Imagine attending your brother’s wedding or your mother’s funeral and not being able to understand a thing that took place because it is all spoken, and you can’t hear. Imagine having to worry about the costs of interpreters when you may be having a hard time meeting the expenses of a wedding or a funeral. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not cover interpreter expenses for such occasions.
The Yolande Henry Community Fund provides sign language interpreters for these important life events for Deaf Vermonters. The amount the Community Fund pays each year for sign language interpreters for weddings, funerals, and family gatherings ranges from $6,000 to $8,000.
The Community Fund has always been made up entirely of individual donations, plus what we generated from a fundraiser typically held every spring at the Austine School for the Deaf Brattleboro. Since the bankruptcy of the Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VCDHH) and the closing of Austine, the annual fund raising event was no longer bringing in enough money to justify the expense and energy it took to put it on. The Advisory Committee of the Vermont Interpreter Referral Service agreed to try to hold several fund-raining raffles to raise money for the fund in 2017.
This will be our 2nd Raffle and we've got some amazing prizes that will be drawn at the Communications Expo at the University of Vermont on Friday, September 29th. You do not need to be present to win and tickets can be bought here or from any VIRS Representative between now and the drawing.
Thank you so much for your support and GOOD LUCK!
The Prizes
Handmade Cow Quilt
Full cow quilt.jpg 5.97 MBThis beautiful cow quilt was hand made by Elaine Morse and generously donated for our raffle. Notice the breast cancer fabric on the cow's udder! Measurements are 59 X 49 inches
Donated by Laura Siegel, this certificate can be used for hotel room, spa services or anything at the beautiful Stoweflake Resort in Stowe, VT.snowy stoweflake.jpg 12.11 KB
Smuggler's Notch Bash Badge
With this badge you pay just $25 per day for your lift ticket at Smuggler's Notch. Any age, any day, all 3 mountains, all season long! PLUS, pay just $15 per day for a half-day, afternoon lift ticket! bash badge pic.jpg 246.87 KB
Badger Balm Bucket
badger balm bucket.JPG 1.26 MBDonated by Virginia Clark, ~$75 worth of great stuff! Badger Balm uses ingredients that fit rigorous natural standards for healthy agriculture, minimal processing, sustainable supply chain, and health giving properties.
