Recipient Stories and Awards

Stories

The Blanche Fischer Foundation has helped improve the quality of life for thousands of Oregonians since it came into existence more than two decades ago. The following stories recount the difference the foundation has made to some of its grantees.

• Frank Synoground, longtime advocate for independent living and accessible transportation, writes about the never-ending process.
  • Getting There: Accessible Transportation
• Huntington, Ore., resident Ulee Yanok and Portlander Lynnae Ruttledge attended the NOW-AAPD Women with Disabilities & Allies Forum in Bethesda, Md., in October 2003.
  • Ulee's advocacy activities have taken her many places, geographically and philosophically. Read her thought-provoking comments: Toward "a More Enlightened Standard"
  • Lynnae has traveled extensively through Eugene-based Mobility International USA, and serves on its board: Well Traveled Portlander Encourages Conference Attendees to Broaden Their Horizons.
• Oregon had no money but great need on the southern Oregon coast when a group of activists determinedly brought the pieces together to create South Coast Independent Living Services (SCILS).
  • SCILS Brings a High Tide of IL Energy to Brookings
• Central Oregon resident Cathy Sanders attended the 17th Annual Self Help for Hard of Hearing (SHHH) International Convention in Atlanta, Ga., in 2002.
  • SHHH International Conference Expands Awareness
  • SHHHOR Survival Guide
• Blanche Fischer was a native of Long Creek, Ore., and her trust continues to benefit Central Oregonians, as Kristi Svendsen of Central Oregon Resources for Independent Living (CORIL) writes:
  • Local Girl Makes — and Does — Good: Blanche Fischer's Central Oregon Legacy
• A few years back, staff and volunteers at the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in Lincoln County, Ore., saw that many people in their community were confronted with a devastating choice: stay in their familiar homes and risk a serious fall or move into assisted care facilities — and only for want of some grab-bars. So the folks at RSVP decided to do something about it.
  • RSVP in Lincoln County: Helping Houses Remain Homes

Awards

The Blanche Fischer Foundation is honored to work with an array of outstanding people committed to ensuring equal rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities. We are particularly proud and delighted when our friends receive national recognition for their efforts.

• The Eastern Oregon Center for Independent Living (EOCIL) received a best practices award in fall 2002 from the Association of Programs in Rural Independent Living (APRIL) for providing HIV/AIDS services in eastern and southeastern Oregon.
  • EOCIL: Serving People Living With HIV/AIDS in Eastern Oregon
• Former BFF board member Tim Holmes received a Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Award from the American Association of People with Disabilities in 2000 and was subsequently named to the AAPD board of directors.
  • About the Hearne awards
  • AAPD board of directors