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Foundations of Progress:
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Grant-Makers Enable Iris Network
to Set and Meet New Goals
Every day,
donors provide the Iris Network with precious support.
Along with our principal partner, the Maine Division for
the Blind and
Visually Impaired, donors help us pay our bills and
achieve our mission—to promote independence for people
with vision loss, to educate the community about living
fully with vision loss, and to support the integration
of people with vision loss into the larger community.
We truly appreciate the commitments and contributions of
all our supporters. Without you, the Iris Network simply
would not be here doing the work that we do. In 2008,
donors are expected to contribute more than 20% of the
Iris Network’s budget. When we are fortunate enough to
receive them, bequests and other planned gifts provide
additional, highly-valued support.
Some donors choose to invest directly in the future of
the Iris Network. They do so by funding new initiatives
that take our work to new places and levels. Foundations
are a special class of donors that most often provide
funds that allow the Iris Network to innovate,
leveraging our 102 years of experience to develop and
deliver new resources and services on behalf of our
constituents. Here are some examples of recent
innovations made possible by foundations:
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The
furnishing and equipping of the Iris Park
Apartments;
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The
growth in operations of the Low Vision Clinic;
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The
2007-8 Public Education campaign;
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The
2007-8 Technology Initiative;
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The
2008 Creative Arts program;
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The
advancement of programming and distribution for
Maine AIRS (Audio Information and Reading Service).
We heartily
thank all the foundations that support the present and
future of our work and that have shown such a strong
commitment to partnering with people with vision loss in
Maine.
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Grants fund wonderful projects at the Iris Network.
Roger Plourde, Chef at the Iris Park Apartments,
proudly displays the bake shop in his community
kitchen. The kitchen, the heart of the Apartments,
was equipped with grants from the Frances Hollis
Brain Foundation, Bank of America, and the Agnes
Lindsay Trust.
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Since 2004, the following grant-makers have
created new programs for people with vision
loss.
Agnes M. Lindsay Trust
Bank of America
Davis Family Foundation
Edward H. Daveis Benevolent Fund
Eunice Frye Home Foundation
Fisher Charitable Foundation
Frances Hollis Brain Foundation
Genada Foundation
Helen and George Ladd Charitable Corporation
Leonard C. and Mildred F. Ferguson Foundation
Libra Foundation
Lions Clubs International Foundation
Maine Community Foundation
Maine Lions Sight and Hearing Association
Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust
Mary T. & Curtis D. Lovill Trust
The Nine Wicket Foundation
PhRMA
Portland Provident Association
The Robert and Dorothy Goldberg Charitable
Foundation
Sam L. Cohen Foundation
Simmons Foundation, Inc.
TD Banknorth Charitable Foundation
Unum
Vincent B. and Barbara G. Welch Foundation
Virginia Hodgkins Somers Foundation, Inc.
Visual Education Center Foundation
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Cammy Holway-Moraros
serves on AER Board of Directors
AER, or the Association for the Education and
Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, is
the international membership association for
professionals who promote, develop, and improve
education and rehabilitation for people who are visually
impaired or blind.
Cammy Holway-Moraros of the Iris Network is serving her
second of a two-year elected term representing District
4 on the Board of Directors. District 4 includes the
Northeast Chapter (all New England states including
Quebec and the Canadian Provinces) and the New York
State Chapter, representing over 700 members. The Iris
Network
congratulates Cammy on her leadership.
Look for an update
on the Iris Network Technology Initiative in the April
issue of
Insights.
To learn more now about assistive technology for people
with disabilities,
Click this link for the interview . Maine AIRS
volunteer reader Dr. Shaun Dowd conducts a fascinating
interview with an award-winning disabilities expert and
Maine resident on life-changing technologies now
available for people with vision loss and other
disabilities.
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Shaun Dowd and Robert (B.J.) Kitchin
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