Nonprofit The Belle Center Awarded $40,000 from Four Organizations

The Belle Center, a non-profit that supports children with developmental delays and disabilities and their families, today announced it recently received $40,000 through grants from four generous organizations. Express Scripts, The Forrest and Frances Lattner Foundation, the Orthwein Foundation, and the Tilles Foundation each awarded the organization $10,000.

“It is with the support and generous donations from outstanding organizations and individuals such as these four that the Belle Center is able to continue working towards its mission of all children being fully included in the community. The Belle Center staff are able to help hundreds of children with disabilities each year with these efforts and contributions,” said Holly Swift, The Belle Center’s Development Associate.

The Belle Center recently expanded their services to four area charter schools, in addition to the two it previously served. The organization’s therapists now provide developmental, occupational, physical, and speech and language therapies to children at Jamaa Learning Center, Better Learning Communities Academy, Preclarus Mastery Academy, South City Preparatory Academy, City Garden Montessori School and St. Louis Language Immersion School.

Through its three main programs, Embedded Early Education Program, Outreach Program, and Families & Community Partners Program, The Belle Center assists children with disabilities and their families so they may be fully included in their community. Services range from The Belle Center therapists providing services in the child’s everyday classroom or day care, to sibshops where siblings of children with disabilities gain support of peers. The Belle Center also assists families in becoming life-long advocates for their child’s success in school and the community through Individualized Education Program (IEP) consultations and meetings, as well as Educational Diagnostic Evaluations.

About The Belle Center
Founded in 1984 by a group of parents of children with disabilities, The Belle Center promotes the rights and expectations of children with all abilities to be fully included in the community. The non-profit provides an inclusive, family-centered approach to education and community life that supports children with disabilities and helps them lead richer, fuller lives. The Belle Center serves more than 650 families who have children with disabilities through its three main programs, Outreach Program, Embedded Early Education Program, and Families & Community Partners Program. Certain project costs have been underwritten by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, Neighborhood Assistance Program. For more information about The Belle Center, please visit www.bellecenter.com.