CVINews2012 - Center for the Visually Impaired
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CVI News Independence with Dignity Winter 2012 Celebrating 50 Years of Volunteerism Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. – Margaret Mead Margaret Mead’s words couldn’t be truer for CVI, for fifty years ago, just such a small group of committed parents of blind children created what is now the Center for the Visually Impaired. Led by George and Jean Henderson, the volunteer group advocated for community resources to help their children become independent adults. Fifty years later, CVI continues to empower children and people of all ages with vision loss to live with independence and dignity. Volunteers continue to play an integral role as CVI strives to carry out its mission; the Center relies on their strength and dedication every day. The time and energy they give supports the agency’s ability to serve the ever-growing population of people with visual impairments. But the most profound impact of their involvement is in the relationships that are made and the lives that are changed. “I’m so glad I took a chance and reached out to a stranger. We’ve established a close relationship, and just as I had hoped, it has been one of the most rewarding ways I’ve ever helped anyone.” Brittany From serving on the board or a committee, to providing transportation or helping someone read their mail, it’s easy to make a difference in someone’s life. Every year, over 300 volunteers do just that. If you would like to help carry on the legacy of CVI’s founders and join in improving the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired, contact Lara Tillery in the volunteer services department at 404-602-4369. If you do, get ready for a meaningful and rewarding experience. “After I finish my hour at CVI, I feel a high that is indescribable. I feel I have personally made a difference in people’s lives – at least for that day.” - Ron We would like to thank the following volunteers for giving their time and talents to CVI from July 1, 2010 – September 30, 2011: Shanti Aaron Murielle Abdulsamad George Acey Gina Adams JoAnna Aldridge-Wilson Anthony Alexander Christopher Alexander Sue Alexander Ron Allen Bryan Alli Hayley Alli Peter Amann Lara Ballentine Anderson Joseph Ardagna Angela Arnould Jasmin Arrindell James Ashworth Precious Ashworth Frances Asiedu Amanda Atkins Atlanta Alumnae Chapter of Delta Gamma Fraternity AT&T Kim Austin Ron Aversa Christina Azcoitia Eric Azcoitia Bonnie Bailey Maurice Baker Sandhya Bala Shelby Ball William Balser Mary Railey Bartlett Winter Baserva Angela Batterson Joe Baumgartner Jeanne Bedell Dana Beren Jennifer Berzinis Stephen Betties Lisa Black Breanna Blount Kristi Bochniak Lea Bockman David Boozer Kathy Bowman Montague (Cosmo) Boyd Andrew Brazell Meredith Brazell David Brooks Michael Brown Philip Brown Tonia Brown Carrie Bruce Bill Bryson Claire Burke Susan Burkett Susan Burnash Joyce Burnett Ernest Burton Gerard Butler Jim Byrd Judy Byrd Michael Byrd Darwin Caldwell Brian Calhoun Charles Callier John Campbell Rosemary Cardno Bick Cardwell D.D. Cardwell Lee Cardwell Marilyn Carroll Georgiann Caruso Ava Caruth Ron Cate CIBA Vision Citizens of Georgia Power, General Office Chapter Marianne Clarke Brownie Clinton Amy Codman Dan Codman Bill Cohen Mike Cohn Christopher Collier Colliers International Colonial Pipeline Peggy Comin Tony Connolly Amanda Cook Dick Cook Mary Ann Cook Leigh Cooper Agnes Correia Anisio Correia Julia Correia Jae Cosby April Costner Dennis Coyle Ann Crawford Jordan Crawford Ty’Rethia Creamer Mary Crelia Sally Crelia John Crews Molly Cummings Dee Dailey Kathy Daking Danny Danford Lynn Daniel Ken Davis Kimbrough Davis Ben Davison Kathy Daykin Daniele DeLessio Alice Demille Sandra DeMoya Tyler Dempsey Shelley Deyoe Caitlyn Dial Heather DiFiore Safiatou Djermakoye Pooja Dodia Ellen Doft Richard DuBow Wendy Eason Eastminister School Richard Edge Michelle Ehlenbeck Roger Elam Lauren Elder Morgan Elliot Joan Emerson Nell Entwistle Chris Ernest Diana Estrella Wilkens Eugene Danielle Evans Steve Falkner Joy Farley Vivan Felicano