The Katie Lynch Foundation

MISSION: The mission of the Katie Lynch Foundation is to fund programs that promote opportunities and respect for people with disabilities thereby welcoming all to lead active, fulfilling lives.

VISION: The vision of the Katie Lynch Foundation is a world where doors are opened to all and each individual is valued as a member of the community.

The Foundation was established to honor Katie’s commitment to eliminating the social and physical barriers members of the disabled community meet on a daily basis. Seeking to fund programs that support healthy lives, foster inclusion through education, and promote access to recreation for the disabled community, the Katie Lynch Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) private foundation and has no paid employees.

INSPIRATION FOR THE FOUNDATION

Katie StandingKatie Lynch, born with a unique form of dwarfism, used a powerchair for mobility and needed personal assistance all her life. In her 27 years, along with her health challenges, Katie faced societal barriers head on. When asked by a television reporter why she worked so tirelessly on behalf of Children’s Hospital Boston, Katie Lynch looked into the camera and said, "Because every human being is worth it."

Katie knew she had been blessed with family and friends that loved and encouraged her and a community of highly trained medical and academic professionals who eagerly supported her fervent desire to become a valued member of society. It was Katie’s heartfelt wish that every individual experience the love and respect that built the platform on which she stood so tall and that the doors she found closed would be opened to all.

The Katie Lynch Foundation • c/o Ascent Venture Partners • 255 State St. 5th Floor • Boston, MA 02109
Phone: 617-720-9499
http://www.heartbreakhillhalfmarathon.com

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FOUNDATION STRATEGY

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The Foundation will focus its efforts in the areas of healthcare, education and community recreation. In order to maximize impact, the Foundation’s plan is to leverage its resources to aide established programs and broaden their influence. When choosing initiatives the Foundation will seek to increase exposure by working with partners such as Children’s Hospital Boston and public school systems. In keeping with Katie’s philosophy of "start small, think big," the Foundation will be particularly interested in efforts where small amounts of money can make a real difference in people’s day to day lives.

PROGRAMS SUPPORTED IN 2010

  1. Opening Doors for Youth

    In the area of health, the Katie Lynch Foundation supports Opening Doors for Youth, a pilot program directed by Children's Hospital Boston which offers young people with special healthcare needs and disabilities the opportunity to experience the joy and long term benefits of physical activity in a community setting.

  2. Understanding Our Differences

    GraduationThe Foundation is currently supporting Understanding our Differences, a unique disability awareness curriculum developed in Newton, Massachusetts to educate elementary school students about disabilities and to promote a culture of inclusion, friendship and respect. More than two hundred school systems nationwide have benefited from this program. The Foundation believes that the Understanding Our Differences program should reach more children and communities around the country.

  3. Purple Shoes Challenge

    WaylandThe Foundation seeks to remove barriers which prevent people with disabilities from experiencing the pleasures, the sense of accomplishment, and the health benefits of fitness and community recreation. In support of this mission, the Foundation has created the Purple Shoes Challenge, a run/walk/wheel sporting event for people with physical and/or sensory limitations.