FALL 2005 GENERATIONS THE HADLEY SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF OTHERS, BUILDING ON THE PAST, BRINGING LIFE-CHANGING SERVICES TO FUTURE GENERATIONS Contents Letter from the Chair 1-2 The Charitable Gift Annuity and You 3-4 Development Report 5-8 The Future of Learning 9-12 High School Graduation 13-15 Hadley Open House 16 Holiday Card Time 17 You’ve Got Mail 18 Save the Date Back Cover LETTER FROM the CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF TRUSTEES Over the years, The Hadley School for the Blind has evolved to the point of national and international prominence—serving more than 10,000 visually impaired people worldwide, on a daily basis. Thus, it is sometimes easy to forget the school’s humble beginnings and the fact that the main office (Hadley Central) continues to operate in Winnetka, its home base since 1920, right in our backyard. To celebrate the good work of the school and help spread the word to others in our community, Hadley is opening its doors to the public for an extraordinary celebration. On Thursday, October 20th, the school will host an Open House to commemorate 85 years of service and to celebrate founder William Hadley’s recent induction into the Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field. What a proud moment this is for the school. William Hadley, our visionary founder, would be gratified to know that his hard work has been fruitful, and that our school continues to fulfill his original mission—to provide educational opportunities to blind and visually impaired people in the convenience of their homes, completely free of charge. When Mr. Hadley inaugurated our curriculum by developing the school’s first braille course in 1920, could he have foreseen that 85 years later, tens of thousands of students would be served by the institution that bears his name? This fall, the American Printing House for the Blind is recognizing Mr. Hadley by inducting him into the Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field. Established in 2001, the Hall is dedicated to preserving the tradition of excellence manifested by individuals who have made important contributions to the blindness field during their lifetimes. Mr. Hadley was nominated to receive this honor by our Student Advisory Committee. Mr. Hadley’s contributions are summed up by APH in this way. “William A. Hadley (1860-1941) William Hadley, after losing his sight at age 55, founded The Hadley School for the Blind to provide the opportunity for others who are blind to learn braille and other subjects through correspondence. This tuition-free institution has grown to offer hundreds of courses to students around the world. The Hadley School, based in Winnetka, Illinois, has been an extremely successful experiment that continues to enrich the lives of people with visual impairments, family members, and those who provide services to them.” The October 20th Open House will run from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with an honorary plaque presentation to Mr. Hadley at 6:30 p.m. The event will include tours of Hadley Central, hors d’oeuvres, drinks, music and a variety of Hadley and blindness related information. Visitors will go “behind the scenes” to witness just how new technology and other distance education tools are used to benefit our students. Members of the public are welcome to attend this free event. I hope you will join us for this Open House. What a terrific way to show more and more people just how The Hadley School for the Blind changes lives and helps visually impaired people worldwide achieve independence. At the same time, what a terrific way to honor William Hadley, the school’s founder, who is, indeed, a legend in the blindness field. Jeanne M. Denison Chairman, Board of Trustees The Charitable Gift Annuity and You! What is a charitable gift annuity? A Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) is a contract under which a charity, in return for an irrevocable transfer of cash, marketable securities or other property, agrees to pay a fixed sum of money for a period measured only by one or two lives. The benefits of a Hadley School for the Blind Charitable Gift Annuity are considerable and will provide lasting rewards for both you and the school. Here are some points to consider: • Attractive Rates – The rates are based on your age; the older you are, the higher the rate/income you will receive. Rather than accepting today’s lower commercial interest rates from investments such as bonds, money market accounts or certificates of deposit, an individual could take advantage of the attractive interest rates of a CGA. • Secure Lifetime Payments you cannot outlive – Your gift annuity payments will remain the same every year and The Hadley School for the Blind has a fiduciary obligation to make these payments. (Payments are fully backed by the assets of the school.) • Income Tax Deduction – Because a charitable gift annuity is partly a gift and partly an investment, you may receive a sizable deduction if you itemize