The League is Turning 100 in 2027!
As The League begins a celebration of 100 years in full color, we look back on our humble beginnings with Isabel Kann Frank and her desire to care for those that society had deemed as outcasts, not as living, breathing vibrant, human beings. In the 1930s, children with disabilities were seen as a menace, they didn’t have access to education and were often institutionalized. Mrs. Frank dreamed of a better future for those children and the thousands that would come after them and opened the doors of Maryland League for Crippled Children, Inc. Nearly one hundred years and a couple of name changes later, The League for People with Disabilities is her dream in technicolor.
Today, The League works predominantly with adults — adults who have faced the challenges of their disability head on and have become integral parts of our community. League participants work with trained staff in thirteen program areas — all designed to help individuals with disabilities to achieve their goals and thrive in a dignified community setting.
Join us for events throughout 2027 to commemorate our significant impact.
Share our centennial messaging and important work with your networks.
Invest in a vibrant future as we make improvements to our aging facility.
A Second Home
Through the support of League staff members and his job coach, JP is positive that he will find an employer that truly values all that he has to offer. To improve his skills and pad his resume, he spends the majority of his time volunteering at local organizations with fellow League participants.
The League has afforded him the time and opportunities to meet new people, boosting his confidence, and empowering him to contribute to Baltimore’s vibrancy.
JP has so much appreciation for his "second home."
Now, we look to the future. As our organization has endured, our facility has aged. It is time to make capital improvements to our facility to ensure that The League continues to provide a welcoming community environment for our deserving participants, like JP. We need your support to solidify The League’s position as a top provider of choice for the disabled community in the Baltimore metro area and build a strong foundation for the next 100 years. Together, we will invest in a vibrant future.
Your Engagement & Support will Provide...
Boiler System & HVAC
The proposed system will transition The League from gas-fired to nearly all electric, reducing energy costs for our campus and will make sure that The League is in compliance with the Maryland Department of the Environment’s Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS).
New Roof
Given the roof’s age of nearly 25 years, the structural integrity of the roof could be compromised. It’s critical that the roof be replaced in conjunction with the boiler/HVAC system. Replacement will prevent further damage from current issues and will support the installation of the new boiler and HVAC system.
Multipurpose Training Center
As The League continues to provide services to more participants and hire new staff to support their needs, it has become clear that additional space is needed at our main campus. This space will be used for participant programming, community events, staff trainings, and more.
Wellness Center Upgrades
Scheduled renovations for the Hobbs Fitness Center and Malcolm Hecht Pool include a complete demo and rebuild of the locker rooms, including plumbing, tiling, fixtures, etc.; the pool will be resurfaced, with a new tile deck and refurbishing of the current walls, and the fitness center will receive new, fully accessible equipment, flooring, and day-use lockers.
Additional Renovations
As The League continues to grow, our staffing has expanded to meet the evolving needs of our participants. To better support our staff, we must reconfigure our current workspace to create more functional and collaborative areas, including the addition of more co-working spaces, offices, and meeting rooms.
"The League gives me a place where I can socialize with my friends.
If it wasn’t for The League, I would probably be sitting at home bored.” - Eddie H.
Our donors and partners are the key to a successful campaign that benefits our entire community – empowering those in our community who have disabilities, supporting the staff that works with them daily and providing our community with a gathering place for growth and wellness – so that together, we can live well.
There are multiple ways you can give to support this campaign, and you might consider a variety of options to meet your philanthropic and financial objectives. You can also maximize your impact by making a multi-year pledge, up to five years.
We respect that philanthropic giving is very personal and very specific to your unique circumstances. We will work with you to achieve your philanthropic goals and develop the gift plan that best helps you meet your vision of your impact on our campaign. We recommend you consult with your financial and/or tax advisor and at your request, we are happy to discuss options with your financial and/or tax advisor.