With excitement and bountiful hope, today For Grace launches Leona’s Legacy—the most meaningful and personal project in our 25-year history. Inspired by our founder’s mother, who passed away from complications of Alzheimer’s disease, this trailblazing, ever-expanding initiative will examine the intersection of chronic pain and dementia, promote brain health, and work to halt elder abuse. At the site, you’ll find resources, personal stories, and much more, along with the inspiration that sparked this momentous effort—one dedicated to preserving the dignity of an aging population increasingly vulnerable to pain and dementia.“My mother adored everything we did at For Grace, named for her beloved sister. It’s time we honor the strongest, most loving woman I’ve ever known—a woman who, despite her true benevolence, was victimized when she was most vulnerable by those she loved,” shares For Grace founder Cynthia Toussaint. Welcome to Leona’s Legacy.    

For Grace has always been a fan of real people sharing their real pain experiences - and its leaders, John Garrett and Cynthia Toussaint, have lent their 44-year journey to a newsletter that does the same. Written by pain advocate extraordinaire, Tom Norris, PWLE Voices ("People With Lived Experience") shares Garrett and Toussaint's battle to hold their lives together, specifically the challenges of caregiving, despite day-to-day, high-impact chronic pain - and how, with love and determination, anything can be overcome. Check out PWLE Voices here...

It's that time of year again where pain advocacy organizations across the nation lock arms to spread awareness about chronic pain and the plight of the 50+ million people impacted. Among the many efforts to give chronic pain the spotlight it deserves as a public health challenge, For Grace will be launching a groundbreaking initiative, Leona's Legacy, on September 15th that will focus on the under-appreciated connection between chronic pain and dementia while promoting brain health. Let's make this pain awareness month one for the books!

It is with profound pride that Team For Grace announces the September 15th launch of its groundbreaking project that examines the under-recognized connection between chronic pain and dementia. Named Leona's Legacy, after founder Cynthia Toussaint's beloved mother who passed away due to complications of Alzheimer's in 2025, the initiative will provide a bevy of resources that advance understanding of this connection, tools that promote brain health as well as awareness that addresses elder abuse prevention. Please link here to read the Leona's Legacy press release to learn more - and join us on the 15th for the project's launch...