RI Foundation
The RI Foundation is a not-for-profit organization in support of the programs and initiatives of the RI network. As an independent entity, the RI Foundation provides grants for innovative projects and programs in line with RI's mission and priorities. By creating a solid financial base for the work of RI and its partners, the Foundation has the potential to progress the rights and opportunities of persons with disabilities worldwide, in harmony with the newly adopted United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The Assembly approved the following individuals, who represent various regions and areas of expertise, to serve on the RI Board of Directors:
Ambassador Luis Gallegos (Chair)
Ambassador of Ecuador to the United Status and initial Chair of the UN Ad Hoc Committee on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Mrs. Munira KH Al-Mutawa
Founder, Kuwait Society for the Handicapped
Ms. Juana Caicedo-Selinger (Treasurer)
Senior Vice President-Financial Consultant, RBC Dain Rauscher
Mr. Michael Fox
Director, Access Australia and RI President
Mr. Lex Frieden (Vice Chair)
Senior Vice President of The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR) and former RI President
Ms. Anne Hawker
Disabled Peoples’ Assembly - New Zealand and RI President-elect
Dr. Il-Yung Lee (Vice Chair)
Korean Society for Rehabilitation of Person with Disabilities and Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine and Member of RI Executive Committee
Mr. M.B. Lee
Chairman, The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation; Honour Councillor of the Joint
Council for the Physically and Mentally Disabled, Hong Kong; and member of RI Honour Council
Dr. Phyllis Magrab
Director, Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development
Mr. Pekka Tuominen (Vice Chair)
President, Invalidiliitto (Finnish Association of People with Mobility Disabilities)
Senator Eita Yashiro
Former member of Japan's House of Representatives
The Foundation has four staff:
Tomas Lagerwall, CEO
Shantha Rau, Director of Advocacy and Development
Leonor Coello, Executive assistant
Blanca Cedeno, Financial Assistant
RI would like to thank Weil, Gotshal and Manges, LLP, an international law firm based in New York, USA, which donates pro bono services to RI, for their extensive support in the establishment of the RI Foundation.
WHY SHOULD I SUPPORT THE RI FOUNDATION?
Making a financial contribution to the RI Foundation means making a meaningful difference in the quality of life of thousands of persons with disabilities who benefit from the work of RI around the world, particularly in developing countries. Your generosity can help RI sustain high-impact programs such as:
- Skills training in program development and management for persons with disabilities and NGOs, targeting areas of natural disaster and post-conflict reconstruction, providing valuable skills to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities in their communities;
- Educational materials and training on HIV/AIDS and disability rights for young people with disabilities in Africa, giving them the information they need for prevention and care in formats that are accessible;
- Local production of assistive technology in Latin America and Asia, thereby creating jobs for persons with disabilities and promoting inclusions;
- Building accessible and inclusive schools so children with disabilities can attend classes together with their peers;
- Setting up community-based rehabilitation centers and training persons with disabilities to manage these centers.
HOW CAN I SUPPORT THE RI FOUNDATION?
The best way to support the RI Foundation is through financial contributions to assist the organization in carrying out its important work. As the RI Foundation is registered as a 501(c)3 public charity in New York, all donations are tax exempt under United States law. Here are some ways you can contribute:
- Make a gift to the Foundation’s Annual Fund, which provides general support for the RI Foundation and cannot be directed to a specific purpose. Such donations can be made to honor or memorialize a loved one.
- Establish a fund to support programs in a particular region or area of expertise, such as education, accessibility, habilitation and rehabilitation, employment, social participation, and recreational activities and sports. In addition, you can support the Fund for Women and Children with Disabilities and the Emergencies Fund (which assists persons with disabilities and relevant organizations in responding to crisis situations such as conflict and natural disasters).
- Make an endowed gift to the RI Foundation, the principal of which is never spent, while a portion of the income can be used to cover the Foundation’s operational and program costs. Endowed funds are critical to the long-term stability of the RI Foundation; they ensure that there will always be funds to support the mission’s goals and priorities.
Checks can be made payable to “RI Foundation”. To learn more about how to make a donation, please email: rif@riglobal.org or call: +1-212-420-1500.
The Foundation greatly appreciates generous contributions from Mr. M.B. Lee and Mrs. Munira KH Al-Mutawa, both of whom have been long-time supporters of RI.
For more information on the RI Foundation, please contact Shantha Rau at: shantha@riglobal.org