BEYOND BLINDNESS AWARDED $780,000 IN GRANTS TO EMPOWER CHILDREN WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS AND OTHER DISABILITIES

Funds from public and private entities will advance the O.C. nonprofit’s work to provide more families with inclusive early education and family support programs

SANTA ANA, Calif. (Feb. 26, 2025) – Orange County-based nonprofit Beyond Blindness today announces it is the recipient of transformative grants totaling $780,000 that will fund life-changing inclusive programs for children with visual impairments and other disabilities and their families. Awarded by public agencies and private foundations, the grants will empower Beyond Blindness to enhance and expand its key service areas that include early intervention, education and enrichment, and family support.

“We are honored to be the recipients of diverse funding that will not only support our fast-paced growth trajectory to meet the urgent needs of our community, but also drive forward access to inclusive services for children of all ages and abilities,” says Angie Rowe, President and CEO of Beyond Blindness. “As the only nonprofit provider of our kind in Orange County, Beyond Blindness is delivering an innovative Journey of CareTM service model that builds upon the inherent strengths of each child. Thanks to our generous funding partners, we will be able to deepen our commitment to helping children overcome early obstacles and meet key developmental milestones, so they are empowered to achieve their fullest potential.”

Between December 2024 and January 2025, Beyond Blindness received eight significant grants from organizations including:

  • Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI): Part of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health, this landmark grant from the state of California awarded $1.5 million to an Orange County collaborative that includes Beyond Blindness, Access California Services, OC Deaf, Native American United Methodist Church of Anaheim, Sacred Path, BPSOS Center for Community Advancement, and Pacific Asian Counseling. It is one of only three groups in Orange County to receive funding from this historic $25 million investment in children’s mental health. Beyond Blindness will receive $150,000 awarded over two years.

 

  • Generous grants from The Dean Family ($25,000) and Enterprise Bank & Trust ($5,000) were awarded to Beyond Blindness to be directed toward a playground renovation project. Funds will be used to complete facility upgrades, including the preschool playground.

 

  • Del E. Webb Foundation: Supporting its mission of investing in new ideas and innovative programs that result in long-term benefits, the Del E. Webb Foundation awarded Beyond Blindness a generous capital grant of $100,000. This grant will be used to renovate two playgrounds on the Beyond Blindness campus, with a significant portion allocated to the preschool playground. The renovations will include updates to specialized equipment that incorporates elements such as tactile surfaces and contrasting colors to facilitate exploration and play.

 

  • Department of Developmental Services (DDS): Beyond Blindness is the lead organization for The Advocacy for People with Disabilities (AFPWD) project, which received a $400,000 grant to be awarded over two years through the DDS Service Access & Equity (SAE) Grant Program. The project is designed to empower Orange County children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families by enhancing advocacy skills, improving service access, and reducing systemic barriers through targeted training, personalized service navigation, and the formation of Community Advocacy Groups. Along with Beyond Blindness, which received $250,000 of the total grant funds, AFPWD partner organizations include Children and Families Coalition of Orange County, a fiscally sponsored project of OneOC; Illumination Institute; UCI HealthCenter for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders (unfunded partner); and Children’s Cause OC.

 

  • Dhont Family Foundation: Doubling its impact from the previous fiscal year, the Dhont Family Foundation has awarded a $120,000 grant to Beyond Blindness. A third of the grant will fund playground improvements on the Beyond Blindness campus, with the remaining funds supporting the comprehensive services Beyond Blindness provides for children with visual impairments and other disabilities and their families through its Journey of CareTM. These services are available at all stages of care, and include early intervention, Teachers of the Visually Impaired, Orientation & Mobility training, peer groups, life skills development, and family support such as counseling, care coordination, education, and inclusive events.

 

  • The HealthCare Foundation for Orange County: The HealthCare Foundation for Orange County has awarded $15,000 to Beyond Blindness to support its individualized care coordination and referral services program, which supports parents and caregivers facing complex challenges that include managing their children’s medical, developmental, and educational needs. With specialized staff trained in understanding the unique needs of children with visual impairments, Beyond Blindness guides families through the often-overwhelming network of services, streamlining referrals and follow-ups to ensure timely access to crucial interventions.

 

  • Pacific Life Foundation: A $100,000 capital grant from the Pacific Life Foundation will support Beyond Blindness’ new partnership with Orange County Head Start to create more meaningful opportunities for children with visual impairments and other disabilities to learn and grow alongside their sighted peers. The grant will allow the organization to make important facility upgrades, including a renovated preschool playground on its Santa Ana campus. Beyond Blindness will be celebrated at the foundation’s annual grants reception in June 2025. Moreover, the Pacific Life Foundation is continuing to support Beyond Blindness year-round programs through an additional $15,000 grant award

For more information about Beyond Blindness and its comprehensive specialized services, visit www.beyondblindness.org.

About Beyond Blindness

Beyond Blindness’ mission is to empower children with visual impairments and other disabilities to achieve their fullest potential. We are the only non-profit provider from birth to 22 years of age in greater Orange County with vision as a specialty and the ability to treat vision issues along with other developmental delays that accompany them. Areas of service include Early Intervention, Education and Enrichment, and Family Support, which aim to help children, no matter their abilities, live full and rewarding lives. The Beyond Blindness team embraces a people-first approach and values family, connection, impact, inclusion, stewardship, and optimism. We have been in the community since 1962.  For more information, please visit www.beyondblindness.org.