on your income tax return. • Tax-free Payments – Part of each annuity payment is tax-free, reflecting the charitable portion of the gift. • Avoid capital gain taxes – People with highly appreciated stock can benefit even more greatly from a gift annuity. Only part of the capital gain will be subject to capital gain tax liability. And, if you are the annuitant/beneficiary, the capital gains tax will be spread out over the annuitant’s lifetime. • Personal Satisfaction – Perhaps the greatest benefit of a Hadley gift annuity is the personal fulfillment you feel from helping Hadley bring independence to a greater number of our blind and visually impaired students, while lowering your own taxes and enjoying a guaranteed lifetime income. You have given the Hadley School your support through the years. Establishing a charitable gift annuity would forever perpetuate your philanthropy! Please consider establishing an annuity – a “win-win” for everyone. (Please note: The Hadley School for the Blind uses the annuity rates established by the American Council on Gift Annuities, ensuring that our rates are competitive with other charities.) If you have questions or need further assistance, please contact Tom Tobin, Hadley’s director of development, at (847) 784-2765 or visit the Hadley Web site www.hadley.edu and click on the “support” link. Development Report $1,284,000 Thank you for your belief in and support of our mission. There are almost as many ways to support The Hadley School for the Blind as there are students. But whether the gift is $1.00 or $208,500 (our largest estate gift this past year), what counts is the caring generosity of our donors and the impact of those dollars on the lives of Hadley students. FY 05 Campaign Performance: Last year’s fund-raising goal was $1.6 million and, as of June 30, a total of more than $1,284,000 had been secured, representing 81 percent of goal. We are grateful to everyone who supported Hadley. Whether large or small, gifts made to Hadley students encourage them to accomplish so much. We thank you on their behalf. We are especially grateful to those donors at the $1,000 and above level (President’s Society) and those who generously gave at the $5,000 and above level (Heritage Society). For more information about these giving societies and how your support at these levels can impact the lives of those we serve, please contact Tom Tobin, Hadley’s director of development, at (847) 784-2765. President’s Society FY 2004: 57 members FY 2005: 59 members Heritage Society FY 2004: 21 members FY 2005: 23 members Periodically, Hadley mails reactivation appeals to donors we haven’t heard from in awhile. Rather than forget about you as a valued donor, we try again when we don’t hear from you – and sometimes, wonderful things happen. Just recently, we received a $1,000 gift from a donor whose last gift was $50.00 in 1990. That’s the kind of increase we like to see, and we are indeed grateful when past Hadley supporters rejoin the Hadley family. We also had sent an appeal to a business, in care of the name of the owner as we knew it. Apparently, the business had changed hands. Rather than throw away the Hadley solicitation, the new owner, touched by the Hadley message, made a generous contribution and gave us his name and home address for future mailings. Another great way to help Hadley is via your/your spouse’s matching gift program through your place of employment. The school has customized a flyer, now included with receipts and thank you’s, reminding people to see if their employer will match their contribution. And it seems to be working. Two years ago, Hadley received $3,667 in matching funds; in FY 2003/04, that amount had increased to $5,507. This past fiscal year we received $11,217 as a result of matching funds. We are almost doubling every year. Help us reach $20,000+ this year. Be sure to check and see if your employer does matching gifts. It’s an easy way to make your support of Hadley doubly effective. You may recall that last year – for the first time ever – Hadley sent out a student appeal. This year, Hadley’s Student Advisory Committee sent an appeal asking their fellow students and alumni to consider a gift to the Hadley Student Fund. In two months, this appeal has posted more than $16,000 from 466 students, for an average gift of $34.37. In total last year, 532 students contributed $17,361 for an average gift of $32.33. We are touched by the generosity of our students. Hadley sponsors an In Touch program with Lions Clubs International, wherein Lions refer potential students to the school and, in return, receive a pin recognizing their outreach. As part of that program, Hadley received scholarship donations amounting to more than $12,000 from local Lions Clubs. This spring, Hadley also approached a number of its vendors, requesting their support of students. The response (six vendors donating a total of $3,500) was very gratifying and represented an increase over last year’s giving. For the first time in years, Hadley participated in the