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LIFEDesigns Media Contact
Stephanie Shelton, CDO 800-875-9615
sshelton@lifedesignsinc.org

Baxter Media Contact
William Rader, (224) 948-5353
media@baxter.com

LIFEDESIGNS RECEIVES BAXTER INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION GRANT FOR LIFE MENTOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

BLOOMINGTON, Ind., November 20, 2017 – A more than $75,000 grant from the Baxter International Foundation will fund the development of a one-on-one mentor volunteer program at LIFEDesigns. The grant will support a program to recruit volunteers in and around Bloomington, IN, to mentor people with disabilities.

Baxter’s Bloomington facility also will partner with LIFEDesigns and encourage social involvement by their employees to benefit the community. Pre-screened volunteers will be paired with one customer of LIFEDesigns and guided through a process to encourage social growth and the development of natural relationships between people with disabilities and other community members. This program will be focused on improving holistic health for both the volunteers and LIFEDesigns customers involved in the program.

“Baxter is committed to supporting awareness and respect for those living with disabilities, advancing inclusion in our communities, and engaging employees through volunteerism,” said Stacey Eisen, President of the Baxter International Foundation and Senior Vice President, Global Communications, Baxter International Inc.  “To that end, we are pleased to support LIFEDesigns’ volunteer mentor program focused on empowering people living with disabilities to make healthy lifestyle choices and develop meaningful mentor-mentee relationships.”

The grant will fund the “LIFE Mentor Volunteer Program,” which is in its early stages of development. LIFEDesigns is hiring a full time “Community Connector” to lead the development of the program through implementation. The program will use best practices of existing mentorship volunteer programs, and focus the first volunteer pairings with customers who generally don’t have anyone in their lives to help support them.

“Inclusion of people with disabilities into their communities is a primary goal of LIFEDesigns. We are grateful for this partnership and the grant award from Baxter, which allows customers to develop natural friendships and focuses on improving their health and wellness,” said Vonnie Peischl, LIFEDesigns board President. “We welcome volunteers who may be interested in making new friends with customers of LIFEDesigns.”

There will be further announcements with new updates and details as the program is developed. Anyone interested in getting involved in this program should contact volunteer@lifedesignsinc.org.

About LIFEDesigns

LIFEDesigns believes that everyone deserves a home, job among their peers, and access to the community they live in. Everyone has abilities and deserves the opportunity to be valued for their contributions. Everyone deserves the opportunity to meet and make friends and to live in a diverse and welcoming community. The agency exists to provide the support and opportunities that people with disabilities need to achieve their goals. LIFEDesigns is a United Way Member Agency in Bartholomew, Lawrence, and Monroe Counties.

About Baxter and Baxter International Foundation

Baxter and the Baxter International Foundation are committed to saving and sustaining lives and creating healthier communities. Every day, Baxter employees strive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people who depend on Baxter products, and in the communities where employees live and work. The company focuses on three core areas including improving access to healthcare; fostering tomorrow’s innovation and serving its communities. Baxter works closely with public and private partners around the world to ensure people have access to the healthcare they need, to develop the next generation of innovators who will lead the way in advancing care, and to create long-lasting impact in Baxter’s communities. Baxter International Foundation supports initiatives and organizations that make a positive, lasting impact on increasing access to healthcare for the disadvantaged and underserved. For more information, please visit www.baxter.com

LIFEDesigns purchased a wheelchair accessible transport van last fall, thanks to funding received from the City of Bloomington’s Jack Hopkins Social Services Fund, Smithville Charitable Foundation, and Bloomington’s Sunrise Rotary Club. This van now provides access to the community for about 140 people living in and around Monroe County. We expect this van will last for about 8 to 10 years, and over that time will meet the needs of over 180 people.

LIFEDesigns supports our customers to use public transportation when it is available to them, however people who live in rural areas, and want to travel at times or to locations where accessible transportation is not available are able to use this van to get where they need to go. This van has helped people get to work on time, visit family that lives out of town, and have access to community amenities they would not have otherwise been able to travel to.

Thank you so much to our grantors for this vehicle that has really made a difference in so many people’s lives!