Member Highlight: Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind Foundation

The Idaho Education Services for the Deaf and the Blind (IESDB) Foundation began in the early 1990’s has has grown to better support its community. “Today IESDB Foundation is overseen by a volunteer working board of directors to secure the funding needed to fully support the programming and purchases needed for the education of Idaho’s deaf/hard of hearing and blind/visually impaired children preschool through high school and beyond.”

​Also, the foundation supports...

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... the Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind in Gooding, Idaho through fundraising, writing grants, and awareness campaigns. “We are working to partner with staff, faculty and families as we work to bring light to IESDB and it’s goals for children and their futures rather than working separate from the dreams of those we serve” says Ann Flannery, board president.

Although a small foundation, the IESDB is committed to being a community partner. Collaboration with many Magic Valley nonprofits during the Festival of Giving helps raise both funds and awareness as well as a great opportunity to work with their peers.

Flannery, in her seven years with the organization has learned that “the most qualified board members are often the people who have the least time to give and the most experience to share.”

Success is measured by increasing the number of individuals knowledgeable of the work the school, staff, faculty, and foundation does. With this, they hope that “the state might grow a clearer understanding of the gifts, the perseverance, and the contributions the students make to Idaho in the careers, parenting, and community participation they take on as our Idaho neighbors and coworkers.”