Winnetka Days Sidewalk Sale. The school manned the booth with staff who were eager to answer questions about the school, braille names on note cards, pour lemonade, blow up balloons and tattoo the younger generation. While the event was held to raise awareness and increase knowledge about the school, it included a “fund-raising element.” The result: the school, using one of the old-fashioned Hadley Houses, netted $150.00. Several times a year, Hadley distributes information about the school to its contributors. In the fall, we send out an annual report to donors who have given $100 or more to the school that year; in both the spring and fall, we mail donor newsletters. None of these are appeals; yet, this last year, the school received more than $60,000 in response to these mailings. Thank you. Every year, Hadley is touched by the donations that come from donors who have remembered Hadley in their estates. This last year, in addition to the estate gift previously mentioned, Hadley received $478,734 from such bequests. Supporters who establish a Planned Gift with Hadley join the Clarence Boyd Jones Society, which recognizes those who establish a life income plan (such as a charitable gift annuity) or those who include Hadley in their estate plans. For more information about including the school in your estate or about the Clarence Boyd Jones Society, please contact Tom Tobin, Hadley’s director of development, at (847) 784-2765. For some individuals and organizations, giving is not simply an outright donation, but rather a “gift” of time, product or creative energy. Last year, IBM donated three servers and six Thinkpads, worth more than $17,000; Hadrian’s Wall, an advertising agency, did pro bono creative work for the school; and dozens of individuals donated eye glasses that we passed on to Lions Clubs. Also, a number of local residents “volunteer” at the school as readers, drivers or unpaid office help when we need extra hands for major projects. Some of the most impressive donations of time and effort come from the men and women who make up Hadley’s Board of Trustees and Woman’s Board. Their commitment to the school, evidenced in both substantial donations of time and money, speak volumes about the importance of Hadley in their lives. We hope that Hadley is likewise important in your life. There are so many ways to make a gift. There are so many ways to have an impact. Thank you for your belief in and support of our mission! The Future of Learning at Hadley – e-Hadley Hadley’s Strategic Plan directs us to better serve more students in expanded ways with increased efficiency. One of the best ways to achieve that goal is to increase the number of courses available through e-Hadley, the school’s state-of-the-art online course initiative. • The school originally activated “Internet Basics,” the first Hadley course to use the interactive capabilities of the Internet, in August 2002. • Students were so anxious to participate in online education that more than 90 had registered before the course was even available. • As of September 1, 2005, 980 students had completed one or more online courses and 311 more students were actively enrolled. Using this electronic alternative, students can access course materials whenever and wherever they want. Lessons can be completed online, making it easier and faster for students to move through a course, thus freeing up time for instructors to teach and mentor other students. Online education is an efficient, cost-effective method of delivering Hadley’s life-altering educational services because it allows students to study in the comfort of their own homes – and now through the convenience of their own computers - and eliminates postal delays and expenses. This results in a cost savings to the school and ensures faster, more efficient delivery of assignments and other course materials to students. Just as people are interested in the next gadget and how it can improve their lives, so too Hadley supporters have been intrigued by the school’s online course alternative since the beginning. • In the summer of 2002, when we first introduced the online program through a direct mail appeal, more than $104,000 was donated. • That level of interest and enthusiasm was almost duplicated during the 2004 year- end appeal when, again requesting support for e-Hadley, we received almost $90,000. And the enthusiasm keeps growing. • Hadley’s Board of Trustees set themselves a challenge to support e-Hadley with donations over and above their annual support and raised more than $60,000, which was matched by an anonymous $25,000 challenge gift. • This past spring, Hadley’s Woman’s Board dedicated $122,000 in proceeds from their Hadley benefit to support additional course development for e-Hadley. • Foundations and corporations have likewise been intrigued by the potential offered by e-Hadley, especially as it relates to improving the employability of Hadley students. More than $60,000 in donations has been earmarked to course- and project-specific e-Hadley initiatives. The