THE Lantern PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND | Fall 07 This Issue 2007 Graduation Summer Success Harry Potter Impact in Africa Letter FROM THE PRESIDENT Perkins School for the Blind is all about providing quality services, which means that we are continually changing and adapting. Families change as they learn how best to help their toddlers use their remaining vision. Public school students change as they develop confidence, skills and friends at Perkins summer programs. Adults over age 55 learn that vision loss does not mean loss of vitality or independence. Through our international services, children all over the world learn that they, too, can learn to read, communicate and work, even if they are deafblind. In order to provide the best services, Perkins also changes. In this spirit, I’m happy to announce two changes in how Perkins communicates. First, you’ll notice the new size and format for The Lantern. Since 1931, the magazine has brought the world of Perkins to your front door. Today, we are pleased to share with you a revitalized Lantern that reflects the times. The smaller size saves postage, trees and ink, leaves a smaller carbon footprint and allows us to use color photos to bring you closer to the work of Perkins. You even have the opportunity to receive The Lantern by email instead of paper, saving even more natural resources. You can also download past issues. I also encourage you to visit the redesigned Perkins website at www.Perkins.org, a content-rich resource for students, parents, educators, volunteers, donors and other friends. You’ll find more photos, educational resources and an expanded store. The website is easier to navigate and thoroughly accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. We are thrilled to provide this expanded resource to the public. Thank you to all of you who are helping Perkins change lives. Thank you for making possibilities a reality. Sincerely, Steven M. Rothstein President, Perkins School for the Blind Officers of the Corporation & Board of Trustees Chair of the Board Janet B. James Vice Chairs of the Board Frederic M. Clifford* Linda DiBenedetto* Andrea Lamp Peabody Chair of the Corporation C. Richard Carlson Secretary Charles A. Cheever Treasurer Charles C.J. Platt Dr. Andrew W. Chapman* William J. Edwards Brenda J. Furlong Paul S. Goodof Corinne Grousbeck Loretta Warner Holway Philip L. Ladd William A. Lowell Julio Marenghi W. David Power Paul A. Raia* *Appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth Check out the redesign of Perkins website at www.Perkins.org Contents THE LANTERN Fall 07  Volume LXXVII, Number 1  Campus 04 Meet Slater Schuler 06 Perkins 2007 Graduation community 08 Meet Catherine Holt 10 Summer Success Perkins Low Vision Clinic 11Harry Potter Discover Conference Around the World 2 Meet Yariela V. Brandao-Prosser 14 Impact in Africa 14Impact in China Perkins 15 Family 16 Trust 18Calendar 19 Planned Giving Save paper by receiving the Lantern by email. Sign up at: http://support.perkins.org/lantern Campus Meet Slater Schuler. Slater loves her computer that talks and displays large letters and sign language symbols. “...when I am on the Perkins campus, I realize that Slater is having such a rich educational experience, she is not missing out.” Sarah Keefe, mother of Slater Slater has a long list of loves. Her family, her teachers, penguins, fountains, letters of the alphabet and—not above all, but certainly significantly—her modified computer keyboard of black letters on large, yellow keys. Slater is dynamite on the keyboard. Blind in one eye and with extremely low vision in the other, Slater wears a hearing aid but prefers communicating by spelling words, even sentences on the keyboard. When Slater’s parents, Sarah Keefe and Michael Schuler, learned that their three-month-old daughter could be described as having deafblindness, they knew that the sooner Slater received specialized services, the better. Because there were no such services in Atlanta where the family was living, they began a nation-wide search. “As we researched programs, all roads seemed to lead back to Perkins,” said Sarah Keefe. “Every organization we found either said they were funded by Perkins, their educators were trained at Perkins, or they were linked with Perkins in some other way. I flew to Boston to tour the