Hear How TBI Impacted Evan Golinsky and His Family
“I never expected to become involved with Brain Trauma Foundation. Up until a couple of years ago, I did not even have an idea of what Traumatic Brain Injury really meant. However, this all changed following my father Dan Golinsky’s accident. On December 4th, 2015, my dad was struck by a visually impaired motorist while walking our family dog in our neighborhood. He immediately fell into a coma after suffering a severe traumatic brain injury following the impact. For eleven months, my dad drifted between being in a coma to a minimally conscious state eventually to a vegetative state as a result of this accident. On November 12th, 2016, my father passed away surrounded by family and friends. These eleven months were extremely hard on the young teenager that I was, seeing my role model and guiding light in this world experience such a decline. However, if there was one thing that my dad always sought to instill in me, it was to never give up. Through this tragedy I grew to realize that it had given me a great power, such a power that I could yield for good. I could use my experience to help raise awareness and funds for such an underserved yet purposeful cause. This is how I became introduced to Brain Trauma Foundation.
Through my dad’s neurosurgeon, Dr. Ross Bullock, I was introduced to the founder and creators of Brain Trauma Foundation who welcomed me with open arms. They provided me with such support as to designate a fund for me to raise money for traumatic brain injury: The Golinsky Fund. The goal of this fund is simple, to raise awareness and funds for traumatic brain injury as a means of improving the lives of those who suffer from it, memorializing my father through every step. Raising money for my fund has been one of my greatest honors as I find no better way to honor the memory of my father than to improve the lives of others in his position.
To raise money for The Golinsky Fund, I created The Golinsky Comedy Club. Recognizing my father’s love for stand-up comedy, I founded this Club through my synagogue to raise money while sharing a laugh. In the two years that I have hosted this event, I have been able to raise over $50,000 for Brain Trauma Foundation, and I will continue doing for as long as possible. “
Below are links to photos taken at at the 2017 and 2018 events:
http://worldredeye.com/2017/12/golinsky-comedy-club/
http://worldredeye.com/2018/12/2nd-annual-golinsky-comedy-club/