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

• 2004/05 Honorees
• Eduardo — The story of Eduardo Cholula, Jr.

A printable version of this annual report is available 2004/2005 Annual Report.pdf

THE YEAR IN REVIEW 2004 | 2005 Blind Childrens Center

Building on a vision for the last 67 years, the Blind Childrens Center has just completed an amazing year of accomplishments, a year of planning, and a year of independence and growth for our very special children and their families.

It is through the efforts and talents of our dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers, supporters, and staff, that we are able to meet the challenges and pursue opportunities to bring state-of-the-art services to our children and families. Through this report we hope you will see how much you make possible through your generous gifts and commitment.

The presentation of facts and figures below illustrates the diversity of activities and services.

Please come visit the children. They tell the true story of our mission.

PROGRAMS & SERVICES

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

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

• 18 families were served in the Infant Program attending two mornings a week. The family worker made 50 visits to the families at home, in the hospital, doctor visits, IFSPs and IEPs, hearings and mediations, and other professional appointments.

• 47 families, in addition to those enrolled, were served by the family services professionals.

• 4 children graduated and professional assistance was provided for placement. Six children did not graduate but will stay at the Center for the Kindergarten Program.

• Fernanda Armenta-Schmitt, Ph.D. had a wonderful but demanding first year as Director of Education & Family Services.

• Assistant Teacher of 29 years, Maria Abadia, retired. Our very best wishes for many happy times with her family and friends.

• A Parent Co-op was started with 10 parents volunteering regularly in the classrooms.

• Two Center graduates commenced the Jr. Mentor’s Program. They volunteered at the Center for three weeks (one week in January and two at the start of their summer break) and worked with the children, the staff and the parents. Karen, 12 and Carlos, 13 answered questions openly and candidly and were a great inspiration to all.

• Two mentors from Foundation for the Junior Blind came for two weeks. They worked directly with the children and also addressed the parents.

• Special activities for the children, in addition to the many academic and social experiences offered daily, included: LAPD Centurions’ picnic; L.A. Marathon; Adventure City theme park; a trip on the metro to Olvera Street; Shane’s Inspiration at Griffith Park; the Arboretum; Los Angeles Zoo; Disneyland; Mother’s Beach, and annual holiday parties including Halloween Carnival, LAPD Holiday Party, Valentine’s Party, Beeping Easter Egg Hunt, and Graduation.

• Parent Groups, led by our Social Worker, included regular meetings, three days each week, where they discussed a wide array of daily issues. The Self-Enhancement Group, Parent Co-op Training and Supervision, and Braille classes continued. Also, the parents organized many activities to raise funds or complete projects for the Center.

• The new booklet, A Unique Way of Learning, Teaching Young Children with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia, was produced and distributed. Over 700 copies have sold since March when it was introduced.

• Graduate and undergraduate students from local colleges and universities visited for observation and training.

• Pediatric Residents from Childrens Hospital, Jules Stein, USC, and Cedars Sinai made regular monthly observations. Thirty-five doctors were introduced to the Center.

• 20 professional conferences and workshops were attended by education and family services staff. Some included: CTEVH (California Transcribers and Educators of the Visually Impaired), where we presented the booklet A Unique Way of Learning, Teaching Young Children with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia; Lanterman Regional Center: services they provide and the IEP Process; Foundation for the Jr. Blind: Resources for Families; Motivational workshop for parents; Infant Massage: a Foundation for Healthy Family Living (4 days); Braille Symposium: Dr. Tawansy, Transition into a Second Century; Southern California Network Family Weekend; Unique Concerns of Siblings and Children with Special Needs; Zero to Three Conference; Early Start: Providing supportive care to high risk, premature, disorganized infants; UCLA Parent Leadership Institute (11 sessions); IDA Conference: Building the Future (4 days); and a 4-week training “Why Parent” workshop addressing the role of parents and how school systems work.