cost to develop online courses is significant. Online courses require special instructional design, the use of business and systems analysts, the use of Web developers and programmers and extensive testing protocols. These costs can easily equal $100,000 per course. Courses currently available online: • Access Technology: Beginnings • Blindness Basics • Going Places • Internet Basics • Introduction to Braille • Learning Through Play • Macular Degeneration (Professional Ed version) • Safety in the Home Courses in various stages of development and online conversion: • Business Writing • Contracted Braille • Diabetes: Towards Self-Management • Glaucoma • Internet: Beyond the Basics • Macular Degeneration (Adult Ed, Family Ed and High School versions) • Parenting a Child With Vision Impairment and Other Disabilities • Principles of Job Acquisition • Small Business Management Survey • Using Excel E-Hadley students are already using screen-reader technology to access many courses and interact with the computer via simulations. In the future, especially in Small Business Curriculum courses, students will interact with fictional characters in a variety of work scenario role-play situations and be asked to make decisions that reinforce their learning. Through such courses, Hadley will be facilitating both support and outreach by providing students with opportunities to connect with each other and to practice critical job acquisition and interviewing skills. The computer program will correct student practice exercises as they work, allowing for immediate feedback. The Future of Learning at Hadley – it’s here now! A Much Needed Orientation… Last year, Hadley received a $115,000 grant from The Lavelle Fund for the Blind to develop an online course in Blindness Basics, i.e., “Blindness 101,” designed as a new employee orientation for those who lack blindness training (be they employees, board members or volunteers). It was recognized that many agencies do not have orientation programs in place; this course fills that void. While originally developed for use by New York City area rehabilitation agencies, specialized schools and university program directors, the course has been made available to blindness professionals throughout the United States and Canada. As designed, this course will initially benefit service providers, but ultimately and primarily, “Blindness Basics” will serve blind and visually impaired individuals as they receive services from professionals with superior skills and knowledge. Hadley sought the input of key educational schools and rehabilitation agencies as to specific course content to ensure that the final course meets the needs of the broadest possible audience. Initially, these agencies and schools assisted in developing a course outline and were part of the pilot field-testing phase. Approximately 95 percent of e-learning is solitary. With the Hadley approach, students have an instructor. So, while many may view distance learning as impersonal, much of Hadley’s unique success with this methodology is attributed to its teachers and what they bring to the learning process, making distance education more personalized and not distant. Students and faculty, connecting through mail, email and telephone, are able to establish solid teacher/student relationships. Should you be interested in experiencing a bit of “Blindness Basics” yourself, whether because you wish to learn such skills to more comfortably interact with a blind or visually impaired friend or relative or because you’d like to see how effectively Hadley has been spending your donations, please take a look at a fully functional demonstration of Lesson 1, available at www.hadley.edu/bbdemo. Macromedia Flash Player 7.0 is required to access the demonstration. Hadley East Meets Hadley West —An Update Last fall, we highlighted the wonderful cross-cultural educational experience that had been shared by Christie Gilson, Hadley student and Ph.D. candidate from the University of Illinois in Champaign, and students from the Hadley School in China (see October 2004 issue of Generations). The relationship continues. In Christie’s own words: “I’m doing the absolute coolest thing now. I’m teaching conversational English to the English-speaking students in China who have Internet connections. We log onto a Web site and do live voice chats! I just love teaching them.” Christie, ever appreciative of what Hadley has helped her accomplish over the years, is “giving back” by helping these Chinese students improve their ability to “speak English” like a local. As always, Hadley continues to be about giving, learning and ever-expanding horizons. We have also learned that Christie was recently awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and will be studying at the University of Hong Kong for 10 months, beginning in January 2006. So she’ll be even closer to her fellow Hadley students in China. Congratulations, Christie! Largest graduating class in 25 years HADLEY HONORS GRADUATES “The Hadley School is the North Star