school in March of 1999, and we moved to the area two months later.” The moment at the water pump when Helen Keller first spelled “water” opened Perkins’ most famous student to a life of communication. A similar incident happened years ago when, at lunchtime, Deafblind Program staff put a placemat with letters in front of Slater. With little control over her body so that it was difficult for her to walk or produce sign language, Slater started pointing to the letters on the placemat. This led to spelling. Which led to sentences. Today Slater’s keyboard speaks as she types. As everyone in Perkins Deafblind Program knows, communication is more than verbal. Yet Slater is now thrilled, literally, to have a voice. “I felt when I first learned about Slater’s disabilities, that as a parent I had to let go of some of those life dreams you have for your baby. But when I am on the Perkins campus, I realize that Slater is having such a rich educational experience, she is not missing out.” « Caption: Today, Slater’s keyboard even speaks as she types. Graduation Graduation day at Perkins School for the Blind is a day of treasures. Graduates laugh, joke and beam as they adjust their robes and caps and bustle together before the ceremony. Families and teachers well up as the class processes with canes, or arm-in-arm, or in wheelchairs to the stage. Everyone treasures the opportunity to witness this unbridled celebration of determination, accomplishment and love. The 2007 graduation guest speaker knew first-hand about the strength of the Perkins graduates. Olegario “Ollie” D. Cantos VII was born blind, came close to dropping out of school, but endured, became a lawyer and now serves as special counsel to the assistant attorney general for civil rights in the U.S. Department of Justice. “When we look at these young people sitting before us on this special day,” Cantos said from stage, ”we are also looking at an incredible source of inspiration, for they have been taught to have self-esteem, to work on their skills and talents, and to know that they have within themselves the drive and dedication to succeed.” To Cantos, the support of his teachers and families was essential to his success. The Perkins 2007 graduating class knew exactly what he was talking about. Congratulations everyone! « Community Meet Catherine Holt. With the training and support from Perkins Outreach service to elders, Catherine (here with daughter Barbara Clarke) maintains the Watertown house she has lived in for 48 years. “Perkins is the best and it’s right here. It was a no-brainer. What I wasn’t sure of was if Perkins had services for my mom.” – Barbara Clarke, daughter of Catherine Two years ago, Catherine Holt was an independent, self-sufficient 87-year old woman living alone and maintaining the Watertown house she had lived in for 48 years. Then she lost much of her sight due to age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. She immediately lost her ability to drive and her confidence to venture out of her house and even to make a cup of coffee. Catherine’s daughter, Barbara Clarke, immediately contacted Perkins School for the Blind, the tower of which they had noticed for years across the river. “Perkins is the best and it’s right here. It was a no-brainer. What I wasn’t sure of was if Perkins had services for my mom.” Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist, Renee Man, started working bi-weekly with Catherine. Renee has helped organize the refrigerator, set up a labeling system for food in large, dark letters and taught Catherine to use the microwave. They have come up with systems for labeling clothes so that Catherine can match the colors of her outfits in the morning. They wrap different sized rubber bands around medication bottles so Catherine can tell which is which. Renee has coached Catherine safely to pour her dark coffee in a white cup beneath a bright light so she can see when the liquid is approaching the top. “Perkins Outreach Program,” says Barbara, “brings the perfect combination of occupational therapy skills, experience with the psychological aspects of vision loss and the caring empathetic personality of our outreach worker that makes this resource invaluable.” Today, Catherine Holt is an, independent, self-sufficient 89-year-old woman, living on her own. “I do my own dishes,” she says. “And