STARability Foundation was recently awarded a generous $20,000 grant from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation to expand programming for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation recognizes STARability is an essential and unique organization, and we are proud to present a grant in support of their work in our community,” said Mary Beth Geier, Florida Director of the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation. “STARability finds innovative and meaningful ways to engage individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and creates life-changing opportunities for them. With this grant, we look forward to the continued impact, growth and change that STARability is able to offer through the Trailblazer Academy program. We wish their participants continued success in achieving their dreams and goals.”
The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation was created in 2004 by Best Buy founder, Dick Schulze, to give back to the communities where Dick and his family grew up — in Minnesota, where he built Best Buy to become the world’s largest consumer electronics retailer and in Florida, where he now maintains a permanent residence. Schulze and his family believe that a good education, a supportive family and a strong work ethic prepare children for a successful future. To support that belief, they support organizations such as STARability that operate in the areas of human and social services, education, including college and early learning scholarship awards and health and medicine.
STARability offers a variety of innovative, results-driven programs designed to accommodate the needs of each unique participant. Their centerpiece program, The Trailblazer Academy, is a pioneering day program that teaches individuals life skills, offers vocational training, and connects participants to the community through life-enriching and social experiences.
“As a nonprofit organization, grants are crucial to our mission of creating an inclusive community full of opportunities for our STARs to shine,” said Karen Govern, CEO of STARability Foundation. “We are extremely grateful for this financial support from the Schulze Foundation so we can continue to grow our programming.”
