Spinal cord injuries can be abrupt and devastating, forever changing the life of the person injured as well as their immediate family. No one knows this better than business professional Ron Quartararo, who understands the debilitating effect that spinal cord injuries can have on the life of the victim. Ron Quartararo will never forget the phone call he received from his cousin Anthony Testaverde back in July 2000, informing him that his son, Joey, would probably never walk again.

Co-founding this federally tax exempt organization with his cousin a few years later, Ron Quartararo’s vision was that emotional, financial and educational support could be provided to other families encountering similar devastating tragedies of spinal cord injuries.

“Over the past 10 years, the Testaverde Fund has hopefully had a positive impact on a variety of levels,” says Ron Quartararo. “On the most basic level, the Fund attempted to provide support to victims and their families. But we also wanted to work with researchers such as Dr. Wise Young at Rutgers University in New Jersey, on preventing spinal cord injuries as well.”

In the process of establishing the foundation, Ron Quartararo learned that there is no central resource that people can go to after becoming disabled through a spinal cord injury. Ron Quartararo believes that that the Testaverde Fund for Spinal Cord Injury not only provided monetary support, but became an informational and emotional resource as well as helping a number of families through the years.

The Testaverde Fund is named after Joe Testaverde, who suffered a traumatic injury in a swimming pool accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down and took away the dexterity in both hands. Joe is related to Vinny Testaverde, former NY Jets quarterback and winner of the Heisman Trophy. “It doesn’t matter if the victim is a VIP or member of the community – everyone deserves support after such a traumatic accident,” says Ron Quartararo.

The Testaverde Fund isn’t the first time that Ron Quartararo has been involved in philanthropic efforts throughout the community. Throughout his career, Ron Quartararo has remained focused on his family and ability to serve those around him. As a businessman, Ron Quartararo also maintains an excellent network of professionals, including those practicing law. This helped Ron Quartararo when he helped established the Testaverde Fund as a federally tax exempt organization. The Fund has also supported research being done at several institutions including The State University of New Jersey at Rutgers.