Steve Adger Flamm Kim Flanagan Erma Fletcher Douglas Ford Beverley Foster Diego Frausto Claire Frost David Furukawa Tracy Garbos Tonya Gardner Doug Garges Esther Garges Karen George Georgia State University Georgia Tech Georgia Tech Buzz Joseph Geshwiler Patrick Gibbons Marsha Gilber Angela Brown Gillis Daniel Gillis Katey Glass Angelica Gooch Kayla Gooch Stanley Gooch Virginia Gray Betty Greaver Eli Green Phil Green Subie Green Charlotte Gregory Anna Griffith Rael Grosswald Aimee Guanlao Lilian Guedes Fabio Guerra Tamara Hale Celestine Hall Myra Hall Phil Hall Phyllis Hall Jennifer Hamilton Sarah Hamilton Melissa Hamm Wendi Handel Happy Tails Pet Therapy, Inc. Kathy Harber Jewel Harper Tamara Harris Rita Harrison Ruthie Harrison Lorraine Hatch Dale Hayes Griffin Hayes Max Hayes Janika Haywood Lucinda Headrick Jennifer Healey Quill Healey II Ellen Henderson Gregg Hendrickson Barbara Henry Beth Herman Sandra Hofmann LaKeisha Holmes The Home Depot Lynn Hood Jennifer Hooper Matthew Hopkins Keith Horale Danielle Houret-Lam Antonio Howard Simone Howard Julie Schoen Hower Susan Hoy Scott Huey Robbie Huff Vivian Huggins Steven Huling Victoria Humak Katherine Humer James Hutchinson Sophie Hutton Helen Huyler Melissa Imtiaz Robert Jacko Lolita Browning Jackson Angela Jacobs Nancy Jennings Angela Jergler Christine Johnson Jasmine Johnson Joe Jones Kelly Jones Cole Jopling Cooper Jopling Kay Jordan Shyam Joshi Junior League of Atlanta Andy Kauss Ravi Khemani Bob Khoury Douglas Kirk Thorton Kirkland Wendy Klarman Laura Kleinsschmidt Ashley Koby Reed Kramer Richard Kruse Ashley Kummer David Kummer Vimla Kushwaha Becky Labat Beth Latimer Terri Lawson Jennifer Leavey Tina Lee Cheryl Legare Christina Lennon Joma Leonard Anil Lewis Lestine Lewis Stacey L’Hoste Terri L’Hoste Lisa Lin Lance Linsell Allan Little Ed Litwin Katina Logan Kristi Maxwell Logue Deborah Lovell Raletha Lowery Emily Lyons Katie Lyons Magnolia Lyons Maudie Ann Macauley Alecia Maclin The Macular Degenerates Sukhu Manjus Marshall Marrotte Doreen Marson Vincent Martin Mac Martirossian Becky Mason Charles Mason Scott Mathews Lauren Mathis George Matlock Annie Maxwell Neil Maxwell Willard Maxwell Kadija McAnuff Rosemarie McCaffery Scott McCall Kaffie McCullough Margaret McDaniel Kent McDonald Dawn McGreevey Brian McHugh Rosamarie McHugh Meghan McKenna James McMahon Teri McMahon Surabhi McNab Alan McQuillan Mel Meadows Vanessa Meadows Al Mello Mickey Merkel Natalie Merrill Bryton Merrit Kathy Michaelis Billy Miles Corey Miller Lynn Miller Mike Miller Sally Millett Cooper Mills Alicia Mintz Kenneth Mitchell Stephanie Mitchell Anjum Mohyuddin Paola Moncivais Stan Moor Earl Moorman Brand Morgan Jennifer Morgan Kimberly Morris Alexis Muirhead Aarthi Murugappan Katie Nalley Cassie Nance Emily Napier Bill Nash Kotrina Newson Bobby Nix Northrop Grumman Sarah Norton Georgia Nunnally James Oates Ginger Odum Richardson Odum Emmanuel Odumosu Karen Oettl Melva Oni Summer O’Quinn John O’Shea David Ostrowski Kelli Owens Lillian Paris Roderick Parker Jan Pasek Michael Patellis Larry Patrick Shade Patterson Jennifer Pavin Gregg Pavlak Diane Payton Lee Peacock Betsy Pellicer Gretchen Pennybacker Karen Perry Mary Perry Elizabeth Petrie Karlestrina Pettigrew Chanel Phillips George Pinon Heather Platt Brittany Polat Tonya Poole Melanie Pope Margaret Poupard Felicia Powell Lorenzo Powell Ike Presley Amanda Press Kayla Pressley Sarah Price Helene Prokesch Susan Prutzman Jason Pullman Kunal Puri Kathleen Quin Karthik Raghuraman DeShawn Raines Meghan Ramsey Jennifer Ray Jason Read Maggie Gruszka Read Gloria Reese Sanford Reese Allison Reid Edward Ressler Ellen Williams Reynolds John T. Rhett III Toni Rhett Takesia Richardson Michael Roach Darlene Robinson Nell Robinson Sheila Robinson Jose Romera Marisela Rosales Ruth Ruehl Courtney Russell Karl Russell Sarah Russell Teddy Russell SAI Judi Adams Sanek Sarasawathi Sang Marci Saunders Patrick Saunders Amy Schaeffer Kristofer Schleicher Garrick Scott Bryan Seas Leslie Secrest Audrey Seidle Caitlyn Seim Nida Shaikh Sheena Shelby Dan Shim Jennifer Shim Andy Shulman Megan Shumake Amanda Simon Hal Simpson Ann