About The Able Trust

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Foundation Timeline

The mission of The Able Trust is to be a key leader in providing Floridians with disabilities successful opportunities for employment. Since its establishment, The Able Trust has awarded over $20 million to individuals with disabilities and nonprofit agencies throughout Florida for employment-related purposes, enabling over 2,000 Florida citizens with disabilities to enter the workforce each year. The Able Trust youth programs provide career development and transition to almost 2,000 students with disabilities annually, helping to reduce the dropout rate and prepare young adults for life beyond high school.

Below is a snapshot of just some of the outstanding achievements The Able Trust has accomplished in since its inception in 1990.

2009

• The Able Trust successfully launched the “Look at My Abilities” campaign during the fall. This statewide educational initiative reinforces the benefits of hiring Floridians with disabilities
• The 10th annual Youth Leadership Forum welcomed more than 70 young Floridians with disabilities to learn about disabilities law and advocacy
• The Florida High School/High Tech (HS/HT) Program served 1,469 students with disabilities through 107 schools in 35 Florida counties. As a result, 239 students secured employment and 73% of Florida HS/HT students entered post-secondary education
• For the third year in a row, The Able Trust Grants Program provided community-based organizations in 52 counties more than $2 million dollars in grant funding to support employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities
• National Disability Employment Awareness Month was recognized during the month of October. The Able Trust and its partners began the month’s activities in Tallahassee on October 1, 2009

2008

• The Able Trust acquired the “Look at My Ability” campaign rights from the Miami-Dade Business Leadership Network, for distribution to other BLNs throughout the state. The campaign reinforces the benefits of hiring Floridians with disabilities
• The Able Trust reached a grant-funding milestone, exceeding $23 million in grants to community organizations throughout Florida’s 67 counties, since its inception
• The first annual art contest was held, inviting artists with a disability to design The Able Trust Holiday Card. Over 60 excellent entries were received, with a decision to host this competition on an annual basis to highlight the artistic talents of individuals with disabilities
• The Florida High School/High Tech (HS/HT) Program served 1,408 students with disabilities through 112 schools in 36 Florida counties. As a result of program service, 86 percent of HS/HT graduates entered post secondary education or employment
• On Disability Mentoring Day in October, led the country in connecting more than 3,000 mentees with disabilities and workplace mentors for job shadowing activities--more than doubling the previous year’s level of participation
• The Able Trust offices were moved to a more accessible location in Tallahassee, with greater visibility, complimentary parking, and at a lower cost

2007

• Grant awards are anticipated to exceed $1 million by year-end
• Expanded the Florida High School/High Tech Program to 37 project sites across the state, now exceeding over 1,000 students with disabilities who receive career development and transition support to prepare for life beyond high school
• Selected as the national launch site for Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) by the American Association of People with Disabilities
• Joined by the Lt. Governor, hosted a statewide career fair to kickoff DMD activities, with nearly 500 students with disabilities in attendance
• Received the US Business Leadership Network "Exceptional Partner of the Year Award"

2006

• Grant awards exceeded the $2 million mark, with over $2,155,576 in grants awarded to 69 agencies and 2 individuals, providing employment-related support to Floridians with disabilities.
• Celebrated the 10th consecutive year of awarding more than $1 million in grants.
• Provided transitioning and career development to over 900 high school students with disabilities through the Florida High School/High Tech Program, which saw almost 90% of its 2006 graduates enter post-secondary education or employment.
• Through the support of Volunteer Florida, initiated Project Impact, a successful pilot program providing leadership development through volunteerism and service for Florida High School/High Tech students
• Launched a national pilot project with CVS Pharmacy and the US Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy to provide internships to students with disabilities
• With continued support of the Volunteer Florida Foundation, celebrated the one year anniversary of The Able Trust e-Mentoring program by hiring a part-time staff member and increasing participation to over 150 mentors and students with disabilities connected through weekly email correspondence.
• Led the country in connecting over 1,000 mentees with disabilities with workplace mentors for job shadowing activities on Disability Mentoring Day.
• Partnered with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Workforce Florida to expand and support 11 local chapters of the Florida Business Leadership Network, leading the nation in the largest chapter development for a single state.
• Trained almost 1,000 small and large employers on disability hiring information through a statewide speaker's bureau, online newsletter and business seminars through the Florida Business Leadership Network.

