Archives: Impact Stories

Several nonprofits are doing the hard work of increasing their impact within their communities by finding ways to better meet the needs of the people they serve: Aspire Developmental Services (ADS), is a family-centered organization in Lynn, Massachusetts, that provides early intervention for children with disabilities, parental support, and one-on-one child therapy to families in the community. The Institute for Nonprofit Practice (INP) brings social impact leaders together to expand their … Continued

A former beauty school in Buffalo is now a lively gathering place for people with Down syndrome and their families. The spacious, welcoming site is GiGi’s Playhouse Buffalo, a local organization connected to the GiGi’s Playhouse national network of 51 Down syndrome Achievement Centers. Renovations to the space were complete and Executive Director Emily Mondschein … Continued

In early 2016, Lahey Behavioral Health (now Beth Israel Lahey Behavioral Services) was looking to bring more family-focused counseling options to young people dealing with substance use disorders in Essex County.  Community-level data suggested that as many as 28% of patients in treatment were under the age of 25.   Young people leaving treatment (residential or … Continued

Villa Maria College, a private Catholic college, is known for having the highest percentage of students with a learning disability among all Buffalo-area colleges.  But the college has seen these students struggle to succeed academically.  The retention rate for students with learning disabilities was only 59%.  While colleges are required by law to provide supports … Continued

Transitioning to adulthood is a challenge for many young people. This challenge is further heightened for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) as they move from children to adult services. Studies show that individuals with ID are more likely to have poorer post school outcomes relative to their peers without disabilities. Recently, the Tower Foundation provided … Continued

2018 marked the end of a three-year grant to the Learning Disabilities Association of Western New York (“LDA”) for its Equitable Education Advocacy Program, which helps parents build their capacity to advocate for a child with a learning disability. Parents are often not sure what kinds of accommodations can help their child succeed in school, … Continued

Back in the fall of 2015, a coalition of Erie County-based behavioral health providers, agencies, and funders began to take shape. The group, coming together as the Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition, dedicated itself to addressing the negative perceptions that so many continue to have about mental health challenges and people who deal with these challenges. … Continued

The Research Institute for Learning and Development (ResearchILD) was granted $205,000 in 2016 to build a robust, school-wide approach to implementing an Executive Function (EF) curriculum in Saugus, Massachusetts at the Belmonte Middle School. ResearchILD is a nonprofit located just outside of Essex County in Lexington, that designs, implements, and evaluates programs that strengthen EF … Continued

The Wôpanâak Nation seizes an opportunity to use words for good   Finding the right words to express yourself in the face of stress can be difficult enough. But not having the actual words to describe the experience in the language of your culture can be even harder. For the Wôpanâak Nation in Mashpee, Massachusetts, … Continued

Special Olympics of Massachusetts (SOMA) connects young people with disabilities to sports and activities designed to build their skills, confidence, and social connections. The Tower Foundation is a longtime supporter of SOMA’s work on the Cape, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket, and it seemed only natural for the Foundation to support additional efforts in Essex County. … Continued