• Blind Childrens Center staff are often requested for presentations. Education and Family Services staff delivered 28 outreach presentations for professionals and the general community. Some included The Southern California Network Meeting (four per year); Camp Bloomfield Family Weekend (three days); Fiesta Educativa (two days): anger management and behavior modification; Infant Massage Training (5 sessions); Long Beach Parent Support Group: What are you looking at?; Living with a Diagnosis; Shriners Hospital: General Parenting; Childrens Bureau: The Grief Process; South Central, San Gabriel Pomona, and East LA Regional Centers: Early Start Units; Westside Family Resource & Empowerment Center; and Special Quest Year Six (one week of training and two of teaching).

• Executive Director Midge Horton and Development staff made 47 presentations to community clubs, organizations, and businesses.

• A family from India, who founded a 1,500-bed hospital in India, visited our program. Fernanda Armenta-Schmitt, Ph.D. and Carlos M. Martinez were invited to consult with their program to facilitate their growth toward a family-focused agency.

• Board member, Rick Boggs, and three friends visited the children. All four had their guide dogs. The children loved getting to know the dogs and some of the basic commands.

• Board member, Shevy Magen, brought his dog Zeke for filming with Martin & Mary. Step Jones sponsored the video which was introduced at the golf tournament.

• The Kindergarten Program was officially adopted by the Board of Directors. Class begins in September 2005.

2004/2005 FINANCIAL INFORMATION

DEVELOPMENT & ADMINISTRATION

• The Development Team and volunteers worked hard to maintain past efforts and develop new ways to meet the need to expand the program budget.

• Fund raising increased 23%.

• Agency expenses were just under target at 99%.

• Light the Way Circle currently has 100 individual members, realizing $169,000.

• Grant funding increased 38% and accounted for 43% of our fund raising.

• Special events support accounted for 40% of our fund raising, bringing in $87,000 over goal.

• Special events included: The Longest Day of Golf; Roddy Hiatt Golf Tournament; Les Marraines Halloween Luncheon; Kenny Rankin Jazz Concert; Grease Opening Night at Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center; LA Marathon; The Tom Sullivan Blind Childrens Center Celebrity Golf Classic; and LAPD Centurions football games.

• A unique opportunity developed when Board member, Lawrence F. Meyer, ran the Antarctica Marathon. His personal efforts raised over $14,000 for the children.

• Team Blind Children/LA Marathon raised $43,000, a 40% increase over 2004.

• The 2005 Tom Sullivan Blind Childrens Center Celebrity Golf Classic increased net revenues to $135,000, a 37% increase over 2004.

• The Roddy Hiatt Golf Tournament increased net revenues to $43,000, an 86% increase over 2004.

• A Press Conference and reception was held for the presentation of parent Eduardo Cholula’s inspirational book, Starting Below Zero.

• Updates and additions are made regularly to the website. Secure status remains for publication orders and donations.

• All graphics were provided in-house for special events, direct mail pieces, brochures, and newsletters. A PowerPoint presentation was developed for the golf tournament. The new ONH book was designed by our graphic artist.

• The newsletter was sent to nearly 7,000 friends, twice during the year.

• Trustees of the Aaroe Associates Foundation visited the Center, held their Board meeting, and surprised us with a generous gift.

• Montebello Lions presented a donation and brought 40 members and guests from other service clubs to dinner.

• North Hollywood Lions, supporters of the Center since 1950, presented a donation at graduation.

• 75 volunteers from Pepperdine University worked at the facility all day on a Saturday for “Step Forward Day.”

• Research Project, “Risk Factors for Aphakic Glaucoma After Congenital Cataract Surgery” was sponsored. Dr. Teresa C. Chen, Harvard Medical School Department of Ophthalmology, conducted the research. The project selected for 2005/2006 is “Improving Trabeculectomy Outcomes in Children Using Human Amniotic Membrane.” Dr. Maya Eibschitz at W.K. Kellogg Eye Center in Michigan will conduct the study.

• 5,613 publications were distributed throughout the world.

Thank you for being a vital part of our success.

A printable version of this annual report is available 2004/2005 Annual Report.pdf

Previous annual report: 2003/2004

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