March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, and our ThinkFirst Navajo Injury Prevention Program has launched an ambitious initiative to protect Navajo communities through brain injury prevention education.  Our expanded program and partnership efforts have already reached over 583 students in a single day, building on a foundation of newly trained community educators.

Train-the-Trainer: Building Community Capacity

On March 1, 2025, ThinkFirst Navajo and Navajo United Way with support from Capacity Builders, Inc. and their youth outreach and education program—Navajo Youth Builders Coalition,  hosted a comprehensive brain injury prevention training in Church Rock, New Mexico. The session, led by ThinkFirst National Executive Director Jill Braselton, equipped 17 representatives from five different regions (known as agencies) across the Navajo Nation with skills to implement the ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Programs customized to various age groups

A key outcome was the appointment of Ashleigh Bennett, Capacity Builders Project Coordinator, as Chapter Director for ThinkFirst Navajo. Bennett has established five brain injury prevention teams to deliver safety programs in schools and other venues throughout the region.

From Training to Action: Reaching 580+ Students

Just two days after the training, on March 3, some of newly trained educators put their skills into practice, joining the ThinkFirst Navajo team to deliver essential brain injury prevention education to over 580 students from 1st to 12th grade.

At Baca/Dlo’Ay Azhi Community School, in Prewitt, NM, first and second graders received bike and sports helmets through the ThinkFirst for Kids program. Students participated in hands-on demonstrations to learn proper helmet fitting for various activities, including biking, skateboarding, ATV riding, wooly riding, and horseback riding. The children were particularly fascinated by brain and spinal cord models Illustrating how brain and spinal cord injuries can affect movement, thinking, and daily activities.

Students at Wingate High School, located in Ft. Wingate, NM, engaged with the ThinkFirst for Teens and ThinkFirst Road Safety programs. They heard powerful testimonies from individuals who had suffered spinal cord, and traumatic brain injuries due to distracted and impaired driving.

One particularly impactful moment came when Cecelia Fred, a ThinkFirst Navajo VIP (Voice for Injury Prevention) speaker, shared how a gunshot wound left her paralyzed. Her message resonated clearly: “Most brain injuries can be prevented if you Think First.”

Eve’s Fund extends heartfelt gratitude to Helen Sisneros, Chapter Director of ThinkFirst New Mexico, our valued partner at University of New Mexico Hospital Trauma Support Program , for generously providing helmets to our elementary students. The student’ excitement was apparent—many were eager to wear their new helmets straight through recess! Thank you for helping us promote safety and well-being among our youth.

A Movement, Not Just a Message

For the past twenty years, our ThinkFirst Navajo program has been working to raise awareness and prevent brain injuries in our Navajo and nearby communities. Beginning in March 2025, Brain Injury Awareness Month, ThinkFirst Navajo will be a more powerful force to save lives and help prevent catastrophic injuries. We will accomplish this through our new collaborations, professional training, and broadened community outreach.

Our comprehensive approach empowers young people with the knowledge to make safer choices, helping to protect the future of Navajo communities.

We are optimistic about the future of Eve’s Fund and our efforts in expanding our ThinkFirst Navajo initiative!

Click here to learn 5 Facts about concussions (mild traumatic brain injuries).

Help us save young lives and prevent catastrophic brain injuries

As we celebrate our 20th year, Eve’s Fund remains dedicated to empowering Native youth through literacy, education, and brain injury prevention. Our flagship ThinkFirst Navajo program has recently embarked on an exciting new partnership, strengthening our mission and expanding our reach.

To ensure the long-term sustainability of Eve’s Fund and honor Eve’s legacy, we invite you to make a tax-deductible donation of any amount. Your gift can save lives, prevent devastating brain and spinal cord injuries, and open doors to a brighter, safer future for the Native children and youth participating in our programs.

Click the “Donate” button to donate securely or, send a check to: Eve’s Fund, PO Box 3592, Newport, RI 02840.

Thank you for your generosity and for believing in the hope and wellness initiatives started in 2005,
in loving memory of our beloved daughter,

Eve Erin Crowell

Your support continues to make a meaningful impact on the lives of these children.