Sims John M. Sims Anne Skae Amy Slack John “Smitty” Smith Robert Smith Maureen Smith-Terry Luke Snider Southern Company Laurie Spencer Kat Spivey Valerie Sprague Madeline Starr Joanna Steed Jim Stovall Lisa Strickland Benny Strozier Molly Strozier Paulette Suggs Mike Sullivan Thyra Sumlin Sai Swaroopa Shannel Sykes Sam Taylor Virginia Taylor Gillian Temple Vivi Thai Empish Thomas Julia Thomas Angela Thompson DeShawn Thompson Shelley Thompson Aaron Tookes Mike Towers Jennifer Tribble Colin Tumy Giri Uppalapati Srikanth Vadde Maria Valdivieso Rajesh Venkateswaran Georgio Vickers Alexa Villard Erica Vinson John Vinson Frank Virgin Susan Davis Virgin Jill Vitagliano Louise Walker Willard Walker Austin Wallace Chanice Ward Megan Ward Colleen Ware Ty Washington Allie Watkins Angeline Wead Liliana Wentz Westin Peachtree Plaza Lindsey Wheeler Isaiah Wilcox Griffin Wilkens Claudette Williams Jordan Williams Noelle-Casses Williams Sherri Williams June Willis Stephanie Wise Jessica Wolff Leotha Womble Lafayette Wood Kate Woodford Jessica Woolf Steven Worman Jacqueline Wynter Janie Silver Yorker Chuck Young Ran Zhou Kathy Zwald We are grateful to the individuals, companies and organizations that support the mission of the Center for the Visually Impaired. We have made every effort to include all volunteers from July 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011. Please bring any errors to our attention so that we may correct our records. Contact Lara Tillery in the volunteer services department at 404-602-4369 or at ltillery@cviga.org. We sincerely regret any omissions or errors that may have occurred. From the President In my last two CVI News columns, I’ve written about the 50 years of history that have made CVI the organization it is today. Founded as Community Services for the Blind in 1962, the organization merged into the newly created Atlanta Area Services for the Blind in 1973, joined by the Metropolitan Atlanta Association for the Blind in 1974. Atlanta Area Services for the Blind (AASB) became the integrated source of services for Atlanta’s adults with vision loss, offering social services of information and referral, individual and family counseling, case management and client advocacy; low vision services; career services; centerbased adult rehabilitation services including Adjustment to Blindness group sessions, orientation and mobility, activities of daily living, braille, communication skills, typing, and recreation activities. Community-based services were also offered to clients in their homes. Although technology and best practices have changed the content of these programs over the years, the basic structure remains at the heart of CVI’s programs for adults. In the mid-1970s, as a result of the additional space available in the new facility at 639 Peachtree Street, a Work Adjustment Training Workshop was established with certification from the Georgia Department of Labor. Adult clients gained job readiness skills, on-the-job social skills and some vocational training while earning piece-work wages through sub-contracted work from local businesses and organizations. With funding from the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation and an anonymous donor, AASB acquired mass mailing equipment and a shrink-wrap machine. These additions quadrupled the number of clients served through job readiness and the program was considered a major advancement in employment for adults with vision loss. Today, we know that a majority of our clients seek jobs that use their intellectual abilities along with their physical dexterity. AASB’s early programs were focused entirely on adults so with the demise of Atlanta’s Foundation for Visually Handicapped Children in 1974, the organization began plans to add children’s services to its menu. Social Worker June Morgan Willis offered counseling, literature and referral to community resources whenever possible and encouraged AASB to begin an educational program for children who were blind. Before that could happen, a mounting financial crisis created unexpected needs. As programs grew throughout the 1960s and 1970s, so