By: Seth Johnson

The Indiana Blind Children’s Foundation (IBCF) is excited to announce that the Regions Foundation has donated $50,000 towards the build of an adaptive kitchen for students at Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ISBVI).

After hearing from students on gaps in programming at ISBVI in 2023, IBCF began raising money for this adaptive kitchen, which will also coincide with the birth of a brand-new culinary arts program at ISBVI.

Upon learning about IBCF through Kathy Lovell, Disability Services and Outreach Manager with Regions Bank, the Regions Foundation initially supported IBCF in 2021 when they helped to fund an assistive technology consultant. Now in 2024, the Foundation is thrilled to help fund the build of ISBVI’s adaptive kitchen, being that it contributes to workforce development.

“The [culinary] program is really going to help students function better as adults and help them become independent,” says Mary Wallace Hannon, Operations and Strategic Communications Manager with the Regions Foundation. “You really can’t put a price on that. The adaptive kitchen is going to be such an asset for the students.”

Regions Bank and the Regions Foundation are committed to providing a pathway to financial stability and a sustainable future. Along with their associates, the Bank and Foundation work to find ways to foster inclusive prosperity and help individuals, businesses, and communities take the next step towards achieving their goals.

Ultimately, this is why they’re so passionate about equipping ISBVI students with culinary skills through the build of this adaptive kitchen.

“We like the organizations that bridge that gap between the workforce and people with disabilities,” says Regions Foundation Executive Director Marta Self.

Follow this link to make a donation to ISBVI’s adaptive kitchen today.