07/21/06 — O'Berry receives $100,000 Reynolds grant

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O'Berry receives $100,000 Reynolds grant

By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on July 21, 2006 1:45 PM

The O'Berry Center Foundation has been awarded a $100,000 grant by the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust of Winston-Salem.

Funds will be used for medical equipment families are unable to afford for the developmentally disabled children and adults O'Berry serves, said Dr. Frank Farrell, director of the O'Berry Center.

Among the items being sought will be wheelchairs, track and lift systems, sensory integration equipment, adaptive devices, as well as communication equipment such as hearing aids, said Monnie Lunsford, foundation executive director.

"Our organization made a commitment to growth over the last two years by expanding and enhancing the programs we provide to the community and O'Berry Center," she said. "We have also developed a solid and diverse board of directors and policies and procedures to ensure accountability to the public."

The grant will bring additional resources to fulfill O'Berry's mission of improving the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities, Ms. Lunsford said.

The trust was created in 1947.

Nearly 75 percent of the grants provided are designated for use for health-related programs and services across North Carolina, with the remainder providing for the poor and needy in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.

The Foundation at O'Berry was formed in 1990 and initially served 17 counties in the state. It was expanded this year to encompass 65 counties.