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New Jersey Families Rally to Restore Funding for TSANJ Tourette Syndrome...

Back in April, the future looked pretty bleak for the Tourette Syndrome Association of New Jersey.



The $1.25 million in annual state funding that the advocacy and support organization depended on for its operations and programs was severely threatened -- conspicuously absent from Governor Corzine'ss proposed FY 's07 state budget.



Loss of that money, which was used in recent years to greatly expand the scope of TSANJ'ss work, would have meant the elimination of important programs that have put New Jersey at the forefront of providing help for people with TS -- or even closing of the agency itself.



But with a hard fought campaign of letter writing, e-mails and recorded phone messages from members, Trenton came to understand the importance of TSANJ to the thousands of New Jersey kids adults and families who need our help, changed its mind and fully restored funding for TSANJ in the recently passed 's07 state budget.



TSANJ supporters, members and friends took the mantle and made their voices heard.



's8220;It's8217;s the support we received from our friends and members that helped us achieve our goals,'s8221; claims Faith Rice, Executive Director of TSANJ. Elected officials respond to the needs and desires of their local constituents, and so many people advocated on our behalf. A number of legislators told me they got more letters and calls from our group than they did about the tax increase -- they were truly impressed.



Making use of new state-of-art media technologies helped too.



One unique outreach tool put real stories from those helped by TSANJ in front of those with the power to make a life or death vote.



's8220;We set up a special dedicated phone line to capture recorded messages from call-in supporters,'s8221; explains Allan Gorman, CEO of Brandspa -- TSANJ'ss communications agency. 's8220;A postcard was sent to members asking them to call in and tell their stories.'s8221; he goes on. 's8220;In a week we had over a hundred captured messages, which were then collected, burned to CD and sent on to the folks who vote in Trenton. We figured hearing first-hand about what we do from the people we do it for would be more effective and credible than just a description from us. Many of the stories I heard could break your heart. For those people TSANJ was the only place to turn, and to take away support from them would be criminal,'s8221; Gorman says. 's8220;How can anyone with a conscience not agree's8221;



Looks like he was right. On Monday, July 10 -- after a lot of nail biting, TSANJ'ss administrative office got the call that a new budget was signed and approved -- with funding for our programs and services fully restored.



's8220;It'ss now on our shoulders to continue putting that money to great use, keeping TSANJ vital and effective, and ensuring that there'ss never again a temptation to cut important services and programs that serve New Jersey families with TS,'s8221; says Rice.



Contact: Sandy Diaz

856-489-8654 x117

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