Dole Foundation for Employment of People with Disabilities (1983-1998) | Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections
Name: Dole Foundation for Employment of People with Disabilities (1983-1998)
Variant Name: Dole Foundation
Historical Note: The Dole Foundation for Employment of People with Disabilities was a non-profit organization established August 17, 1984 by Kansas Senator Robert J. Dole. This foundation offered companies and individuals with disabilities grants to help the disabled to become active, contributing members of society. Most of the grants funded programs that provided job training, placement, and employment.
The Dole Foundation, located in Washington D.C., began awarding grants in 1985 to promote employment opportunities for the disabled through an extensive selection process. In 1998, the foundation ceased operations due to the lack of contributions and the sudden death of its president, Paul Hearne. The remainder of the Foundation funds after its closure were used to fulfill previous grant obligations and to help support two other organizations—American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and Disability Funders Network (DFN).
The Foundation was comprised of three major units:
1) The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) —reviewed and scored grant proposals before passing their recommendations to the Board of Trustees for final approval
2) The Board of Trustees—made the final approval on grant proposals and major decisions regarding foundation operations
3) Foundation Employees-handled the daily operations of the foundation and screened the proposals before recommending them to TAC.
Key Personnel:
Senator Robert Dole, Chairman
Carl H. Rush, President 1984-1986
Jackie A. Strange, President 1987-1989
Paul G. Hearne, President 1989-1998
Jeanne Argoff, Ph.D, Associate Director, Director of Communications and Education Program, Grant Manager 1986-1996, Vice President 1996-1998
Debra Cook, Program Assistant
Randy Davis, Program Director
Linda Tolson, Secretary
Lawrence J. Biddle, Vice President 1988
Mitchell Rose, Development and Public Relations Manager 1989
Cecelia Hildebrand, Program Associate
Sandra Crawley
Thomas Pyle, Campaign Director