities and histories and dreams. Real people. Real connections." R.T.
EMPOWERING
"I try to keep in mind that I have problems that other people don't have but at the same time I can do a lot. I have strengths that they don't have, too." B.R.
SHARED EXPERIENCES
"It was good to hear about some of the people, especially that suffered a TBI 20 years back, and to say, hey, I still struggle, but I found ways to cope. We are continuing with life." S.T.
RETREAT ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
Adult with brain injury living in the community
All retreat attendees must have a medical diagnoses of concussion or brain injury, be at least six months post injury, and be 18 years of age or older.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
To attend a retreat, you must be medically stable, able to care for yourself and manage your own medications, and be self mobile with or without assistance devices.
ACT SOCIALLY APPROPRIATE
All retreats are held in public locations. All survivors must be socially appropriate to represent Synapse and act with kindness and support of fellow retreat attendees.
HOUSING
Attendees will need to share a room or cabin with other same sex attendee(s) depending on the retreat location.
Transportation
We understand that transportation is often an issue after an injury. Synapse makes every effort to make the retreats accessible, however attendees will be required to get themselves either to the retreat center or a pick-up location.
OTHER requirements
All retreat attendees are required to pay the non-refundable $75 registration fee, be willing to sign our attendee code of conduct, and participate in the activities duration of the retreat.
ACTIVE PRIVATE DONORS
CEREBRUM LEVEL $350+
Jeremy Ryan
Mary Susan Milbourne
Scott Suhmann
Margaret Moran
BRAIN STEM LEVEL $10-$349
Drs. Jody and Marcia Hochberg
Stefanie Bauman
Sue Milbourne
Catherine Patterson
Carmel Rose Caporole
Larry Pursel
Jennifer Trainer
Barbara Wasko
Chris Wilbraham
Dean Layman
Merrillee Johnstone
Michael and Kirsten Deal
Amanda Jones-Layman
Lee Larson
Maria Asch
Todd Kleinman
Margi Knott Lord
Alias Reiter
Judith Brandt
Anthony Ryan
GRANTS AND CORPORATE SPONSORS
GRANTS
Pa Department of Health
BRAIN BUDDY LEVEL $500-$999
Stoltzfus Meats, Inc.
HELMET LEVEL $1000+
Jackie Lithgow Foundation
Lead Dog Meeting and Event Management
Join Us
What Now?
If you are interested in more information, would like to make a donation, or would like to attend a retreat, email us at synapsetbiretreats@gmail.com and we will be glad to assist with your next step!