The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation
A United States advocacy organization focused on preventing and improving care for pediatric acquired brain injury.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation (SJBF) is a United States advocacy organization devoted to pediatric acquired brain injury, including traumatic brain injury, abusive head trauma, concussion, and other injuries affecting the developing brain. Its stated mission is to advance knowledge of the brain, prevent childhood brain injury, and improve care for children and young adults who sustain such injuries. The foundation’s principal policy objective has been the development and implementation of a coordinated national system of care for pediatric acquired brain injury. The organization was founded in New York City in 2007 by Patrick Donohue after his daughter, Sarah Jane Donohue, suffered a catastrophic brain injury as an infant. According to accounts of the foundation’s origins, Sarah Jane was violently shaken by a baby nurse when she was five days old. The assault caused extensive neurological damage as well as multiple fractures, and the nurse later pleaded guilty to child abuse and received a prison sentence. Sarah Jane’s experience brought national attention to the consequences of abusive head trauma and to the fragmented support available to affected families. Donohue initially created an online site to share updates about his daughter’s condition with relatives and friends. The response grew substantially after the case received national media coverage, producing a large international network of messages and support. The project subsequently developed into a broader advocacy effort. Donohue assembled a national advisory structure involving medical professionals, researchers, educators, rehabilitation specialists, policy advocates, and families affected by pediatric brain injury. In January 2009, more than 75 advisory-board members met in New York to work on the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan, commonly called the National PABI Plan. The PABI Plan proposed a standardized, evidence-based continuum of care covering prevention, acute treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration, transition to adult services, mild traumatic brain injury, rural and telehealth access, and a virtual center of excellence. Its underlying premise was that children and young adults with acquired brain injuries require coordinated services across emergency medicine, hospitals, rehabilitation, schools, mental-health care, social services, and family support rather than isolated interventions. The foundation promoted the plan through congressional outreach, public tours, professional presentations, and partnerships with medical and sports organizations. SJBF also became involved in prevention campaigns addressing youth sports concussion and abusive head trauma. Through the Zackery Lystedt Brain Project, launched with the American College of Sports Medicine in 2010, it supported state legislation modeled on Washington’s Zack Lystedt Law. Such laws generally require the removal from play of athletes suspected of having a concussion, medical clearance before return to play, and education for athletes, parents, coaches, and athletic personnel. The foundation pursued federal recognition of the PABI Plan through House Concurrent Resolution 198 in 2009 and the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan Act, introduced as H.R. 2600 in 2011. The proposed act sought federal support for state lead centers and a nationwide care infrastructure. Although the available reference material does not establish that the legislation became law, the campaign attracted bipartisan congressional sponsorship and support from professional and advocacy organizations. In 2013, Donohue founded the International Academy of Hope in New York City, a specialized school for students with brain injuries. The foundation’s current operating status, leadership beyond its founder, finances, and organizational scale are not established by the supplied sources.
History
The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation emerged from the experience of Sarah Jane Donohue, who suffered a severe acquired brain injury as a five-day-old infant after being violently shaken by a baby nurse. The injury caused extensive neurological damage and multiple fractures. The nurse pleaded guilty to child abuse and was sentenced to prison. Sarah Jane’s case received national media attention, and the volume of public response helped transform a family information website into a wider advocacy movement. Patrick Donohue, Sarah Jane’s father, founded the foundation in New York City in 2007. The early project focused on sharing updates about Sarah Jane’s condition and drawing attention to the difficulties faced by families dealing with pediatric brain injury. Donohue then expanded the work beyond personal storytelling, seeking to improve how children and young adults are identified, treated, rehabilitated, educated, and supported after injury. A major institutional step was the formation of a National Advisory Board composed of clinicians, researchers, educators, rehabilitation professionals, family members, and other specialists. In January 2009, more than 75 members met in New York to draft the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan. The plan was designed as a national framework for a seamless and evidence-based system of care rather than a single clinical program. It organized the continuum into seven areas: prevention; acute care; reintegration; transition to adult services; mild traumatic brain injury; rural and telehealth services; and a virtual center of