Eastern Iowa, IA – A decade after a life-altering traumatic brain injury, Danielle Brazant has transformed personal adversity into a regional movement supporting brain injury survivors and their families. The Eastern Iowa Brain Injury Awareness Gala, which Brazant founded in response to her own experience, has rapidly evolved into a vital fundraising and advocacy platform. As the 2025 event approaches on August 23 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, the gala continues to grow in prominence, serving as both a financial engine for brain injury support and a public education initiative aimed at reshaping perceptions around brain trauma.
Brazant sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in 2012, launching what would become years of rehabilitation and personal transformation. That journey has informed every element of the gala, shaping it into one of the most successful grassroots efforts for brain injury awareness in the United States. In its inaugural year, the event became the highest-grossing fundraiser for the Brain Injury Association of America, a distinction that continues to inform its future direction and scale.
Rather than focusing solely on medical recovery or institutional funding, the gala emphasizes survivor visibility, caregiver inclusion, and broad community engagement. Brazant, who is also a published author and professional speaker, underscores the often-invisible challenges facing those with brain injuries. She notes that despite affecting millions of individuals annually, brain injury remains significantly underfunded and poorly understood compared to other conditions such as ALS or cancer.
“The systems around brain injury can be fragmented, and many survivors feel isolated or underrepresented,” said Brazant. “What we’re building through this gala is more than just a night of fundraising—it’s an ecosystem of understanding and connection.”
In addition to direct financial support for services and programming, the gala serves as a networking and educational event for survivors, advocates, clinicians, and family members. This multifaceted approach enables a richer public dialogue around the complexities of living with brain trauma, moving beyond statistics to spotlight lived experience. The event also enables local stakeholders to contribute meaningfully, with regional sponsors and individual donors providing consistent backing since the gala’s inception.
While Brazant’s public profile includes authorship of Maximizing Your Potential: How to Start the Journey Towards True Happiness in Life, her leadership of the gala has become the central channel for her advocacy work. Under her direction, the event is not only sustained but strategically expanded to serve broader geographies and partner organizations.
Looking ahead, Brazant remains committed to maintaining the integrity and authenticity of the gala while scaling its impact. “We’re working toward long-term solutions,” she said. “Yes, we raise money, but we’re also changing how brain injury is understood and addressed on both a social and institutional level.”
For those unable to attend in person, donations remain an essential part of the gala’s support structure and can be made online. All proceeds benefit the Brain Injury Association of America and its mission to advance awareness, provide critical resources, and empower survivors throughout their recovery journeys.
More information is available via DanielleBrazant.com. Donations can be made through the official GoFundMe campaign for the Cause of Brain Injury.