Jean Kelley
We would like to recommend Jean Kelley to be inducted into the Branford Education Hall of Fame. We have known her for 30+ years, and through that time, she has demonstrated qualities that are truly admired. She got her degree as an elementary teacher. After teaching for a few years, she left the profession to raise her family, and to support her husband who was in medical school to become an orthopedic surgeon. When her children entered the Branford school system, she supported the teachers by volunteering and orchestrating classroom projects, etc. She was always a pleasure to work with, and consistently demonstrated kindness and willingness to roll up her sleeves and get it done. When her youngest child, Brian, got diagnosed with ALD, a debilitation nerve disorder, she could have easily crumbled. Instead, she decided to educate the children of Branford, about Brian’s illness and continued to do so through his high school years and continues to do so presently. Jean began to spear head initiatives to raise money for the Myelin research. She spent countless hours recruiting sponsors and orchestrating the personnel needed to conduct yearly triathlons as the Hammerfest and Brian’s Beachside Boogie. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised. As if that wasn’t enough, Jean and her family, have worked tirelessly to promote newborn screening which ultimately saves young boys from the heartache of this horrific disease. With her persistence and hard work to educate, she was instrumental in getting legislators to require a screening test at birth, and she continues to this day to get more states on board. Jean Kelley has inspired, educated and orchestrated initiatives that have changed the future of ALD and therefore the future of countless families. It is with great pleasure, that we recommend Jean Kelley for the Branford Education Hall of Fame.
I would like to recommend Jean Kelley as a nominee for the Branford Education Hall of Fame. Jean is a respected member of the Branford community who will go out of her way to help anyone. Beyond that, she is the mother of Brian Kelley, a young man who was diagnosed with ALD (adrenoleukodystrophy) a degenerative neurological disease, at the age of 7. Jean’s tireless mission began with the Hammerfest Triathlon to raise awareness and funding for the Myelin Project and subsequently she and her husband, Jack founded Brian’s Hope in 2012, with the mission to bring newborn screening to each and every state in the USA. She works closely with local and state governments to educate lawmakers and constituents on the importance of newborn screening. ALD is now screened for in over 10 states, which has already saved multiple little boys and their families from the progression and devastation of this horrible disease. Please look at the following website to learn more about Jean, Brian and their mission to educate and provide support to anyone affected by ALD: brianshope.org
Please go to this website that includes so much information in a form anyone can understand and appreciate. She used this information when making presentations to school children, organizations she spoke to, as well as with legislators.
Please go to this website that includes so much information in a form anyone can understand and appreciate. She used this information when making presentations to school children, organizations she spoke to, as well as with legislators.