I can still touch my toes.” Catherine then places her palms on the floor, proving that this is one of the many things she can still do. « Caption: Today, Catherine has regained the confidence to cook and to venture outside. Community Summer Success! Perkins is a vital resource for public school students. We send Perkins teachers directly into schools to work with students in their classrooms and run vacation and weekend programs for the skill development that is not always included in a traditional public school curriculum. Summer was particularly busy for Perkins as public school students from across New England—and this year, Illinois—came to one, three and five week programs. Elementary school students made friends, some for the first time ever with peers who were also blind or had low vision. Others developed skills for independent living—how to shop, cook for themselves and keep an apartment. High school youth learned about seeking employment and held part-time jobs. No matter the specific program, students returned home with greater confidence, ready to become even greater participants in their public schools. Low Vision Clinic An hour and a half vision assessment at the New England Eye Low Vision Clinic at Perkins results in more than a prescription for eyeglasses—patients also get to explore the use of CCTV’s (magnification on a television screen), hand-held magnifiers, special lighting and other tools to help adapt to vision loss. The clinic is known for specialized services to people with multiple disabilities, but is open to everyone, giving the people of all ages access to the same quality professionals who provide eye care to Perkins students. Patients have booked appointments from around the country. Clinic staff have trained professionals across the US and abroad. This is another way that Perkins is helping change lives on campus, in the community and around the world. Harry Potter Over 200 Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library and Watertown Free Public Library patrons attended a Harry Potter Extravaganza in celebration of the simultaneous release of the braille and print editions of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final book in the popular Harry Potter series.Two young braille readers joined Boston Celtics alum Dana Barros and Director of Player Personnel Dave Wohl to read aloud the first chapter of the new book. The party took place on a beautiful afternoon under decorated tents on the Perkins campus complete with a brass band, adapted basketball games and cakes depicting scenes from the book. Literacy had never been such fun… Until, of course, you opened your book or turned on your tape. Discover Conference Perkins School for the Blind hosted the first Discover Conference for Families of School Age Children who are Blind or Deafblind Ages 6-22 on October 20, 2007. Inspired by the Perkins annual New England conference for children under age six and their families, the Discover Conference attracted people from several states to campus to connect with families and professionals. For many parents, this was the first opportunity to meet others with children who were blind or deafblind. Everyone left with new skills, strategies and, above all, hope for their children’s success. The conference was presented by Perkins School for the Blind, the National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI), the New England Center Deafblind Project (NEC), and in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Education. around the world Meet Yariela V. Brandao-Prosser. Yariela joined Deafblind International and attended a conference in Argentina where she connected with Perkins staff to help her daughter Yari. “I was amazed. I was sitting in the audience and for the first time I saw deafblind people communicating with their hands.” – Yariela V. Brandao-Prosser.” When Yariela learned that her baby daughter could neither see nor hear, she said that she didn’t know what to do. “So I spent the first year just loving her.” A year and a half later, Yariela’s husband died, leaving her pregnant and with Yari, her daughter who is deafblind. “Our country Panama did not have the resources to help her,” explained Yariela. A school for the deaf said Yari could not attend because she was blind, and a school for the blind would not accept her because