Today and Beyond While the actual founding of CPRF occurred in 1972, the Foundation's roots reach back into the late 1940s and a man named John F. Jonas Jr. – known to his friends as Jack.  After years as a speech pathologist at the Institute of Logopedics, Jack took it as his personal responsibility to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities, through opportunities for dignity in all that life has to offer.  After a time as the United Cerebral Palsy of Kansas executive director, Jack realized that true dignity would only come from opportunities for employment, independent living and financial self-sufficiency.  Following closely on the heels of CPRF’s founding was the opening of Center Industries Corporation – the first manufacturing facility in the United States that employed people with severe physical disabilities.  The rest of CPRF’s amazing story is built on those first few employees, Jack’s passion and the visionary direction of a powerful board of directors.

Lasting relationships Throughout the years, CPRF has forged many lasting relationships with individuals, corporations and foundations and has time and again proven to be a leader in the areas of rehabilitation engineering and opportunity development. Corporations like the Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, Koch Industries, Raytheon Aircraft, Cessna Aircraft and foundations like the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, the William T. Kemper Foundation, the Fred C. and Mary R. Koch Foundation, along with many individuals have supported CPRF in its efforts to create greater independence for children and adults with disabilities.