The Rezza Foundation & Our Mission

About Us

In 2012, Frank Rezza was asked, by his then Occupational Therapist, if he would be willing to participate in a Clinical Study for Stroke Survivors conducted by the University of Delaware. The purpose was to collect data that would be evaluated and applied to programs to help current and future Stroke Survivors. He agreed to do so but had to be cleared by his Stroke Neurologist and undergo rigorous testing and evaluations by therapists at the University of Delaware. It was determined that, in fact, he was a viable candidate.

The study was conducted by an Occupational Therapist from the University of Delaware at a Rehabilitation Facility. These sessions were monitored utilizing various protocols to determine reactions and progress as well as blood pressure readings. At the conclusion of the sessions, he returned to the University of Delaware to undergo rigorous testing to evaluate what changes had occurred as well as what progress he attained since the first testing. He was then released but returned to the University of Delaware after a 3 month hiatus. This was the final testing in this study to evaluate, what, if any changes had occurred as a result of this hiatus. At the conclusion of these tests, he was released from the study. His team thanked him for his participation in a study whose data would be utilized in helping Stroke Survivors.

Our Mission

Strokes cause many unexpected challenges not just for Stroke Survivors but for their families and their caregivers as well. The mission of The Rezza Foundation for Stroke Survivors is to provide support and assistance to a large number of Stroke Survivors, their families, and their caregivers as possible. The Rezza Foundation accomplishes this by donating to many large Stroke Organizations over a large geographical area that in turn educates, rehabilitates and helps stroke survivors and all impacted by stroke to live full and happy lives.

Stroke is occurring in younger people. In a recent 10 year period, the rate of strokes in people younger than 55 increased 84% among whites and 54% among African Americans. Now, one in five strokes happens to those 20 to 55 years old. In the 1990’s, that statistic was one in eight. Younger survivors mean that people are going to be living with the consequences of stroke for longer periods of time.