she was deaf. “That’s when I woke up and realized that I needed help. I prayed and knew that with work everything would be okay.” Yariela joined Deafblind International and attended a conference in Argentina where she connected with Perkins staff who help develop services for children who are deafblind in Latin America. At that first conference she saw what was possible. “I was amazed. I was sitting in the audience and for the first time I saw deafblind people communicating with their hands. We were all listening to the same words and were all getting the same information. I knew then that there was a chance for Yari.” Back in Panama and with the help of Hilton/Perkins, Yariela arranged for a teacher to speak before congress and helped create a proposal to introduce the country’s first program for deafblind children. She also founded FUNPANISO, a foundation for girls and boys who are deafblind. At the same time, Yariela began making arrangements to move to the United States because her daughter was growing quickly and needed full-time educational services. Today, Yari is a student in the Perkins Deafblind Program, starting to communicate through sign language and walking with a cane. Yariela is still president of the parent foundation in Panama. She is still working for the success of her daughter—and for hundreds of other children she might never even meet. With the help of Yariela, Perkins and the Ministry of Education, there are now services for deafblind children throughout Panama. « Caption: Yariela founded FUNPANISO, a foundation for girls and boys who are deafblind. Today, she is still president of the foundation. around the world Impact in Africa This summer, Perkins joined Sight Savers International to sponsor the 4th Africa Forum, Toward a More Inclusive Society, the only continent-wide conference on blindness. Over 300 professionals, government officials, consumers and families traveled from 35 African countries to Kenya to attend the conference principally organized by Aubrey Webson, the Africa/Caribbean Regional Coordinator of Perkins international services. The Minister of State in the Government of Jamaica gave the keynote address and challenged blind participants to promote self-determination, persevere, and value education. The Minister of State’s words rang especially true, for he is blind himself. Perkins is thrilled to have played a key role in this event that is changing a continent. Impact in China Over 100,000 children in China are deafblind or visually impaired with additional disabilities, yet only 5% go to school. Several years ago, Perkins began collaborating with the Chinese Ministry of Education and the China National Institute for Educational Research to change this. Today, the collaboration has trained more than 90 educators and helped begin 20 programs for preschoolers and school-age children. This summer, Perkins President Steven Rothstein and staff from Perkins international programs conducted, in collaboration with Overbook School for the Blind, a Ministry of Education workshop for 50 administrators and teachers from schools for the blind from throughout China. This was a special effort to help expand Perkins current impact in China and reach many more children and their families. In addition, to further promote Braille literacy, Perkins distributed Perkins Braillers®, the paper and pencil for people who are blind, to all participants. A recent gift from The Starr Foundation enables Perkins to distribute over 200 Perkins Braillers to schools throughout the country. It may be the beginning of a new day for thousands of children in China. Perkins family Perkins Leadership Perkins School for the Blind is fortunate to have a long history of a board that governs with an attentive eye and a caring heart. Perkins Board Members are active participants in the governance of our many programs and services. We are fortunate that two Board Members have stepped forward to share responsibility on the governing level. Frederic M. Clifford and Andrea Lamp Peabody will join Linda DiBenedetto as Vice Chairs of the Perkins Board. “The Perkins Board provides valuable stewardship to senior staff as they carry out the important and ever expanding work of Perkins around the world. Both Andrea Peabody and Fred Clifford have given generously of their talents, experience and time, and I am delighted they will expand their roles as Vice Chairs to assist me in the governance and support of this dynamic institution.” – Janet B. James, Chair of the Board.” Honoring Perkins Staff All Perkins staff should be recognized for their contribution to improving the lives of over 87,000 people around the world. We especially salute staff who have been making a critical difference for 15–50 years of valuable service. Our staff is our most important resource. 