"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened before us." - Helen Keller

The Helen Keller Foundation for Research and Education continues the work to which its namesake dedicated her life. It's from her achievements that we draw our inspiration. And our global efforts to end blindness and deafness through medical research are a result of her belief that no matter what the obstacle anything is possible.

View our tribute to Charley Boswell, the first Chairman of the board of the Helen Keller Foundation

Our Mission Statement
Based on the legacy of Helen Keller, the Foundation strives to prevent blindness and deafness by advancing research and education. The Foundation aspires to be a leader in integrating sight, speech and hearing research with the greater biomedical research community, creating and coordinating a peer-reviewed, worldwide network of investigators and institutions.

Our Values and Beliefs

Our Goals

  • Integrate laboratory and clinical research to advance the state of vision and hearing research worldwide.
  • Conduct a program of public education on the legacy of Helen Keller emphasizing vision and hearing awareness and the importance of medical research.
  • Develop funding resources and a public relations effort sufficient to support an effective global research and education program.
Board of Directors and Officers
Helen Keller Foundation
For Research and Education

Ruth Ash, Ed. D.
Charles Boswell (Chairman)
John Bradford (Treasurer)
Joe G. Hollyfield, Ph.D.
Roger Gehri
Warren Johnson
Ronald Levitt (Secretary)
Robert Morris (President)
Christopher Paterson, Ph.D., D.Sc.
C. Douglas Witherspoon, M.D.