Who we are
The Elsass Foundation is a private foundation working to improve the quality of life for people with cerebral palsy (CP) and their families. We work across a wide range of areas, including research, knowledge dissemination, developing activity programmes and providing funding to institutions, associations and individuals.
The foundation was established in 1975 following a donation by Helene Elsass, who had CP. Her wish was to establish a foundation that could help others with cerebral palsy to the greatest extent possible. Helene bequeathed her fortune to the foundation after her death in 2003, which allowed the foundation to take a more proactive position and expand its operations beyond providing scholarships to also including research and practice activities.
Read more about Helene Elsass and our history here
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A holistic perspective
At the Elsass Foundation, we strive to see ‘the whole person’ and obtain the broadest possible understanding of life with CP. Accordingly, we work with a wide range of focus and intervention areas such as the body, brain, nutrition, participation and activity. We also strive to obtain knowledge about - and provide activities for - people with CP, irrespective of their age or the challenges they face.
One of our primary goals is to help ensure that people with cerebral palsy attain the greatest possible level of independence and autonomy, e.g. through being actively involved in their own life decisions and society in general. Some of the ways we do so include working on strengthening the person’s perception of being an independent and empowered individual. We believe that involvement and an active life are key components to achieving the highest possible quality of life for everyone with CP.
At the Elsass Foundation, we always try to see possibilities instead of limitations. That is also the mindset we try to impart on the many individuals our foundation interacts with, whether or not they have CP.
