Helen Keller International

Mission Statement

Helen Keller International saves and improves the sight and lives of the world?s vulnerable by combatting the causes and consequences of blindness, poor health and malnutrition.

Focus Areas:

Children, Education, Health, Poverty, Gender & Equality, Food & Agriculture

Countries Served:

All 20 countries:

Summary by region:

Background:

Date Founded: 1915

Number of Staff: 700

Description of Services:

Helen Keller International builds the capacity of local governmental, civil society and private sector systems and infrastructure, and promotes the development of sustained, large scale programs that deliver effective preventative and curative eye health and nutrition services. These services are integrated into ongoing programs and initiatives, and are delivered in cost-effective and practical ways that take into account actual community health needs and local realities. Their design is firmly rooted in scientific evidence.

History:

Founded by George Kessler in 1915 with Helen Keller as a founding trustee, Helen Keller International is among the oldest international nonprofit organizations devoted to fighting and treating preventable blindness and malnutrition.

Accomplishments & Progress:

Helen Keller International has been at the forefront of the fight against trachoma in Africa for many years. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our staff and partners, we are on track to eliminate trachoma in several countries by 2020.
Since its inception in 1994, our ChildSight� program has screened over 1.7 million students in the U.S. and has provided free eyeglasses to over 225,000 of the nation's most vulnerable children.
Helen Keller International's vitamin A supplementation program has helped reverse the devastation caused by vitamin A deficiency. Last year alone, we reached 54 million children in Africa and Asia by providing them twice-yearly sight and life-saving treatments of vitamin A at a cost of just $1.00 per child per year.

Additional Background Information:

Helen Keller International occupies a unique and invaluable niche in the landscape of international public health. Our scientific competence, technical expertise and extensive experience strengthening capacities through successful partnerships with local health, community and government entities have made us one of the world's most trusted charities. This, combined with the cost effectiveness of our programs, earns Helen Keller International top ratings from nonprofit watchdogs such as The American Institute for Philanthropy and Charity Navigator.

Local Partners:

Helen Keller International builds local capacity by establishing sustainable programs. We provide scientific and technical assistance and data to local organizations in every country where we work.

Additional Affiliations:

Helen Keller International works with hundreds of program partners around the world to help achieve maximum impact in our efforts to prevent blindness and reduce malnutrition worldwide. Each partner adds something essential to our efforts to nourish families, prevent needless blindness, and give children the chance at full healthy lives.

Quality Check:

Group	Verification Status
2 Group Affiliations
InterAction	Verified
UN (United Nations)	Verified

Year	2014	2013	2012
Financial Information Verified
Total Revenue:	$58,471,982	$59,388,476	$52,078,418
Expenses:
Program Services Expenses:	$49,469,921 (84% of total)	$45,134,685 (85% of total)	$42,185,964 (85% of total)
Management & General Expenses:	$8,072,113 (14% of total)	$6,961,424 (13% of total)	$7,546,218 (15% of total)
Fundraising Expenses:	$1,049,580 (2% of total)	$1,131,381 (2% of total)	$126,000 (0% of total)
Total Expenses:	$58,591,614	$53,227,490	$49,858,182

Officers and Board:

President:

Kathy Spahn
President & CEO
Phone: + 1 212 532 0544

Development Director:

Nancy Haitch
Vice President of External Relations
Phone: + 1 212 532 0544

Volunteer Coordinator:

N/A N/A
XXXX
Phone: XXXX

Board of Directors and Board of Advisors:

Henry C. Barkhorn- Chair
Randy C. Belcher
D. Brooks Betts- Development Committee Chair
Jennifer A. Buda
R.V. Paul Chan, MD, MSc, FACS
Howard Cohn, MD
Mary F. Crawford- Secretary, Audit Committee Chair
Anthony Dorment
Gregory D. Feller
Desmond G. FitzGerald- Vice Chair
Cutberto Garza, MD, PhD
David M. Glassman- Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair
Daniel L. Gray
Carla Hall
David P. LeCause
Jack Linville- Governance Committee Chair
Reynaldo Martorell, PhD
Mark J. Menting- Human Resources & Compensation Committee Chair
Peirce Moser
Beverly Miller Orthwein
Bradford Perkins
James H. Simmons III- Nominating Committee Chair
Bruce E. Spivey, MD, MS, Med- Program Committee Chair
William J. Toppeta
Melissa R. Thompson

Contact: