“I have spent the last six months figuring out how to really focus my philanthropic interests so I can do more and have greater impact,” said Lavigne. “I am always inspired by the personal experiences of people living with a disability or a serious illness and how they work so hard to not be defined by their circumstances. They want what we all want: the chance to pursue their dreams, and to believe that anything in life is possible. I hope The Avril Lavigne Foundation is able to provide support.”
The Avril Lavigne Foundation will partner with Easter Seals, the leading non-profit provider of services for children, youth, and adults with disabilities and other special needs, to identify and fund recreational programs for children and youth, and other programs designed to support families with children with disabilities.
“Recreational programs – opportunities for kids with disabilities to just have fun, make friends and really be a kid – are often the most challenging programs to fund and the first programs cut when resources are limited,” noted James E. Williams, Jr., president and chief executive officer, Easter Seals. “We are really excited to partner with Avril to make available to more children with disabilities the kinds of programs that, in our experience, truly provide transformational opportunities.”
“I visited with several organizations when I was developing my Foundation and I was impressed with the range of services Easter Seals provides and how they really work to meet the specific needs of the communities they work with,” said Lavigne. “I’m excited to work with Easter Seals to give children and young people with disabilities the chance to have experiences they might not otherwise have.”