did the budget, although resources did not keep pace. Inadequate financial management systems did not allow the Board to be aware of the looming disaster. By 1978, the Board determined a need for executive leadership with financial management expertise. While a search was being conducted, Lee Staples, the Board’s Treasurer, stepped in as a volunteer to fill the void, establishing a computerized fund accounting system, identifying past due debts and leading the effort to raise funds necessary to keep the doors open. In October 1979, Carolyn Kokenge became the Executive Director of AASB. With more than 20 years experience in non-profit management, she was mandated to create a strong financial base for current operations and future stability of services. She came to an organization with revenue of $474,220 and expenses of $523,810, creating a deficit of $49,590. In today’s dollars that would be equal to $160,548. Working with the Board to create a strategic plan, Kokenge enhanced revenue management systems and identified new funding sources. Foundation grants were obtained as seed money for new ventures and building improvements, while cost controls were established where none existed before. A committed, caring and generous Board devoted many hours and resources to turning around the dire situation. As finances improved under her strong leadership, Carolyn Kokenge was urged by staff member June Willis and Dr. Jerry Berman, an Atlanta physician who had lost vision and received services, to create a program for pre-school children with severe vision loss. The BEGIN program got its start in 1985, when Anne McComiskey serendipitously moved to Atlanta from San Diego and was interested in creating a program similar to one she had implemented in California. Hiring Glenda Nash Kirton as a part-time assistant and teacher, Anne built the BEGIN program through various phases, with small group sessions in local churches and in a small room at the Center on Peachtree Street. By 1988, Summer Kids was started, which has now grown into the two-month long SummerFest. By 1994, the BEGIN program had expanded to one of the larger rooms in the building, preschool orientation and mobility was added, and the curriculum was refocused to address literacy and independence more aggressively. Now in its 25th year, BEGIN continues to be a beacon of hope for children with severe vision impairment and their families. Stay tuned. Next time, you’ll hear the reasoning behind CVI’s third name change. And in our next CVI News we’ll be announcing more of our 50th anniversary celebration plans. We wouldn’t be here without you! Independence in Action CVI Graduates Hired: Ivan Holt is now working in retail sales at Ikea. Cynthia Napier was hired as a full-time vending assistant with the State of Georgia’s Business Enterprise Program. Amanda Parkman was hired for a temporary assignment at disABILITY Link as an employment coordinator. Upon completion of her internship, Jasmine Seabron was hired by GaRRS as a board operator. CVI Client Internships: Tunga Ufasaha and Ladavid Mahaffe at Southern Company Roy Cody, Ashley Robinson, Daryl Green, Nana Esi Afedzie, and Dawlyn Dieudonne interned as vending assistants in the State of Georgia’s Business Enterprise Program Sherman Brown at United Way 211 Brian Smith and Joma Leonard at ClearAnswer (CVI’s new contact center) Derrick Price at Georgia Power Tributes A. Wallace Odum, Jr., husband of Ann and grandfather of Rebecca, who has been a CVI client throughout her life, passed away last May 31. A donor and friend to CVI, Wally was very supportive throughout his family’s experience here. Jeanette Plaster, a charter member of the Mary Ann and Dick Cook Legacy Society, passed away on July 11, 2011. Her generous planned gift to CVI will help provide continuing funding for programs and serve future generations. CVI also remembers former staff member Frank Pegram and clients Diane Healy, Landy Ponder and Elizabeth Strickler. Corporate Partner Spotlight: SunTrust Since CVI’s founding in 1962, SunTrust Bank, the SunTrust Bank Atlanta Foundation, and SunTrust Investment Services have