2020 Soloman Award Applications Now Open

We are pleased to announce that the Albert N. Solomon Memorial Trust Fund is accepting grant applications from class members of the Paul A. Dever School/Developmental Center (“Dever Class Members”). 

The Albert N. Solomon Memorial Trust Fund, (formerly known as the PADARC Trust Fund), was established in 1988 exclusively to benefit certified Dever Class Members in the lawsuit, Massachusetts Association of Retarded Citizens, et al v. Michael Dukakis, C.A. 75-5210-T. A certified Dever Class Member is anyone who either resided at or ‘on the books’ pending discharge from the Paul A. Dever School or Developmental Center, between December 17, 1975 and May 25, 1993.

Grants are awarded to individual Dever Class Members who have no other financial resources available to them from parents, siblings or trusts. Each award will be for a maximum of $300. Applications must be postmarked or received via email no later than September 7, 2020.

Priority is given to requests for:

• Clothing
• Furniture
• Day trips
• Special items of particular importance to the individual (please specify)

The more specific you are about the item or service for which you are requesting an award, the greater your chances of receiving the award. Requests for services mandated by an individual’s ISP will not be funded, nor will items/services considered prohibited under PLAN’s disbursement guidelines (https://www.planofma-ri.org/documents/disbursements/). Priority will be given also to requests from individuals who have not received an award in two of the last three years. However, if funds are available, awards may be given to repeat applicants.

How the Award Works:

Individuals who receive an award will be reimbursed for the item or service s/he requested after the award has been approved. The common practice is, after receiving notice of the award, an agency or individual purchases the item or service, and submits the receipt for reimbursement. Items or services already purchased from January 1, 2020, onward will be considered. We must receive receipts here at PLAN headquarters (see instructions following), postmarked or received via email no later than December 31, 2020, but the application is due September 7, 2020.

How the Application Works:

The enclosed Grant Application can be submitted by individuals, families, agencies and organizations that offer services, including guardianship services, to Dever Class members. If convenient to do so, and to expedite the application process, you may include receipts for the item or service already purchased along with the application (please keep copies of receipts for your records – send the original in the mail, or scan receipt and send via email as instructed herein). Including a receipt DOES NOT guarantee payment as applications are evaluated on a variety of factors and must be pre-approved before any reimbursement can be made.

The Grant Application must be postmarked by September 7, 2020 and submitted to:

PLAN of MA & RI, Inc.
50 Cabot Street, Suite 206
Needham, MA  02494
ATT: Lucille Cassis

OR: To submit the application in a digital format by September 7, 2020, please go to: https://www.planofma-ri.org/grants/solomon-award/ and complete the fillable PDF form, save a copy for your files, and email the completed form to: [email protected]. Please put in the subject line, the Dever Class Member’s [first initial, last name] – ‘Solomon Application.’ You may also scan copies of receipt(s) and attach them to the email along with your application.

Who We Are

Planned Lifetime Assistance Network (“PLAN”) of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Inc., is a non-profit organization that administers the Albert N. Solomon Trust Fund. Albert Solomon was a dedicated and long-time board member of PLAN.

PLAN serves people with disabilities – lifelong and age-related, helping to preserve their assets, protect their access to public benefits, and enrich their lives. We are proud to administer the Albert N. Solomon Trust Fund, which aligns well with our mission and vision.

Thank you!