excellence. The foundation used public advocacy and federal outreach to promote the plan. On January 20, 2009, Donohue sent a letter to President Barack Obama describing pediatric acquired brain injury as a major cause of death and disability among young people and asking for assistance in advancing the plan. Later that year, Representative G. K. Butterfield introduced H. Con. Res. 198, a bipartisan, non-binding resolution endorsing the plan and encouraging implementation by federal, state, and local authorities. The resolution ultimately attracted more than 110 co-sponsors according to the supplied reference material. Public awareness was another important part of the foundation’s work. In 2009, it organized the American PABI Heroes Tour, a nationwide music and education tour that visited 12 cities and covered approximately 11,000 miles. Events generally included expert discussions about pediatric acquired brain injury and local musical competitions. The organization also responded to the release of the Baby Shaker iPhone application in April 2009. After protests, Apple removed the application and apologized. The foundation joined child-abuse and shaken-baby prevention organizations in pursuing educational applications and other prevention-oriented responses. Sports concussion became a further focus. Patrick Donohue testified at a 2010 congressional hearing concerning head injuries in football. On February 3, 2010, the foundation and the American College of Sports Medicine announced the Zackery Lystedt Brain Project. Named for a Washington youth football player who experienced devastating consequences after returning to play while injured, the project promoted legislation requiring suspected-concussion athletes to leave play and obtain medical clearance before returning. It also emphasized education for coaches, parents, players, and athletic trainers. In July 2010, Sarah Jane and her father participated in White House-related events and presented a letter requesting presidential support for a summit on the National PABI Plan. In 2011, the foundation began a broad educational tour with presentations for students about sports concussion and for medical professionals about the PABI framework. H.R. 2600, the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan Act, was introduced in July 2011 with bipartisan support and sought federal assistance for state lead centers. The supplied sources do not establish that the bill became law. In September 2013, Patrick Donohue founded the International Academy of Hope in New York City, a specialized brain-injury school. The available material does not provide reliable information about the foundation’s later leadership, financial position, current programs, or present operational status. Its documented historical identity is that of a family-founded advocacy organization linking personal experience, prevention, education, legislative action, and health-system reform.
- 2013
International Academy of Hope founded
[1]Patrick Donohue founded a specialized New York City school for students with brain injuries.
- 2011
H.R. 2600 introduced
[1]The National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan Act was introduced in the House of Representatives.
- 2010
Zackery Lystedt Brain Project announced
[1]The foundation and the American College of Sports Medicine began a national campaign for youth concussion legislation.
- 2009
National PABI Plan drafted
[1]The foundation’s national advisory board developed a proposed seven-part framework for pediatric acquired brain-injury care.
- 2009
H. Con. Res. 198 introduced
[1]Congress received a bipartisan resolution endorsing the National PABI Plan.
- 2007
Foundation established in New York City
[1]Patrick Donohue founded the organization after his daughter’s severe infant brain injury prompted a broader advocacy effort.
Products and positioning
A family-founded, systems-oriented advocacy organization seeking to connect prevention, acute treatment, rehabilitation, education, transition services, and public policy for children and young adults with acquired brain injuries.
Care framework and policy program · 2009
National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan
A proposed national framework for coordinating pediatric acquired brain-injury services. It addresses prevention, acute care, reintegration, transition to adult services, mild traumatic brain injury, rural and telehealth access, and a virtual center of excellence. The plan was intended to make evidence-based care more consistent and accessible across the United States.
Concussion prevention and legislation campaign · 2010
Zackery Lystedt Brain Project
A joint initiative with the American College of Sports Medicine promoting youth-sports concussion laws. Its model emphasizes immediate removal from play when concussion is suspected, medical clearance before return, and education for athletes, families, coaches, and athletic personnel.
Public-awareness tour · 2009
American PABI Heroes Tour
A 12-city awareness and philanthropy tour combining expert panels about pediatric acquired brain injury with music events. The tour culminated in a New York City finale involving performers selected from participating cities.
Education and outreach program · 2011
National Pediatric Brain Injury Plan Tour
A multi-state educational tour presenting sports-concussion information to high-school students and explaining the National PABI Plan to medical and professional audiences.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011National Pediatric Brain Injury Plan Tour
United States
A six-month tour with more than 70 events in over 30 states presented concussion education to students and the PABI Plan to medical professionals.
