The Halo Fund
Sierra Longmoore proudly introduces Kimberly Pruitt as the very first recipient of the HALO Fund’s financial support! Kimberly was awarded $2,500 to assist with medical expenses and TBI treatment—a milestone moment in our mission to make a difference.
2026 Halo Fund Recipients
Meet Jillian...
My name is Jillian, Program Director for the Brain Injury Community Center of Western Massachusetts. When I started at BICC, we had only an empty space and a vision. Today, that vision has grown into a community where survivors share their voices, build confidence, and truly belong.
Our progress comes from members and staff working together to create a place where people can discover purpose, develop skills, and contribute their strengths.
We’re grateful to receive a HALO Fund grant from Unmask the Invisible, which will provide a laptop for our center, expanding our ability to connect, participate in community events, research opportunities, and continue growing our clubhouse.
This laptop represents access, opportunity, and new possibilities. What began as a grant feels like the start of a meaningful relationship, and we look forward to building that connection.
Thank you, Unmask the Invisible HALO Fund, for believing in our mission and helping our community thrive.
Meet Carmen...
I’ve been a brain survivor since Dec 30, 2020. Lack of independence is the major issue with my disability; I was the man who was always on the go, I never sat still. After I suffered a stroke, the left side of my body was damaged and weakened, I cannot drive anymore, I was reduced to taking the bus.
Recently in 2025 I moved to Springfield to a home that is no longer on the bus route. One day I took it upon myself to time the distance it takes me to get to the bus stop and back home. It took me three hours to walk to the bus stop and back home with my walking disability. Something I enjoy doing on Saturdays is writing for my next book. I’m currently writing my third book, I enjoy the library it’s very charming, quiet and an incredible creative space that I would like to visit every Saturday afternoon if I can. I think it would be brilliant and life-changing to have a scooter that I can use to take me to and from the bus stop and to any other places of interest I may have. The scooter will help me navigate my community and help me be more independent. I would like to say thank you to Unmask the Invisible's HALO Fund for purchasing a scooter, advancing my independence and connecting me back into my community.
Meet Amy...
Amy’s traumatic brain injury journey began at age three after a skull fracture from a fall. She later underwent a right temporal lobectomy in 2018 for intractable epilepsy, and in February 2025 a severe seizure left her in a coma. She continues to face lasting cognitive challenges, including memory loss and difficulty finding words.
Despite this, Amy is pursuing digital marketing with a focus on AI and analytics, and painting has become a meaningful creative outlet for her.
Support from Unmask the Invisible’s HALO Fund will help Amy purchase adaptive equipment and cover medical transportation, providing crucial assistance as she continues her recovery and growth.
Meet Gene...
My name is Laurent Eugene "Gene" Foisy. On June 14, 1999, while living in Dayton, Ohio, I was involved in a devastating motorcycle accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury. After losing control of my motorcycle and crashing, I slid across the median into oncoming traffic, where another motorcyclist, unable to stop in time, struck my head. At the time, Ohio did not require helmets, and I was not wearing one.
After extensive rehabilitation and long-term care, I worked hard to regain my independence. I've always loved riding, and being able to get back out into the community has remained a lifelong goal.
Through the Brain Injury Community Center (BICC), I learned about the Unmask the Invisible's HALO Fund and applied for assistance to purchase a tricycle. I was thrilled to learn that my application was approved. This opportunity will help me reconnect with my community and enjoy the freedom of riding again.
I am incredibly grateful to the HALO Fund for making this possible. One lesson I learned is that no matter what I ride in the future, whether it's a motorcycle, bicycle, or tricycle, I will always wear a helmet.
Meet Cole...
In 2021, I was hospitalized with a brain infection, sepsis, and respiratory failure. Afterward, I spent two years recovering in a healthcare facility before finally returning home in 2023.