played important roles in the Center’s success. Among the agency’s first financial supporters were foundations managed by SunTrust (then known as Trust Company Bank), and in the past 50 years, the relationship has grown into a true community partnership. “SunTrust is proud of its long-time relationship with this respected organization that changes so many lives,” said John T. Rhett III, chairman of SunTrust Investment Services. John has personally been involved with CVI since 1990, and he is currently providing key guidance and leadership in his role as chair of the agency’s board of trustees. In the past, CVI has been fortunate to have other wonderful trustees representing SunTrust Bank including Richard Blumberg and Debbie Patterson. From 2001-2003, SunTrust Bank provided a significant source funding for the STARS program through the “Hits for STARS” program. Atlanta Braves players including Rafael Furcal and Brian Jordan were CVI’s “designated hitters,” and for each of their regular season hits, SunTrust donated $100 to the STARS summer day camp. The proceeds generated from the initiative were instrumental in providing high-quality services for blind and visually impaired school-age children. CVI has received numerous grants from SunTrust managed foundations over the last 50 years, and most recently the agency was awarded $50,000 in grant support for ClearAnswer, the new contact center. They have also been sponsors and supporters of the True Blue Do since its inception in 2004. Most recently, in an effort to promote understanding of disabilities in the workplace, SunTrust partnered with CVI for an event last October to honor National Mentoring Day and National Disability Employment Awareness month. This provided an excellent opportunity for people with disabilities to interact with those in the corporate workforce. SunTrust managers and CVI clients engaged in activities that helped break down barriers, create understanding about work accommodations, and support re-entry into the workplace. SunTrust has been a thoughtful neighbor to CVI as well. The branch on West Peachtree Street allows BEGIN parents and CVI volunteers to use their parking lot when the Center’s lot is full. SunTrust has been an unfailing friend and partner, and we’d like to thank them for 50 years of continuous support. Caption: Jason F. Brzycki, human resources vice president & strategic recruiter for SunTrust, and CVI client Bobby Glover after a mock interview at the SunTrust disability awareness and mentoring event. New Senior Staff Members As the new Managing Director of Contact Center Services, Jim Carruthers is charged with creating CVI’s new revenue-generating contact center that will help support the Center’s mission of empowering people with vision loss to live with independence and dignity. Called ClearAnswer, this business will create new local jobs while helping secure CVI’s economic future. Jim has more than 25 years of experience in the contact center industry including time with American Express and Rollins. Jim is a native Georgian and lives in East Atlanta with his wife Rhonda. Jim has two children -- Kyle, who is currently attending UGA, and Dakota, a sophomore in high school. Jim is an avid hockey fan and has a passion for cooking. Laurie Stephens joins CVI as the Vice President for Development. Laurie’s responsibilities include leading the development team to raise dollars to fund CVI’s life-changing programs and the organization’s marketing, communications and public education efforts. Laurie spent 24 ½ years with the American Cancer Society in various parts of the country in fundraising, marketing and management roles before joining CVI in July. Laurie was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio and graduated from the University of Toledo with a degree in communications. She lives in Roswell with her two wonderful daughters Lily, age 12, and Avery, age 8. In her spare time, Laurie enjoys writing, reading, baking, cooking, hiking and jogging. Save the Date: The George and Jean Henderson Society Dinner is January 26, 2012 Please save the date of January 26, 2012 for the