Blind Childrens Center

4120 Marathon Street, Los Angeles, California 90029 (323)664-2153

A family-centered agency serving children with visual impairments

IN THIS REPORT

• 2003/04 Honorees
• Alejandra — A loving and capable young lady

THE YEAR IN REVIEW 2003 | 2004 Blind Childrens Center

On October 3rd, 1938, the Blind Childrens Center was established with three children. Over the years, it has grown into a remarkable organization affecting the lives of thousands of children and their families. The Center is devoted to providing care, treatment and training to children who are blind or visually impaired and their families.

Our deepest appreciation is extended to the president of the Board of Directors, Mark West, and the entire Board for their involvement in the Center’s development. We also thank the many volunteers and supporters who have been generous in so many ways. Along with our dedicated and talented staff, we are all working together to ensure the Blind Childrens Center will be here for many years serving the children and families of tomorrow with the same commitment felt towards those first three children more than 65 years ago.

PROGRAMS & SERVICES

• 113 students and their families received direct services from Blind Childrens Center professional staff.

• 28 families were enrolled in the Preschool Program. All children in the preschool attend five days a week.

• 19 families were served in the Infant Program. The family worker made 47 visits to the families at home, in the hospital, and during doctor visits, IFSPs and IEPs, hearings, mediations, and other appointments.

• 66 families, in addition to those enrolled, were served by Family Services.

• 16 children graduated and assistance was provided for their placement.

• Mary Ellen McCann, Director of Education, retired in August 2004. Mary Ellen provided invaluable leadership to our teachers, specialists, and assistants for 12 years. We will miss her tremendously.

• We are fortunate to announce the appointment of Fernanda Armenta-Schmitt, Ph.D. in the dual position of Director of Education & Family Services.

• Teacher of 32 years, Marion Yoshida, retired. Marion made a difference in the lives of so many of our children by providing daily living skills and more during their final year at the Center. We will miss her kind manner and gentle way with the children.

• In addition to the many academic and social experiences offered daily, special activities included: LAPD Centurion’s picnic; Snow Day with 10 tons of snow; L.A. Marathon; Adventure Land theme park day; reptile visit to the Center; Metro ride to Olvera Street; Shane’s Park; and annual holiday parties including Halloween Carnival, LAPD Holiday Party with Santa, Valentine’s Day Party, Beeping Easter Egg Hunt, and Graduation.

• Parent groups included: weekly meetings, self-improvement seminars, Braille classes, and an organized parent fund raising group.

• Parent Mentor Training Manual (306 pages) by Fernanda Armenta-Schmitt, Ph.D. and Paul Schmitt, L.C.S.W. was published to assist agencies of special needs services to develop and incorporate a Parent Mentor Program.

• 20 graduate students from California State University Northridge and Cal State Los Angeles interned at the Center. Training was also provided to programs from Los Angeles City College, Mount St. Mary’s College, UCLA, and Santa Monica College.

• Data collection began on students aged 0 to 3 for the national Babies Count Survey through American Printing House for the Blind.

• A publication on Optic Nerve Hypoplasia is in development and will be available in Spring 2005.

• Three staff members presented at the Foundation for Retinal Research international conference for parents and professionals who work with children with Lebers Amaurosis held at Braille Institute. The Center hosted 50 children for the two-day conference.

• 17 conferences and workshops were attended by education and family service staff including CTEVH (California Transcribers and Educators of the Visually Handicapped) where the Parent Mentor Training Manual was presented.

• 25 outreach presentations, both for professionals and the general community, were delivered by the family service staff.

• Executive Director Midge Horton made 35 presentations to community clubs, organizations, and businesses.

• Pediatric residents from Childrens Hospital, Jules Stein, USC, UCLA and Cedars Sinai made regular monthly observations. Sixty-five doctors were introduced to the Center to provide them with an awareness of the importance of early intervention for the child who is blind or visually impaired.

• A family from Israel discovered the Center on our website and the father visited for several days to learn methods and teaching techniques.

• A family from Atlanta, Georgia visited for two weeks with their 18-month old daughter to secure skills and techniques from our staff.

2003/2004 FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Administration, Development, and Public Information costs are supported by the Investment Account. Audited Financial Statements are available upon request.

DEVELOPMENT & ADMINISTRATION

• The Development Team and volunteers worked diligently to maintain past efforts and develop new ways to meet the needs of an expanding operating budget.

• Fund raising increased 6%.

• Agency expenses were under budget at 97%.

• Light the Way Circle annual giving association has 96 members and welcomed 14 new members.

• Grant funding accounted for 35% of our fund raising. One new foundation grant was acquired and we continued to receive support from 35 foundations and corporations.

• Special events support accounted for 25% of our fund raising.

• Special events included: The Longest Day of Golf; Roddy Hiatt Golf Tournament; Les Marraines Halloween Luncheon; Jessica Callahan Concert; Jazz Up The Season With Kenny Rankin In Concert; Treasure or Trash Road Show; VIP Golf Reception; L.A. Marathon; The Tom Sullivan Blind Childrens Center Celebrity Golf Tournament; and LAPD Centurions football games.

• The 2004 Tom Sullivan Blind Childrens Center Celebrity Golf Tournament increased revenues to just under $100,000 and decreased expenses by more than $20,000.

• Over 200 volunteers were recruited for the L.A. Marathon and the golf tournament.

• Updates and additions were made regularly to our website. Secure status remains for orders and donations.

• All graphics were provided in-house for special events, direct mail pieces, brochures, newsletters, and publications. Our newsletter was redesigned to lower printing costs.

• The newsletter was sent to nearly 8,000 friends three times during the year.

• Trustees of the Stuart Foundation visited the Center and held their Board meeting.

• Gibney Family Foundation trustees attended the Longest Day of Golf celebration luncheon.

• Norris Foundation officers visited the children.

• 82 members of the Riverside Philharmonic Group visited for a tour and presentation.

• Montebello Lions presented a donation and brought 24 members for a dinner at the Center. Their guests included representatives from East LA and Pico Rivera Lions Clubs.

• WAVE radio staff members volunteered with the children and promoted the Center on air.

• 45 volunteers from Pepperdine University worked at the facility for “Step Forward Day.“

• U.S. Trust employees volunteered refurbishing the children’s large wooden blocks.

• “Risk Factors for Aphakic Glaucoma After Congenital Cataract Surgery“ research project, conducted by Dr. Teresa C. Chen, Harvard Medical School Department of Ophthalmology, was selected for sponsorship.

• We were awarded five new computers with printers through The California Endowment Circuit Rider Program. Two other new computers were purchased; nine computers and/or printers were upgraded; and a new HP All-In-One printer was installed and networked.

• Raiser’s Edge donor software was installed.

• 4,268 publications were distributed worldwide. Permission was granted to the Association of Early Intervention in the Czech Republic to translate and produce our publication, Fathers: A Common Ground.

The continued support of our volunteers and donors makes it possible for us to uphold the quality of service provided to these children and families, reaching more people with more services than ever before.

Thank you for being a vital part of our success.

Previous annual report: 2002/2003

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