that has guided my ship through the sea of knowledge. Hadley has brought me to this graduation night. I’m grateful for the years I’ve been associated with the school.” With these words, Hadley student Letcher Vanderpool provided a unique reflection on this year’s High School Graduation ceremonies, and the pride and good feelings that were generated. Letcher received his diploma along with other members of this year’s graduating class during the school’s fourth annual commencement exercise, held June 16, 2005, at the Winnetka Woman’s Club. Many Hadley donors, instructors and staff were on hand. In addition, the ceremony was broadcast on the Internet; it can be viewed on the Hadley Web site (www.hadley.edu). During the ceremony, the school recognized the achievements of 12 students who recently earned their high school diplomas by meeting its distance education requirements. Ranging in age from 22 to 77, the students came from all across the United States. During her opening address, Dawn Turco, Hadley’s interim-president, noted that this year’s graduating class was the largest in 25 years. “These graduates are an inspiration,” she said. “Their very presence demonstrates the hard work so typical of our students. Tonight is a culmination of their dream. We are honored to share in that dream.” Keynote speaker Dr. Karen Gearreald, a former Hadley student and instructor who has enjoyed a triple career in law, education and music, praised the accomplishments of this year’s class. “High school graduation is so important,” she noted. “We dream about it at an early age. We achieve it by mastering academic, technical and scientific disciplines. These graduates have overcome the unique obstacles of visual impairment as well.” Karen also praised the school and its mission. “Over the past 85 years, Hadley has insisted on excellence, hope, opportunity and equality for visually impaired people who might otherwise be left behind.” Here is a brief look at Hadley’s 2004 high school graduates. Charlotte Goben, Kentucky Charlotte lost her vision at an early age, prompting her to drop out of school because she could no longer read textbooks. However, she persevered and found employment with the Kentucky Industries for the Blind where she worked for 20 years. In 1998, she enrolled with Hadley and has since completed 27 courses. Debra Golden, Michigan Born with a genetic eye disorder, Debra enrolled in 1992 and has since completed 19 Hadley courses. “My diploma has opened up several doors of opportunity and inspired me to pursue more education,” she said. Debra hopes to become a social worker or massage therapist. Michael Grant, Illinois Since enrolling in 2001, Michael has completed 19 Hadley courses. “Michael was very enthusiastic about completing his coursework to achieve the ultimate goal of earning his diploma,” says Angie Sveum, Hadley instructor. Victoria Herrera, Texas Victoria lost her vision at age six. After several years attending public school, she enrolled with Hadley in 2002 and has since completed seven courses. This fall, she will attend Southwest Medical Center University to become a substance abuse counselor for young adults. Lisa Hoskins, Michigan Born with glaucoma, Lisa lost her vision at age 18. In 1986, she was introduced to Hadley through the Commission of the Blind in Michigan and has since completed 20 courses. She hopes to attend a local college and become a medical office assistant. In addition, she plans on furthering her academic achievements through Hadley. Dorothy Lewis, Illinois In 1994, Dorothy lost her vision as a result of diabetic retinopathy. A local lighthouse organization led her to Hadley in 2000 and, since then, she has completed 27 courses. Dorothy hopes to become a medical nurse’s assistant. She presently is taking home courses at the Stratford Training Institute. “Hadley gave me the confidence I needed to further my education so I can become independent,” she said. Abel Maldonado, Arizona Blind as a toddler, Abel has always valued education and fought to overcome the challenges of visual impairment. He enrolled with Hadley in 2001 and has since completed nine courses. He says getting his high school diploma was a major accomplishment. “A good education opens doors and I just wanted to prove I could do it.” Abel plans to work as a peer professional in the mental health field. Alice Mendoza, New York Alice, who lost her vision at age 10, enrolled in 1993 and has since completed nine Hadley courses. She hopes to enroll in a local college to study computers or become a certified public accountant. Meanwhile, she plans on taking more Hadley courses and keeping busy with various hobbies. Frankie Rimer, North Carolina Born visually impaired, Frankie enrolled in 1980 and since completed 18 Hadley courses. “Earning my diploma has given me more confidence,” she says. “Hadley has given me the opportunity to learn and I’m so thankful.” Frankie sings with a gospel group called the Enlighteners. She plans to continue to tour musically and enroll in more Hadley