Connecting With Handicapped Kids

Photograph by Richard Howard

The Massachusetts Foundation for Children has raised more than $600,000 for children with physical, mental, and emotional handicaps since its founding in 1984.

But the organization — which represents 23 private schools and other charities that serve disabled children — has no plans to rest on its laurels as it celebrates its 15th anniversary.

Instead, the foundation, which raises money through on-the-job campaigns and special events, is expanding its reach with Kid-Link, a new program that will help train and match adult volunteers with handicapped children.

“We get a lot of requests from people who want to volunteer, be mentors or tutors, or just plain be a friend,” says Lisa Doucett, the executive director of the foundation. “In the past we have had to give their names to the programs and hope they find each other. What we hope to do is to connect people more easily.”

Here, a young boy at one of the programs hugs a friend.