Over 40 years ago Barbara Stone founded Greenville County Disabilities & Special Needs Board, then known as Greenville Association for the Retarded, because she knew of the great need for local services for people with lifelong severe disabilities.

Since 1991, the Barbara Stone Foundation has been providing funding to facilitate the improvement of quality of life and safety of disabled individuals and their families.

The state provides funds to support core services. The foundation supports needs not covered by the state funding. A great example of our work is Camp Spearhead started in 1968. This camp has been a top-of-the-list experience for people with special needs since the day it opened. In 2008 the camp was given to the County Parks and Recreation Department. In 2010 a new state of the art camp was opened and the foundation gave over $37,000 to the camp for camper scholarships.

We continue to support the Greenville County Disabilities & Special Needs Board but are expanding our focus. In the State of South Carolina, over 5,500 desperate people needing services have been placed on a wait list. This list has been frozen for two years, with no thaw in sight. Some people will die before they can receive services. Our expanding focus includes providing funding for caregiver respite and medication and services for people with brain injuries.

Each year, individuals with severe disabilities and their families live in fear of losing all services and have to fight each state budget process. The Barbara Stone Foundation is committed to supporting this community by raising the funds.

The state’s decline in revenues is forcing drastic funding cuts. It is imperative that willing people give and give now!

Services, equipment and organizations funded by the Barbara Stone Foundation:

• In-home medical day (or night) care services for those without State benefits
• Supplemental help for families with reduced or insufficient support
• Gap funding for medications and equipment prior to Medicaid approval
  
• Scholarships to Camp Spearhead for children with disabilities
  
• Purchase of specialized equipment such as motorized wheelchairs, lifts, walkers, braces, beds, etc
  
• Educational materials and devices
  
• Educational field trips and recreational activities
  
• Supplemental funding for vehicles and special care equipment for care organizations including The Greenville County Disabilities and Special Needs Board
  
• Openness to any special request that fits our mission