Lavelle Fund for the Blind

About the Lavelle Fund The Lavelle Fund for the Blind is a charitable grant-making foundation dedicated primarily to supporting programs that help individuals who are blind or visually impaired live independent and productive lives. Values Statements Good grantmaking builds bridges and relationships We value our grantees and the work that they do. Barriers can be overcome by connecting people with disabilities to resources and expertise We value the communities we serve and their own inherent strengths. Collaborative resource sharing is key We encourage our funding collaborators to build accessibility into their grantmaking. Grantmaking should be affirming and should be informed by compassion, respect, integrity and dignity We value our history and the philosophy of human dignity and service to those in need. Effecting systemic change will ensure a legacy of inclusion, empowerment and accessibility for those with visual impairments We value lasting impacts and accountability We are committed to using our resources to help ensure equal access and equitable outcomes for people who are blind and visually impaired. History Our grantmaking is deeply rooted in the legacy of the Dominican Sisters, whose commitment to the dignity of every individual and care for the most vulnerable continues to inspire our mission. Lavelle Fund for the Blind, Inc. was originally established as the Lavelle School for the Blind in 1904. For most of the succeeding century, the Lavelle School was led by the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, New York. Guided by the Sisters’ Christian values, compassion, and professionalism, the School prepared generations of students for independent, fulfilling lives. Their dedication not only transformed the lives of students but also earned the lasting support of New York’s Catholic community. In 1947, the School became a state-chartered and state-funded 4201 school, offering specialized educational and therapeutic services to children with visual impairments and additional disabilities. It was in this fiscal context that in 1999, a new and independent Lavelle School entity was created. The original entity and the majority of its endowment became the Lavelle Fund for the Blind, Inc. (the Fund), the charitable foundation that has since been administering grants to benefit the broader community of people with visual impairments.