annual Henderson Society Dinner. Members of the George and Jean Henderson Society and the Mary Ann and Dick Cook Legacy Society are invited to this special evening in celebration of their generous support of the Center. The evening’s featured speaker, Captain Scotty Smiley, is a hero in every sense of the word. While serving in Iraq in 2005, Capt. Smiley, West Point graduate and Ranger, lost the use of his eyes at the hands of a suicide car bomber. He overcame near-fatal injuries to become the U.S. Army’s first blind active-duty officer and company commander. A recipient of both the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, Capt. Smiley’s amazing achievements are not limited to his military career. Since losing his vision, he has surfed in Hawaii, skied in Vail, skydived, climbed Mt. Rainier, completed a triathlon and earned an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Currently, Capt. Smiley is enrolled in the Maneuver Captain Career Course, an advanced military course for Infantry officers, at Fort Benning. Membership in the Henderson Society is extended to those who contribute $1,000 or more to the Center during the fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). For more information about membership the Henderson Society, please contact Lauren Lindenbaum, director of major gifts, at 404-602-4276. Sidebar: We are deeply grateful for the following individuals who generously support the Center’s mission as members of the George and Jean Henderson Society. Luminary Laura & Montague Boyd Richard & Cathryn DuBow Visionary Mary Ann & Dick Cook F. Dale Hayes Bobby Hogg Anne Park & Matthew Hopkins CVI Trustee Brand Morgan Honored as Philanthropic Leader of Tomorrow On November 8, 2011, CVI Trustee Brand Morgan was honored as the Philanthropic Leader of Tomorrow by the Atlanta Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ National Philanthropy Day luncheon. Nominated by CVI, Brand was recognized for his contributions to the nonprofit community in Atlanta through the giving of his personal time and talents. A member of CVI’s Board of Trustees since 2005, Brand has served in a variety of roles including chairing both the Henderson Society and True Blue Do with his wife, Jennifer. One of Brand’s most significant contributions is introducing people of his own age and interests in the Center’s work. While the majority of CVI trustees are in the 36-55 age range, Brand has involved many new volunteers and donors who are 25-35 years old, invigorating our work with fresh enthusiasm. He has generously hosted numerous lunches and dinners to involve his friends in CVI’s mission and connect them with us. Brand brings to the Center a determination to help in ways he knows best – chairing fundraising efforts, introducing new people to CVI and committing his personal support and his reputation to each event. The result has been a bridge to the next generation and the promise of continued involvement for years to come. Create Your Legacy at CVI Legacy giving, or planned giving, allows you to have an impact on CVI beyond your lifetime. A legacy gift may allow you to make a larger gift than might otherwise be possible, and it could help you to increase your retirement income and receive tax advantages. There are many ways you can help future generations of people faced with vision loss find solutions for a better life. * Include CVI in Your Will – The most popular way to support the Center through your will is a simple bequest. You can leave to CVI a specific sum of money or a percentage of the remainder of your estate. * Charitable Gift Annuity – A charitable gift annuity will generate income for life at attractive rates of return and create a legacy for future generations. * Charitable Remainder Trust – A charitable remainder trust enables you or another beneficiary to receive income for life (or for a term of years) while the remainder of the trust will create a lasting partnership with the Center and our clients. * Named Endowment Fund – With $20,000 or more, you may create a named endowment fund to provide support for CVI or a particular program in perpetuity. * Life