History Of The Ann Foundation
Ann Moideen still remembers the immense suffering she witnessed as a teenager in India. She lived at the hospital complex where her aunt worked as a doctor, and she walked to school each day among the people who’d come for help. There were children who were blind, and some who had been badly burned. People who had no legs. People in dire need of medical attention. Some of them cried out in pain.
Ann made a promise to herself: She would do whatever she could to help. She would work to bring needed care and educational opportunities to rural, impoverished parts of the world where disabled children had essentially been forgotten.
She earned her bachelor’s of science degree and moved to the United States with her husband, surgeon Ahamed Moideen, and began working with disabled children at the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults in New York. There, she met children who inspired and amazed her. Watching these courageous kids handle daunting daily challenges renewed her drive to help disadvantaged children. She wanted to do more – particularly in rural areas of India and other less-developed countries. In 2000, she used her own money to start the Ann Foundation.
Since then, we have given wheelchairs to hundreds of children and young adults who needed them. We’ve brought technology learning centers to many young people who live with vision or hearing loss. We’ve brought computer equipment, software and training to schools for disabled children. We’ve arranged for children to get medical help, hearing aids and other needs. And so much more.
Ann believes children with vision impairment, hearing loss or other disabilities can accomplish whatever they want out of life. All they need is the opportunity.
