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Kennedy Krieger Institute unveils new endowed research fund for Down syndrome
Kennedy Krieger Institute and the Wawa Foundation on Tuesday announced the Hannah Rose Culotta Endowed Research Fund, a new research fund focused on developing enhanced treatment approaches for individuals with Down syndrome throughout their lifetime.
The fund is named in honor of the daughter of retired Wawa executive and longtime donor Jay Culotta, who has raised more than $900,000 for Down syndrome research in the past two decades.
The Wawa Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Wawa Inc., which has 63 stores in Maryland, contributed $156,000 to start the named endowment fund in recognition of both Culotta’s years of service with Wawa and his continued support of advances in care for individuals with Down Syndrome.
In addition, the foundation also announced at Tuesday’s event that Wawa will match all new donations up to $50,000. The goal is to add an additional $100,000 to the fund through this challenge.
The new fund will be used to accelerate training and advance improvements in the medical and mental health care of patients with Down syndrome, including adults, said George T. Capone, MD, director of Kennedy Krieger’s Down Syndrome Clinic and Research Center.