2005

• THE ABLE TRUST awards over $1.6 million in grants to 58 nonprofit agencies and 2 individuals
• Raised over $2.5 million for The Able Trust Endowment
• Collaborates with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to expand the Florida High School/High Tech program by adding 10 new sites which will serve an additional 200 students
• Launches an e-Mentoring program with the support of the Volunteer Florida Foundation
• Serves as the national kickoff hosts for Disability Mentoring Day in collaboration with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and other statewide partners. DMD enables over 800 students and job seekers with disabilities to experience one-on-one job shadowing with business mentors across the state

2004

• THE ABLE TRUST becomes beneficiary of funds raised from Florida's first motorcycle specialty license plate, the Bikers Care Tag
• The Able Trust commissions a statewide study to assess myths and misconceptions of employers in regard to hiring people with disabilities. The study found that most businesses do not think about hiring people with disabilities when seeking employees and were unaware of the resources available to help them accommodate an employee with a disability. The Able Trust launched a statewide awareness campaign through the Florida Business Leadership Network in response to these results.
• Awards over $1.7 million in grants to 53 nonprofit agencies

2003

• THE ABLE TRUST commissions a statewide study with JM Foundation for Vocational Rehabilitation to address Employer Attitudes About People with Disabilities
• Awarded $990,000 grant over five years from the Office of Disability
• Employment Policy to expand the Florida High School/High Tech program
• Recruits more than 700 students with disabilities to participate in Florida Disability Mentoring Day with the support of local disability agencies

2002

• THE ABLE TRUST celebrates 10 year anniversary of awarding over $10 million in grants
• Awards 73 grants totaling $1,554,748
• Sponsors first annual Florida Disability Mentoring Day
• Hosts fifth anniversary of annual Gala at Mar-a-Lago

2001

• THE ABLE TRUST awards 47 grants totaling $1,218,802
• Expands High School/High Tech to twelve projects statewide. Partnering employers include NASA, University of Florida Brain Institute and IBM
• Funds statewide workshop series to address new Ticket to Work legislation regarding Social Security benefits for persons with disabilities

2000

• THE ABLE TRUST hosts Florida's first Youth Leadership Forum, a statewide leadership conference for high school students with disabilities that provides them with training on personal leadership, career and academic development, employment options, self advocacy and community resources
• Awards 44 grants totaling $747,163
• First-time funding awarded to a Chamber of Commerce to develop a job-training program for students with disabilities

1999

• THE ABLE TRUST installs the first and only accessible computer in Florida's Capitol for legislative bill-tracking purposes
• Governor helps kick off Florida Business Leadership Network
• Partners with Florida State University to perform cost-benefit analysis of the employment of Floridians with disabilities. Highlights show for every $1 spent on vocational rehabilitation services, $16 million are returned to society, with approximately $3 million to the Florida economy.
• Awards 94 grants totaling $1,486,357
• Addresses cultural diversity issues by awarding Bethune Cookman College and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical Universities with research grants to address employment for African Americans with disabilities

1998

• THE ABLE TRUST hosts first Fundraising Gala at The Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach. The event raises over $150,000
• Awards 130 grants totaling $1,904,413
• Grant activity includes establishing an adaptive computer lab at Tallahassee Community College and developing an employment program for Native Americans with disabilities
• The Able Trust launched the Florida Business Leadership Network (BLN), an employer outreach program that serves as an information clearinghouse that provides employers with disability hiring resources and local BLN chapters in Florida with general information and networking opportunities for sharing best practices

1997

• Florida's Governor signs Executive Order designating The Able Trust as the Florida Governor's Alliance for the Employment of Citizens with Disabilities
• The Able Trust/FGA becomes Florida's official liaison to the US Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy
• The Able Trust hosts first Symposium on Disabilities
• Awards 104 grants totaling $1,245,338
• Grant highlights include a University of Florida research project to evaluate abilities of Seizure-alert dogs for persons with Epilepsy

1996

• FEFVR begins using The Able Trust™ as official Foundation name
• Develops Ability Awards program to recognize a nonprofit organization, an entrepreneur with a disability, employers and the media
• Sponsors the Atlanta Paralympic Games
• Annual grant awards exceed $1 million
• Awards grant to assist with emergency financial relief for education assistance due to Federal Government Shutdown
• Funds Bethune Cookman College study to address disability and employment outcomes for African Americans and Hispanics with disabilities

1995

• Awards 91 grants totaling $944,262
• Grant highlights include a marketing and disability awareness campaign for employers across the State of Florida, including a weekly radio program that addresses training opportunities for people with disabilities

1994

• FEFVR initiates endowment program
• Awards 33 grants totaling $269,142
• Funds emergency deaf services for Hurricane Andrew Relief
• Partners with the Dole Foundation to fund initial High School/High Tech project in Florida

1993

• FEFVR hires their first President & CEO
• Awards 38 grants totaling $214,906
• Grant activity reaches out to rural areas of the State

1992

• THE ABLE TRUST makes first grant awards totaling $35,771
• Projects relate to technology for the blind, employment training and transportation

1991

• The Able Trust's founding Board of Directors are appointed by Florida's Governor

1990

• Enabling legislation creates the Florida Endowment Foundation for Vocational Rehabilitation (FEFVR) - also known as THE ABLE TRUST