50 Years of Service Jean DiLorenzo Braille & Talking Book Library 45 Years of Service Lois Downing Mailroom 40 Years of Service Carol Benoit Reynolds Deafblind 35 Years of Service George Goodwin Secondary Elizabeth Holbrook Secondary 30 Years of Service Wendy Buckley Deafblind Manuel Diaz Facilities Joseph D’Ottavio Secondary Juan A. Torres Howe Press 25 Years of Service Isabel Balmaseda Secondary Thomasa Karabaly Secondary Betsy McGinnity Hilton/Perkins Mary Zatta Deafblind 20 Years of Service Rachel Victoria Berg Secondary Keith Babcock Braille & Talking Book Library Susan Buckley Programs & Services Mark Colt Facilities Thomas Hyde Braille & Talking Book Library Sherri Myers Secondary Gregory Philip Business Office 15 Years of Service Patricia Ahern Braille & Talking Book Library Martin Baronas, Jr. Braille & Talking Book Library Christine Boudreau Deafblind Patricia Downer Deafblind John Eaves Braille & Talking Book Library Paula Kosior Preschool Donna LeBlanc Outreach Eileen Morange Braille & Talking Book Library Jennifer O’Brien Secondary Vincent Russo Deafblind Edward Teehan Howe Press Christine Thompson Preschool Terri Werner Secondary Aubrey Webson Hilton/Perkins Sheila Wynter Business Office Greetings This newly designed issue of The Lantern highlights some of the learning and “magic” created by the outstanding Perkins faculty and staff on campus, in the community and around the world. None of it would be possible without the generous public and private support we receive every year. Additionally, on behalf of the entire Perkins community, I want to express our great appreciation to the Chair of our Board of Trustees, Janet James and her husband Wilber and to Dudley and Sally Willis for their generous early campaign gifts in support of our faculty and staff. Chair of the Perkins Trust, Corinne Grousbeck, continues to be an inspiring leader as demonstrated by the success of the 2007 Perkins Possibilities Gala she chaired with husband Wyc Grousbeck and which raised over $1,000,000. To all members of the Perkins Trust and to all our generous friends and supporters, thank you for demonstrating your belief in Perkins. We salute you all.  Many thanks and best wishes, Ellie Starr Executive Director, Perkins Trust The PerkinsTrust Corinne Grousbeck, Chair Perkins Trust Frederic M. Clifford John J. Doran Eric Hamilton Janet B. James Philip L. Ladd David B. Mazza William Schawbel Thomas H. Perkins Society Named for an early trustee of Perkins School for the Blind who created a legacy by allowing the sale of his house to fund the establishment of the first Perkins campus, the Thomas H. Perkins Society honors the thoughtful planning of friends who provide for Perkins now and into the future. There are many ways to give—through a will, trust, retirement plan, life insurance policy or life income gift. The benefits are numerous and timeless—gifts might qualify you for significant tax benefits; they also create a legacy far into the future, and continue transforming the lives of over 87,000 people every year. For more information on creating a legacy at Perkins School for the Blind, contact Alleather Toure, 617-972-7680 or alleather.toure@Perkins.org. Perkins trust Visionary society Visionary society The Visionary Society, leadership donors of unrestricted contributions of $1,000 or more, has direct and immediate impact on our students, their families and every one of the over 87,000 lives Perkins touches every year. The Visionary Society funds allow the Board and President the flexibility to respond quickly to where the need is most urgent. Steve and Jane Pelletier know the difference that Perkins makes every day. Their 11-year-old son Tommy attends public school in Connecticut and benefits from meeting other students with visual impairments at weekends run by Perkins Outreach Program. By joining the Visionary Society, the Pelletiers decided to