THANK YOU
FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
The Lowell Association for the Blind celebrated its 100th Anniversary on Friday, June 16, 2023 honoring Deborah Finch and Bethanne Welch with the Margaret Richardson Founder’s Award.
MARGARET RICHARDSON AWARD
The Margaret Richardson Founders Award is given to a person/persons or group who has made a significant contribution to the Lowell Association for the Blind. Named for the Founder of LAB who in 1923 who saw the need for coordinated services for the blind in Lowell. The Award is given to a volunteer, Board member, donor or group that has consistently supported the organization. The Award was created by the LAB Board of Directors for the 100-year anniversary of the Lowell Association for the Blind.
DEBBIEY FINCH
Debbiey Finch remembers reading a book called “A Dog for Joey” as a youth. The book was about a blind child getting a guide dog. From that day on Debbiey has been interested in helping the blind/visually impaired. She went to school to become an ophthalmic technician and worked for several years for local eye doctors. Debbiey joined the Lowell Association for the Blind Board of Directors Board in 1985. She has been passionate about the organization ever since. Debbiey has held every position of leadership on the Board of Directors for the Lowell Association for the Blind.
Debbiey is a professor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She lives is New Hampshire and has four adult children and 6 grandchildren.
BETHANNE WELCH
Bethanne Welch is a lifelong resident of Lowell. She has been teaching for the Lowell Public Schools for over 25 years and is currently a Kindergarten teacher at the Reilly School. As a niece of Mary Lou Doherty, a LAB Board member and a Lowell business woman in the 1980's. Mary Lou is credited with upgrading the LAB offices and professionalizing the staff. Bethanne has been involved with the Lowell Association for the Blind since she was a young girl. Her volunteering started with being a coat check girl at the Spring House party. She served on the board as past President, past Vice President and is currently the Secretary. Some of her favorite memories of being involved with LAB are Beep Baseball games, Fall Concert, Dining in the Dark and the Spring House Parties.
We have sponsorship opportunities available for individuals and companies at all donation levels. Everything helps, and there is no donation too small. Click the button below to learn about all of our sponsorship levels, or to purchase an individual ticket to our 100 year Celebration Gala this June.
A BIG THANK YOU TO THIS YEARS SPONSORS
It’s not everyday you celebrate 100 years, so to commemorate such a big milestone, we’re going to try and fundraise just as big!
Everything helps! Donate what you can on our road to $100,000, and we
look forward to serving the community for another 100 years!
