The Lori Ann Fishel Special Needs Fund was established by the Fishel Family to honor Lori’s independent spirit. Lori’s life was enriched by many opportunities. The family wants others to have the same opportunities that Lori had in life that provided her access to and acceptance in the community. Her family will remember Lori as a woman who loved life and made friends with everyone she met. She seized every opportunity to live her life to the fullest. The Lori Ann Fishel Special Needs Fund was established for individuals with disabilities. Through this fund, the Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation want to ensure the continued existence of a dynamic, diverse, and inclusive Jewish community. It is our intent to better serve individuals with disabilities and their families. In order to make this possible, the Lori Ann Fishel Special Needs Fund of the Jewish Foundation will provide incentive grants to foster and encourage independence and personal growth. Grants are awarded on the basis of the applicant’s needs, motivation, and completion of the application form.
The goal of the Lori Ann Fishel Special Needs Fund is to provide incentive grants (to offset costs) to help individuals with disabilities travel, participate in programs, or pursue hobbies and interests in order to enrich their lives and encourage independence. The incentives may be used to attend camps, retreats, concerts, lectures, conferences, and other enriching experiences. The incentive grant is designed to help defray costs of travel, registration, and meals as well as provide an aide or companion if needed. All incentive grants will be paid as a reimbursement of costs.
To be eligible for a Lori Ann Fishel Special Needs Fund Incentive Grant the applicant must:
1. Live within the area served by the Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee.
2. Be a Jewish individual or a member of a Jewish family of any age with a diagnosed disability.
3. Complete the attached form.
4. Submit a letter of recommendation. The person preparing the letter of recommendation should be knowledgeable about the applicant’s ability to participate in the suggested outing.
All applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and will be reviewed in a timely manner. Each applicant may receive up to $1,500 annually. Grant amount may vary depending on the number of applicants each year and/or other limitations set by the Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee.
The Lori Ann Fishel Special Needs Fund incentive grant is made possible by a legacy gift housed and administered by the Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. For more information please contact Adam Bronstone, Director of Planning, at adam@jewishnashville.org.