- 2010Zackery Lystedt Brain Project
United States
The foundation and the American College of Sports Medicine promoted state laws addressing concussion recognition, removal from play, medical clearance, and education in youth sports.
Outcome. The campaign sought adoption of laws in all 50 states; the supplied material reports that 49 states had enacted such legislation at the time of reference.
- 2009American PABI Heroes Tour
United States
The foundation organized a 12-city, approximately 11,000-mile tour to raise awareness of pediatric acquired brain injury through expert panels, local philanthropy, and music events.
Outcome. The tour concluded with a New York City finale, where a Chicago drum line was reported as the winner.
Brand decisions
2011
Pursue federal authorization for the National PABI PlanOtherBackground
The foundation sought to move the National PABI Plan from an advocacy framework toward a federally supported state-based system.
Action taken
Representative Leonard Lance introduced H.R. 2600 with bipartisan original co-sponsors.
Aftermath
The supplied sources report substantial congressional and organizational support but do not establish enactment of the bill.
2010
Expand advocacy into youth-sports concussion policyStrategyBackground
High-profile youth football injuries highlighted the risks of returning athletes to play after suspected concussion.
Action taken
The foundation partnered with the American College of Sports Medicine to promote Zack Lystedt-style legislation nationwide.
Aftermath
The initiative helped advocate for state-level concussion protections and related education requirements.
2009
Shift from family updates to national systems advocacyStrategyBackground
The foundation began as an online effort to share Sarah Jane Donohue’s recovery updates but received broad public attention and support.
Action taken
Patrick Donohue established a professional and family advisory structure and pursued a standardized national care plan.
Aftermath
The resulting National PABI Plan became the foundation’s central policy and educational platform.
2009
Joint response to the Baby Shaker applicationOtherBackground
An iPhone application depicting the shaking of a baby drew criticism from child-abuse and shaken-baby prevention advocates.
Action taken
The foundation complained to Apple and joined other organizations in developing prevention-oriented application concepts.
Aftermath
Apple removed the application and apologized after public protests.
Recent events
- 2013
International Academy of Hope founded in New York City[1]
Other
Patrick Donohue founded the International Academy of Hope, a specialized school serving students with brain injuries.
- 2011
National Pediatric Brain Injury Plan Tour begins[1]
Campaign
The foundation launched a multi-state educational tour addressing sports concussion for students and the National PABI Plan for medical and professional audiences.
- 2011
National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan Act introduced as H.R. 2600[1]
Regulation · Campaign
Representative Leonard Lance introduced legislation proposing federal support for state lead centers and implementation of the National PABI Plan.
- 2010
Zackery Lystedt Brain Project is announced[1]
Campaign · Regulation
The foundation and the American College of Sports Medicine launched a joint initiative supporting youth-sports concussion legislation modeled on Washington State’s Zack Lystedt Law.
- 2010
Sarah Jane Donohue and foundation representatives visit the White House[1]
Campaign
Sarah Jane Donohue, Patrick Donohue, and advisory-board members presented a letter seeking presidential support for a White House summit and implementation of the National PABI Plan.
- 2009
National advisory board begins drafting the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan[1]
Other
More than 75 professional and family experts met in New York to develop a proposed national, standardized system of care for pediatric acquired brain injury.
- 2009
Foundation asks President Obama to support a national pediatric brain-injury plan[1]
Campaign
Patrick Donohue wrote to newly inaugurated President Barack Obama seeking federal cooperation in advancing and implementing the National PABI Plan.
- 2009
Sarah Jane Brain Foundation responds to the Baby Shaker iPhone application[1]
Campaign · Product launch · Other
The foundation criticized an iPhone application that depicted shaking a baby and participated in a prevention initiative with child-abuse and shaken-baby organizations after Apple removed the application and apologized.
- 2009
American PABI Heroes Tour travels across the United States[1]
Campaign
A 12-city, approximately 11,000-mile tour combined pediatric acquired brain-injury awareness panels with local music events and culminated in a New York City finale.
- 2009
Congress introduces H. Con. Res. 198 endorsing the National PABI Plan[1]
Regulation · Campaign
Representative G. K. Butterfield and bipartisan original co-sponsors introduced a non-binding resolution supporting the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan and encouraging implementation by public authorities.
Sources2 sources
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