Mission & History: The 1950's

1950's Timeline

1950 The first UCP telethon, called "Celebrity Parade", was held in Chicago. It lasted 15 hours and raised a total of $972,106.

1952 Karen, the first widely read book about a mother's experience with a child with cerebral palsy, was published. Marie Killelea's book hit the best seller list in only four weeks.

A grant-in-aid program was initiated to train therapists and teachers and thus cope with shortage of professional personnel.

1955 Isabelle Goldenson convinced Dr. Sidney Farber at Harvard Medical School of the need for research into the prevention of cerebral palsy. Dr. Farber brought in 14 of the top medical scientists from across the country, including Dr. Houston Merritt, Dean of Columbia's Medical School, and members of N.I.H., to form the United Cerebral Palsy Research & Educational Foundation.

1956 United Cerebral Palsy took the lead in planning a Joint National Conference on Vocational Guidance of the Neurologically Disabled. Increasing numbers of civic, fraternal and professional organizations supported the work of UCP.

1958 New laws were passed by state legislatures benefitting people with disabilities. Congress stepped up neurological research and appropriations. Professional seminar programs were intensified.

1959 $581,230 was allocated to research. Dr. Brewster S. Miller, UCP's national Medical Director, predicted: "Major breakthroughs in the field of cerebral palsy are not only possible, but may actually happen in the near future."

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