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July 16, 2020 Giving Guide 2020

The Learning Center for the Deaf Inc.

Responding to the Crisis:

As tuition from the towns in which deaf and hard of hearing students reside is our primary source of revenue, critical needs include continued support for education generally - and special education specifically.  Additional critical needs include communication access, telehealth, PPE, and telehealth.  We welcome in-kind donations of PPE and technology, and offer many opportunities for social responsibility corporate partnerships.

Future Goals

For 50 years, TLC has been at the forefront of advocacy by and with the Deaf community.  We are proud to be a nationally recognized employer of choice for ASL-fluent and deaf and hard of hearing professionals. We employ 400 full and part time staff, about half of whom self-identify as deaf or hard of hearing, and we are one of the state’s largest private employers of deaf individuals. In 2019, TLC was selected as outstanding organization of the year by the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.   

We aim to uphold our values as we benefit over 2,000 deaf and hard of hearing individuals annually from across MA and beyond, and over 150 organizations that engage our interpreting and consultation services: 

Quality Education: We maintain a tenacious, high standard of excellence in our work and our interactions.

Communication: We cultivate a diverse bilingual, bicultural community where the primary language of interaction is American Sign Language (ASL).

Inclusivity: We value the perspectives, identity and contributions of each member of our community and celebrate its rich diversity.

Innovation: We are proud to be pioneers in Deaf education, professional training, behavioral and clinical care, and related services.

Collaboration: We actively partner with individuals, organizations, agencies, higher education institutions, and funders to strengthen the impact of our work.

Fundraising Opportunities

We traditionally host an annual gala, and we have a tentative date scheduled for our 50th Anniversary Celebration at TLC on April 10, 2021.  Recognizing the changing nature of COVID-19, this year we are offering many opportunities for our 50th Anniversary sponsors to be recognized digitally.  To learn more, visit www.tlcdeaf.org/50th.

Giving Opportunities

There are many opportunities for individuals and businesses to give: https://www.tlcdeaf.org/give.  You may give online, set up a fundraiser on Facebook for TLC, or select TLC on Amazon Smile.  We welcome in-kind donations particularly of school supplies, PPE, and welcome individuals to visit our Amazon Wish List.  We are also celebrating our 50th year and have many opportunities for corporate partnership involvement and recognition.  We also encourage businesses and individuals to use our services, such as ASL interpreting, Audiology, and ASL Classes, as proceeds from these lines of service directly benefit our programs.  Learn more at tlcdeaf.org.

Volunteer Opportunities

We engage family, community, and corporate volunteers.  In 2019, TLC completed The Massachusetts Service Enterprise Alliance training, and is developing its program to apply to be a certified Service Enterprise.  We are especially interested in any volunteers who are proficient or fluent in American Sign Language.

The Learning Center for the Deaf Inc.

MISSION STATEMENT

To ensure that all deaf and hard of hearing children and adults thrive by having the knowledge, opportunity and power to design the future of their choice.

The Learning Center for the Deaf Inc.

848 Central Street
Framingham, MA 01701

Phone: 508-879-5110 

www.tlcdeaf.org 

Full-time employees: 280

Annual revenues: $26,911,862 

Year founded: 1970

Service area: We have physical sites in Framingham and Springfield, and we serve individuals and families throughout Massachusetts. We also enroll students from additional states and provide consultation internationally.

Top funding sources:

Tuition: 90.3%

Grants and fees: 6.3% 

Audiology services: 2.5%

Board of Directors

Sarah Glenn-Smith, The Learning Center for the Deaf, Chief Executive Officer

Ralph Hinckley, Trustee, Chair

Shilpa Hanumantha, Trustee

Joseph Innes, Trustee

Evan Ricker, Trustee

Al Santoro, Trustee

Marilyn Sass-Lehrer, Trustee

Kathy Vesey, Trustee