Executive Director Denise Jess receiving a check from David Anderman of the Madison South Rotary Foundation.
The Council relies on a variety of funding sources to help us meet the needs of Wisconsinites who are blind or low vision. We receive gifts from individuals almost every day. Store customers round up their purchases to the nearest dollar or add a donation to their order. Others make a gift in memory of a loved one whose life was impacted by vision loss.
The Council also applies for grants that we use for a variety of different purposes. Over the past few months, we have been awarded several grants that are having a big impact on our work.
The Council received two grants to cover the cost of purchasing access technology products for demonstrating to clients. These grants came from Industries for the Blind & Visually Impaired (IBVI) and the Madison South Rotary Foundation. Clients will now be able to get their hands on these products to be sure they are appropriate before making an expensive purchase. “When presenting equipment and products to clients, we always strive to provide access to a variety of tools,” says Access Technology Specialist Jim Denham. “These grants will help us showcase multiple options to clients to find the tools that best support their independence.”
Access Technology Specialist Jim Denham demonstrating the newest Blindshell smartphone, purchased with the Madison South Rotary Foundation grant.
David Anderman of the Madison South Rotary Foundation and his wife Alice came to the Council office in May to hand-deliver the grant check. They were given a tour of the Sharper Vision Store and learned about everything the Council has to offer. “With our grants, we look for local nonprofits where we can make a concrete difference,” David says. “The Madison South Rotary Foundation really tries to emphasize community service, and being able to see that the grant would be used for concrete items that would be used to help a number of people showed us that the Council takes that service seriously.”
The Endres Manufacturing Company Foundation provided a grant to the Council for the purchase of white canes. Thanks to this grant, dozens of white canes were made available to people across Wisconsin through our White Cane Program.
The Council recently received grants from M3 Insurance and the Cremer Foundation to help cover the operating costs of providing professional vision services. Grants that are made without designating a specific program or use are important, as these unrestrictive funds give the Council the flexibility to use them where they are most needed.
You can learn more about the different ways to give to the Council on our website at WCBlind.org/Donate.
