Sabrina Cohen
President & Founder of The Sabrina Cohen Foundation
Sabrina Cohen is the Founder / President of the Sabrina Cohen Foundation. Born and raised in Miami Beach, Florida, Sabrina endured a severe C3-5 spinal cord injury in 1992 at the age of 14 from a car accident. For Sabrina, her life changed in an instant, when she hopped into the backseat of a car with some friends. She thought she was getting a ride to a party, but the teenage driver started drag racing and the car slammed into a tree. The car was demolished and Sabrina’s spine was severely damaged. She has been confined to a wheelchair ever since.
In the early days, despite the daily challenges and fears, Sabrina was determined to never let her injury get the better of her. After a long recovery, she graduated high school on time with the rest of her class. She visited schools to talk about her new life with paralysis, urging and inspiring young students to drive carefully. In 1999, Sabrina graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in Communications, double majoring in Advertising and Psychology. She holds a post-graduate degree in Copywriting from the Miami Ad School, and founded her own advertising company, SabCo Productions, in 2003.
In April 2004, Sabrina unexpectedly discovered the world of stem cell research through Bernard Siegel, the founder of the Genetics Policy Institute (GPI), a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a legal framework to advance stem cell research. She then shifted her endeavors to support the cause through her creative skills by becoming the Director of Public Relations for GPI. In 2006, she established the Sabrina Cohen Foundation to educate the public about the cause and raise funds for research.
Sabrina has advocated extensively for research and quality of life health initiatives since then. She appeared in the first ever US political commercial for stem cell research supporting a Floridian Congressman and has been linked to many political figures, including fellow stem cell advocate Michael J. Fox. She is presently on the Advisory Board of the Genetics Policy Institute and travels nationwide with the organization to attend educational and scientific conferences, including the World Stem Cell Summit at the University of Wisconsin, Harvard University, Stanford University, Baylor College of Medicine at the University of Texas, University of Michigan and at the United Nations.
Sabrina’s media coverage as the Foundation’s spokesperson includes interviews with CNN, NBC, FOX, CBS, ABC, CNN Headline News, Good Morning America, Deco Drive, NPR, Jim Defede Show, WebMD Magazine (nominated a 2009 American Health Hero), The Miami Herald, Sun-Sentinel and the Wall Street Journal.
As a motivational speaker and spokesperson, Sabrina continuously enjoys taking the time to talk with students at schools, universities and community centers. In 2012, she returned to the University of Miami to get certified as a Professional Life Coach, and currently practices in Miami Beach.
Sabrina also encourages and supports fitness and rehabilitative initiatives to help those living with paralysis through “Sabrina’s Circle” scholarship program. Get inspired and follow Sabrina’s personal progress in the gym on her blog: “NeuroFitGirl: My Workout Program”
CONTACT:
Sabrina Cohen, President
The Sabrina Cohen Foundation
Email: sabrina@sabrinacohenfoundation.org
Web: www.sabrinacohenfoundation.org
Phone: 305.968.8024
