Get to know our newest board member through his own words. \n
Jan 31, 2025 | Member News
VOORHEES, N.J. – AAA South Jersey welcomes Voorhees native and Adam Taliaferro Foundation chairman Adam Taliaferro as the newest member of its Board of Directors.
Taliaferro gained national attention as a freshman cornerback at Penn State University when, in his fifth career game, he suffered a devastating spinal cord injury. Doctors told his family he would very likely never walk again.
Months later, he overcame the odds and walked out of Magee Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia.
In 2001, Taliaferro’s journey sparked the founding of the Adam Taliaferro Foundation, which provides emotional and financial support to individuals who suffer serious spinal cord injuries in the tri-state area.
Get to know our newest board member through his own words.
Q: You were told you would probably never walk again. What went through your mind hearing that and throughout your recovery?
A: "I remember the impact and then hitting the ground. I tried to get up, but I honestly thought I had broken my legs because I couldn’t move them. I attempted to move my arms, but they wouldn’t move either. There was this strange tingling sensation all over my body. At that moment, the thought of being paralyzed never crossed my mind — you know, like most people, you assume the worst happens to someone else. I was on the ground for about ten minutes and as they were loading me onto the stretcher, I tried to give a thumbs-up hoping my parents who were watching on TV would see it. But when I couldn't manage that, I realized something was seriously wrong. They took me across the street to the hospital and later that evening, they told my dad that I had only a 3% chance of ever walking again due to the severity of the injury. My parents decided not to tell me the full extent of the situation, so while I knew it was bad I wasn’t aware just how dire things were."
"Throughout my life, I've been surrounded by incredible people and their support has been a huge part of helping me overcome adversity and achieve things I never thought possible. I’ve been truly fortunate to have such a strong network of amazing individuals along the way."
Q: Going through your injury, what made you want to start the Adam Taliaferro Foundation?
A: "I spent eight months in the hospital and throughout that time I saw many people who didn’t have the financial resources or emotional support to navigate their recovery. I was fortunate enough to have both. After I made it through my own recovery, my high school football coach and a few other coaches in South Jersey came up with the idea to create a foundation. The goal was to provide others with the same type of support I had during my journey — whether that’s helping cover the costs of recovery or simply offering emotional support, reassuring them that 'We can get through this together.’
“During my own recovery, having people visit me every day, offering encouragement, and inspiring me to keep pushing forward made all the difference. That’s why we created the foundation — to offer the same kind of help and hope to those going through similar challenges. We focus on supporting individuals with spinal cord injuries or other catastrophic injuries, and thankfully we’ve been able to raise over $3 million to help people on their own recovery journeys."
Q: How familiar are you with AAA South Jersey?
A: "I often tell people that it's a full-circle moment for me. When our foundation first started, all of our board meetings were held at AAA South Jersey. We would meet once a month and that continued for several years. Then, when everything shut down because of COVID, we transitioned to virtual meetings. But for the first decade those monthly meetings were an important part of our Foundation's growth and they were all held at AAA South Jersey."
Q: In joining the AAA South Jersey Board of Directors, what do you hope to gain? Do you have a message for the AAA members?
A: "What really drew me to this opportunity is the connection I see between AAA and its commitment to helping and supporting people, both in South Jersey and nationwide. I’ve personally benefited so much from the support of others and if I can be that person who offers insights or strategies to help others, it’s something I’m truly passionate about. The board is made up of incredible individuals and I’m excited to learn from them while also sharing my own experiences and expertise. I truly believe this is a perfect fit and I’m looking forward to being a contributing voice on such a remarkable board."
About AAA
Started in 1902 by automotive enthusiasts who wanted to chart a path for better roads in America and advocate for safe mobility, AAA has transformed into one of North America’s largest membership organizations. Today, AAA provides roadside assistance, travel, discounts, financial and insurance services to enhance the life journey of over 63 million members across North America, including 56 million in the United States. To learn more about all AAA has to offer or to become a member, visit AAA.com.