FUND PROFILE

Vista Nova Renaissance Endowment

The Vista Nova Renaissance Endowment supports Pasadena Community Foundation’s grantmaking for individuals who are visually impaired or blind in Pasadena and L.A. County. Created from the sale of the original Vista Nova home, the fund continues a legacy of care, accessibility, and empowerment begun by its founders in the 1960s.

OVERVIEW

About the Fund

In 1960, 13 members of the Pasadena Braille Club, led by Hadley Stephenson, had a dream to deliver quality housing and services to blind adults in the Pasadena area. By 1966, they raised the funds needed to purchase and remodel a home to create 17 furnished studio apartments for blind residents, with an array of services including three meals a day and cleaning assistance.

For 50 Years, Vista Nova residents had the support of trained therapists, as well as a team of inspired volunteers who served as readers, provided transportation, and companionship. “This was my first time attending the Tournament of Roses Parade. The volunteer who was with me was particularly good at describing the floats as they went by,” said Wilbur Riffle, one of the residents at Vista Nova.

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A blind woman walks in a city by a pond with her seeing-eye dog

A Legacy of Support for the Visually Impaired

The Pasadena Community Foundation has supported the Vista Nova Renaissance Community since 1973, providing grants for home furnishings, special computer equipment, and building repairs. Several years ago, the Vista Nova home closed; in 2016, the funds from the sale of the property were used to establish the Vista Nova Renaissance Endowment fund that is managed by PCF. The endowment now supports the Vista Nova Grants Program and organizations that assist visually impaired and blind people in the greater Pasadena area and L.A. County. This endowment creates a lasting legacy that honors the work of the original founders by supporting to support a population with unique challenges.

Grantmaking Impact

Through this fund, PCF has been able to

  • Provide sustained funding
  • Offer consistent financial support for local nonprofits addressing public health and emergency preparedness.
  • Enhance community programs
  • Empower organizations to expand their services and reach more individuals in need.
  • Promote long-term solutions
  • Invest in programs that not only provide immediate relief but also work towards sustainable solutions for health equity and community well-being.

Contact Us

For more information about PCF giving opportunities, please contact
Pasadena Community Foundation
301 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 810
Pasadena, CA., 91101
626.796.2097
pcfstaff@pasadenacf.org