The ASHFoundation has received a major gift of $36,000 from the Bamford-Lahey Children's Foundation (BCLF). Following a six-year history of conducting and supporting projects that enhance the linguistic, cognitive, social, and emotional development, the BCLF dissolved earlier this year, and entrusted the ASHFoundation with its remaining assets.
Margaret Lahey, former President of the BCLF and an international expert in child language stated, "I am delighted that the Bamford-Lahey Children's Foundation has been able to turn over its remaining assets to the American Speech-Hearing-Language Foundation; I can think of no more appropriate use of the funds. The ASHFoundation will be using these funds for purposes similar to those of the BLCF-that is, to support scholars and researchers with a focus on childhood language disorders. Our profession is fortunate to have the ASHFoundation to provide support to so many young scholars and to provide recognition to members for their many accomplishments in the field."
Lahey added, "There is, of course, some sadness in closing the BLCF. I will personally miss the contact with students working on doctoral degrees as well as contact with both young and established scholars who are devoted to improving our understanding of and services to children who are having difficulty learning language. It has been exciting working with them and following their accomplishments."
ASHFoundation President Dennis Hampton, on behalf of the entire Board of Trustees, expressed his heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Lahey and BLCF: "We are incredibly grateful and proud of this latest news of a generous gift which will support our mutual goals in advancing our field's knowledge base and supporting the most talented scholars and researchers. This gift represents the wonderful dedication of our donors and is a significant vote of confidence in the legacy and work of the ASHFoundation."