RP INTERNATIONAL - Serving the Visually Impaired
Welcome and thank you for visiting RP International's fundraising page for our efforts to save The School for The Blind. Our team's goal is to raise $75,00.00.
Donating through this website is simple, fast and secure. It is also the most efficient way to support our fundraising efforts. Feel free to donate here or you can also start crowdfunding by joining our team (just build a page like this) or even starting your own team. (Click above, "I want to raise money too.")
Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone else who you think might want to participate!
For more information, please visit RPI's new site: www.rpinternational.org.
More Information
Harris says, “Due to recent cuts, students at The School for The Blind are already down from five to two days per week. The School provides a haven for those that are visually impaired with training for the social, emotional and physical implications related to losing one's vision. The program is also hosting autistic and mentally disabled students, so it will be a tragedy for all of these students and their loved ones if this program cannot continue in 2011.”
RP International (RPI) aims to raise $75,000 (the cost to keep the program running fully each year) to save the School from closure since its State-funded grant of the same amount has been cut in a wave of social programs that the State eliminated due to the lagging economy. The current grant expires on December 31, 2010.
Harris adds, “If the funds are not raised to keep the school open, these students will have nowhere to go to continue their specialized education and mobility training, which allows them to function as productive and purposeful citizens."
About The School for The Blind
The School for the Blind in Van Nuys, California, is also known as the Visually Handicapped Adults of the Valley (VHAV) Program. This is the only program in the San Fernando Valley that caters especially to the elderly and visually impaired adults. In the past, this 38 year old venerable institution has enjoyed the funding of volunteer services supported by RP International and the City of Los Angeles. However, the past two years have been challenging due to the state of the economy. VHAV has lost its grants, and as a result had to reduce the number of classes offered, close it doors to only two days per week, as well as make staff layoffs. Despite the obstacles, VHAV continues in their efforts to keep the doors open to serve the blind. "This school is a lifeline for these people," says Harris. “Transportation and classes in Braille and home economics are just a few of the pieces that have dwindled off as each of the grants has been removed. There's a great need for a facility like this because blind people need a way out of their homes with trained people that they can trust.”