make a difference. “We became involved with Perkins through our son Tommy’s participation in Outreach weekends and summer programs. It didn’t take long for all of us to realize what a special place this is. The dedication, professionalism and enthusiasm of everyone here energize Tommy and us every minute we spend at the school. We want to make sure we never take Perkins for granted. We consider it a privilege to help the school be there for generations to come, just as so many others before us have helped it to be there for Tommy.” –Steve & Jane Pelletier For more information about the Visionary Society contact Jennifer Volpe, 617-972-7667 or jennifer.volpe@Perkins.org. Please join us for these upcoming local events! october Student Art Exhibit at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston October 15 – November 26, 2007 Opening Reception, Wednesday, November 7, 2007 november Annual Meeting Thursday, November 15, 2007 Special Guest, Perkins Alumnus Tom Sullivan december Holiday Concerts Thursday, December 13, 2007 – 7:30 pm Sunday, December 16, 2007 – 3:00 pm may 2008 Perkins Possibilities Gala Thursday, May 1, 2008 For more information, please contact Emily Goodman at 617-972-7583 or emily.goodman@Perkins.org. Plan to Make a Difference By including a gift to Perkins School for the Blind in your will or trust, you will create a legacy that endures. Barbara Rimbach is considerate, intelligent, and gracious. Responsible is also a term that one thinks of when meeting her. Today, she is applying that responsibility to her finances through charitable gift annuities that give her fixed-income for life and offer a stable alternative to the stock market. Barbara says “If I have to move into a long-term care facility, my annuity income will help to cover the cost of my care. And they are easy to establish. I instructed my broker to transfer a certain amount to Perkins and within weeks I received my first annuity payment. It’s not generosity. It’s responsibility. I can help the blind through the work of Perkins.” Help 87,000 people a year... For more information about gift planning at Perkins School for the Blind, contact Alleather Toure at 617-972-7680 or alleather.toure@Perkins.org. THE VISIONARY SOCIETY* July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007 We are grateful to our leadership donors whose own philanthropic vision through unrestricted annual fund gifts transform lives every day. Thank you to every member of The Visionary Society who believes that the time truly is now to reach for new possibilities.. Helen Keller Circle $25,000 Dr. Marcel P. J. Gaudreau Mrs. Olive R. Macdougall Anne Sullivan Circle $10,000–$24,999 Anonymous (2) Mr. and Mrs. Aaron A. Alberts Mr. and Mrs. Douglas H. Barker Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Bigony Mrs. Wesley Brown Mr. and Mrs. Frederic M. Clifford Mr. John F. Cogan, Jr. and Ms. Mary Cornille Mrs. Gladys Copeland Corinne and Wycliffe Grousbeck Ms. Jennifer M. Huntington Janet B. and William E. James Mr. and Mrs. Abdul Jomaa Philip L. Ladd and Elaine W. Fiske Mr. Richard P. Sergel and Ms. Susan Baggett Mr. Paul Silberberg Mr. and Mrs. Dudley H. Willis Julia Ward Howe Circle $5,000–$9,999 Mr. Robert Amory, III Mr. and Mrs. Walter Amory Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Doran Mr. and Mrs. William A. Lowell Mr. and Mrs. Ayaz Mahmud Mr. and Mrs. Roland F. Pease Jane and Steve Pelletier Mr. Jerry Perl Mrs. Patricia Bancroft Rice Mrs. Henry B. Roberts Governor and Mrs. Mitt Romney Mr. Philip W. Rosenkranz Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Rotondi Mr. Arthur I. Segel and Ms. Patty Saris Ms. Marjorie R. Sherman Mrs. Prudence Steiner Ms. Anne TenBrook Mr. Friedrich von Gottberg Ms. Marianne Nenno Winship Samuel Gridley Howe Circle $2,500–$4,999 Mr. Edward L. Bigelow, Jr. Mr. Geoffrey A. Brown, Jr. Dr. Andrew W. Chapman and Ms. Amy Schulz Mr. and Mrs. George P. Denny, III Mr. and Mrs. William J. Edwards Mr. Bill Gamelli and Ms. Tracy Vitols Ms. Elisabeth Gitter Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Hagopian Ms. Sheila Kennedy Elaine and Timothy Mann Mr. Donald E. Marcus Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. J. Platt Mr. and Mrs. W. David Power Mr. Michael P. Quercio Amelie L. Ratliff John and Ellie Svenson Mr. Matthew B. Winthrop Mr. and Mrs. John Worrall Ms. Joan