Since coming home, life has been extremely challenging. In 2024, I suddenly lost my mother, who had been my primary source of support. Despite receiving physical therapy daily while in the facility, my insurance would not cover those services once I returned home. I continue to struggle with balance issues caused by peripheral neuropathy, and the care manager assigned to assist me is no longer providing support.
Learning to live alone for the first time with limited assistance has been difficult, and I am doing my best to navigate each day. During this challenging time, Unmask the Invisible's HALO Fund has provided critical support by helping cover treatment not covered by insurance, therapy services, and transportation. Their assistance has made a meaningful difference in my recovery and quality of life.
Meet Marcus...
Marcus suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage as the result of a severe car accident. As parents of three children, our family has faced a long and challenging road to recovery. The accident significantly impacted our finances, creating unexpected medical, living, and childcare expenses while Marcus focused on healing.
During this difficult time, Unmask the Invisible's HALO Fund provided much-needed support by helping cover medical expenses not covered by insurance, therapy services, and transportation costs. Their assistance eased some of the financial burden and allowed our family to focus on what mattered most, Marcus's recovery and our family's well-being.
2025 Halo Fund Recipients
Meet Elliot...
Elliot was struck head‑on by a driver who crossed three lanes of traffic, leaving him unconscious at the scene for several minutes. Since the crash, he has experienced significant memory gaps and was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, with more than 55% of his white‑matter connections disrupted.
Funds awarded through the Unmask the Invisible HALO Fund will help cover Elliot’s medical transportation and medical copays not covered by insurance. These critical supports are needed as he continues his recovery.
Meet Tyler...
Tyler was hit in the head by a softball during a tournament in Barre, VT. Although he tried to keep playing, he quickly developed severe symptoms, including dizziness, confusion, and vision loss. A CT scan later revealed a large left temporal epidural hematoma, and he was rushed to UVM for emergency surgery to remove the bleeding and repair a skull fracture.
He woke up on his own after surgery and is and improving, though recovery will take time. Support from the Unmask the Invisible HALO Fund helped cover transportation to and from his therapies, easing a major burden for his family. They’re deeply grateful for the continued encouragement and care surrounding him.
Meet Seth...
My son Seth fell 30’ into a ravine at Glenn’s Falls waterfall in Fairlee, VT in May of 2021. He suffered a TBI and fractured his cervical spine. Since the fall he has had cognitive decline, and his vision has been impaired.
Unmask the Invisible's HALO Fund helped financially support Seth's Vision therapy.
The Longmoore family knows all too well the overwhelming challenges that come with surviving a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or becoming a caregiver for someone who has.
Their own journey has shown them how life can be turned upside down in an instant—emotionally, physically, and financially.
Even with a strong support network like they were blessed to have, the path is daunting. TBI survivors and their families face more than just the uphill battle of recovery. There are steep medical expenses, groundbreaking treatments not covered by insurance, rent or mortgage payments that don't stop, and possibly the needs of other children or relatives who still require care.
Severe TBI survivors often spend years in rehabilitation, with some unable to return to work, leaving family members to take on full-time caregiving roles or hire costly care services.
Now imagine taking this all on without warning.
To help address this burden, the Board of Directors at Unmask the Invisible created the Halo Fund, a growing resource aimed at easing the financial strain for TBI survivors and their families.
Whether it’s going to help cover an unpaid medical bill or fund a treatment insurance won’t pay for, every dollar can make a meaningful difference to the survivor and family so they can concentrate on recovery.
Each year, the Halo Fund will provide awards to deserving recipients selected through a detailed application process.
This includes a written submission, interview with board members, and verified documentation of need.
The award amounts will vary based on funds raised and need, but the impact is always significant.
If you or someone you know would like to apply for the next Halo Fund award, we encourage you to:
- Reach out on our Contact page here
- Please include your best contact information (email and phone number) in your inquiry.
A board member will respond once the application period opens.
Together, we can unmask the issues facing survivors and shine a light of hope for them and their families.