courses. Letcher & Pauline Vanderpool, Kentucky The Vanderpools are the first married couple to receive high school diplomas through Hadley. Letcher has completed 23 courses; Pauline has completed 26. Melissa Watko, Illinois Melissa lost her vision at a young age as a result of a car accident. In 1994, she enrolled with Hadley and has since completed eight courses. In her spare time, she enjoys skiing, horseback riding and volunteering at a local animal shelter. She hopes to become a veterinarian. Hadley School Welcomes Public to Open House The Hadley School for the Blind is opening its doors for an extraordinary celebration. On Thursday, October 20th, Hadley will host an Open House to commemorate 85 years of service and to celebrate founder William Hadley’s recent induction into the Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field. William Hadley founded the school in 1920. The Open House will run from 5 to 7:30 p.m., with a special honorary plaque presentation at 6:30 p.m. The event will include tours of the Hadley School, hors d’ oeuvres, drinks, music and a variety of Hadley- and blindness-related information. The Hadley School for the Blind is located at 700 Elm Street in Winnetka. All members of the public are welcome to attend this free event. If you would like to attend, contact Jacqui Jarrett at (847) 784-2794. It’s Holiday Card Time! The Woman’s Board of The Hadley School for the Blind has been holding its annual braille holiday card sale since 1956. Now celebrating its 52nd year of service, the Woman’s Board is the school’s largest donor. Through endeavors such as this, the group raises funds that enable Hadley to provide distance education opportunities to visually impaired people worldwide. The sale, chaired by Betsy Carothers and Catherine King, is being held in the Hadley School lobby from September 26 through December 16, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Available for personalization is this year’s beautiful Hadley braille card (artwork donated by Susan Underwood, a local artist and friend of Hadley) as well as other lovely cards for your choosing. Cards can also be ordered via forms that were sent out in early September. If you’ve never ordered Hadley holiday cards before and wish to do so, please contact Jacque Sabian at (847) 784-2762 or jacque@hadley.edu. She will be happy to send you this form. Cards can also be ordered online through Hadley’s Web site at www.hadley.edu. An exciting addition this year will be gift wrap and other holiday novelties provided by Sally Foster, a leading supplier of quality paper goods. In addition to being available for purchase at Hadley during the card sale, they can be ordered directly through the Sally Foster Web site at www.SallyFoster.com, using Hadley’s Seller Number 333413, with 50 percent of the proceeds going to the Hadley School. Although the leaves may be just beginning to fall, it’s never too early to plan for the holidays. Hadley’s Woman’s Board would love to help you do just that! You’ve Got Mail! The hard work and devotion of Hadley’s Woman’s Board was quite apparent at their 2005 Annual Benefit, titled “You’ve Got Mail,” held May 14 at the beautiful Skokie Country Club in Glencoe. With the lively music of “Diamond” playing in the background, guests mingled and enjoyed wine tasting (provided by Knightsbridge and Flickinger Wines), cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, while bidding on several exciting silent auction items. These items included works of art by area (and Woman’s Board) artists, premium wine groupings, a Wine Tasting Extravaganza, Cubs tickets, spa and fitness programs and much more. After a sumptuous dinner and dessert, Judy Castellini, Woman’s Board president, gave a warm welcome to all attendees, and introduced and thanked the event’s co-chairs, Christy Fowler and Melanie Stahl. Dawn Turco, Hadley’s interim president, spoke about e-Hadley, to which the proceeds of this year’s benefit, more than $122,000, will go. The e-Hadley initiative will provide access to many online courses using technology that is accessible to visually impaired people. This truly was a special gathering of generous friends supporting the work of The Hadley School for the Blind. To that effect, a very moving Hadley student “thank you” video (“In Their Own Words”) was shown to a very receptive audience. Members of the Woman’s Board, who have dedicated themselves to supporting the school for more than 50 years, continued this tradition with yet another successful benefit, “You’ve Got Mail.” SAVE THE DATE Woman’s Board Holiday Card Sale September 26 to December 16, 2005 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Annual Meeting October 6, 2005 Woman’s Board Tribute Luncheon Honoring Student Award Winners October 6, 2005 Student Advisory Committee Meeting October 6, 2005 Hadley Open House October 20, 2005 Woman’s Board Holiday Luncheon December 7, 2005 Woman’s Board Book Fair, The Book Stall, Winnetka December 8 to 9, 2005 (9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.)