M. Youngman Laura Bridgman Circle $1,000–$2,499 Anonymous (8) Mr. and Mrs. Howard M. Anderson Mr. and Mrs. John T. Bennett, Jr. Ms. Joan Bentinck-Smith Mr. John F. Biagiotti Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Boit Ms. Margaret Wacker Brawley Mr. Robert A. Browne Mr. and Mrs. Michael Bullock Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Butler Mr. John E. Butterworth Ms. Ellen Cabot Mr. Henry J. Camosse Mr. and Mrs. C. Richard Carlson Mr. and Mrs. Samuel B. Carr, Jr. Mr. David G. Carter Miss A. F. Casey Mrs. Sally Casey Mr. and Mrs. Larry Cheng Mr. John S. Cleary Mr. Herbert Corkin Mr. Bala Cumaresan and Ms. Vaithi Muttulingam Karen Lieberman-Daly and T. Edmund Daly Ms. Carolyn Davies Dana and Mudgie Djerf Ms. Rose M. Donabed Mr. and Mrs. John E. Drew Mr. and Mrs. David A. Durkin Mr. and Mrs. George C. Dyment Mrs. Barbara B. Ebert Mr. and Mrs. Wade Edwards Mr. and Mrs. Mason Fernald Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Fitzgerald Ms. Victoria Fremont Mrs. Clara M. Friedlaender Brenda and Charles Furlong Mr. and Mrs. Peter E. Gelhaar Mr. Dana M. Gordon Mr. and Mrs. Eric R. Haartz Mr. George A. Hambrecht Mr. and Mrs. Chip Hazard Mr. Winthrop Holloway Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Holway Mr. Joseph C. Honan Mr. Thomas J. Jarmolowski Millicent Jick Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Kaczynski Mr. Joseph W. Kain Mr. Leo Karas Owen and Doris Kellett Ms. Mary E. Kelly Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Keyfitz Mr. and Mrs. Garfield King Mr. Donald J. Kranz Mr. Dana Lake Mr. and Mrs. John Lowell Mrs. Carla E. Lynton Mr. Julio J. Marenghi Mr. and Mrs. William B. Matthews Mr. William G. McPadden and Ms. Andrea Bloch Mr. Toby F. Merk Mr. Robert Mileti and Ms. Susan Bartsch Ms. Lois M. Monge Mr. and Mrs. Ernest H. Monrad Dr. and Mrs. William R. Moomaw Mr. and Mrs. David W. Murray Mr. David J. Newton and Ms. Lynn Wolff Mr. and Mrs. H. Gilman Nichols, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. John J. O’Neil, III Mr. and Mrs. Walter H. Packard Mr. Edward C. Page, Jr. Mr. Siddharth Patel Mr. Richard W. Paull Mr. and Mrs. Don E. Perry Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Phipps Ms. Mary Pinheiro William D. Power Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Rassieur Mr. Roger Reiser Mr. Howard M. Reisman Ms. J. Elisabeth Rice Mr. and Mrs. Adolfo Rios Mr. and Mrs. Einar P. Robsham Barbara and Jay Rosenfield Steven M. Rothstein & Susan Maze-Rothstein Mr. and Mrs. H. Gunther Rudenberg Mr. Olgo A. Russo, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Jeswald W. Salacuse Mr. Detlef J. Schacht Mr. Mark Schwartz and Dr. Bettina Katz Mrs. Gertrude F. Shelley Dr. Hugh A. Simons Ms. Marion B. Smith Dr. Greta Smolowe and Mr. Richard Smolowe Mr. Christian B. Snook and Ms. Susan Stoddart Ellie Starr Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert L. Steward, Jr. Dr. George W. Stewart Ms. Frances C. Sydney Mr. and Mrs. William N. Thorndike, Jr. Mr. Gerard B. Townsend Mrs. Doris Underwood Mr. and Mrs. Edward R. Walter Mr. Melvin Weiner Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Wells, Jr. Mrs. Jean W. Wilson The Rev. and Mrs. Brinton W.Woodward, Jr. Mr. Richard A. Wurster and Ms. Jill Rutan Mrs. Franklin Wyman, Jr. In addition to the Visionary Society, Perkins School for the Blind is deeply grateful to the many donors who give restricted gifts for the Perkins Gala and for many special projects. Our 2007 Annual Report will list all major donors. Founded in 1829 as the nation’s first school for the blind, Perkins today serves over 87,000 infants and elders in their homes; school-age students on campus and in the community; and deafblind children in 61 developing countries. The school is an accredited member of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the National Association of Independent Schools. It is licensed by the Massachusetts Departments of Education and Mental Retardation and by the Commonwealth’s Department of Early Education and Care. Perkins School for the Blind does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, creed, nationality, ethnic origin, or sexual orientation. Lantern Perkins School for the Blind 175 North Beacon Street Watertown, MA 02472 Tel: 617.924.3434 Fax: 617.972.7334 All we see is possibility.. Editor: Robert Guthrie Change Service Requested