Insurance Policy – Life insurance policies you no longer need to care for your family could be changed to name CVI as the full or partial beneficiary. * Retirement Plan – Naming CVI as a beneficiary of your IRA or retirement plan, such as a 401(k), is as easy as asking your plan administrator for a change of beneficiary form. CVI will then have use of the full gift after your lifetime, unlike your heirs who could be taxed up to 35 percent if they inherit it. It’s simple to become a member of CVI’s Mary Ann and Dick Cook Legacy Society. All it takes is making a planned gift to the Center. If you’ve already named us in your will or other estate plans, then please let us know by contacting our development office. If you haven’t already made your charitable plans, we would be happy to help you envision your legacy by providing information about how planned giving can benefit your overall estate plan. To learn more, contact Laurie Stephens, CVI’s vice president for development, at 404-602-4321. Happy New Year from the VisAbility Store We’d like to take this opportunity to thank our customers and volunteers for their ongoing patronage and support. Over the past four years, it has been our pleasure to assist you with your blind and low vision product needs. One thing you might not have known is that when you purchase from the nonprofit VisAbility store, you are helping others with vision loss in your community. Proceeds from sales support the Solution Fund, which provides low vision aids for clients facing financial hardship. Whether you’d prefer to touch and test our products in person, contact us by telephone, or order online from home, you’ll receive outstanding customer service and products of superior quality. Make sure you visit us often; as technology and devices change, so does the VisAbility store. We are always searching for new items to help make your life a little easier. And if we don’t have what you’re looking for, please let us know. We will continue to go above and beyond to make sure you get exactly what you need. On Sale Now! Purchase a 22” Merlin Desktop CCTV or a 22” Acrobat LCD and receive a 3.5” Pebble Hand-held Video Magnifier free – a value of $545. Call 404-602-4358 for pricing information. FREE! Take good care of your heart with the A&D Medical Talking Blood Pressure Monitor. It’s easy to use, has a smooth-fit cuff, and an irregular heartbeat feature. (AC adapter included) Sale price: $99.99 (regularly $119.99) Get your affairs in order with “The Big Print” collection. Set includes large-print desk calendar, check register, address book and 20/20 pen. Sale price: $29.99 (regularly $38.99) Contact Center Update After seven busy and productive months, the dust has settled, the paint has dried, technology has been installed, and staff has been hired. CVI’s new contact center enterprise, now called ClearAnswer, is ready for business. Three general contact center training programs have taken place, and three graduates and former CVI clients, who also interned with ClearAnswer through the Department of Labor, were hired as the first employees – Joma Leonard, Desiree Reed and Bill Epperson. Ultimately, ClearAnswer will generate revenue that will further CVI’s mission while employing those with visual impairment. In the end, it’s about empowerment and independence for both our clients and the organization. Plans call for ClearAnswer to begin taking on small, commercial business through local contacts. In fact, we have already secured our first contract for business – a small opportunity making calls for another non-profit. As we take on larger, more complex business, we’ll be in the position to bid on state and federal contracts, which is the ultimate goal. These larger opportunities bring with them higher revenues and also a higher number of staff employed to support them. For now, we’re focusing on our core competencies of handling outbound survey calls, order process, general customer service, switchboard services, text and chat. Very soon you’ll see our 18-seat contact center filled to capacity as well as many more of our staff working from home, supporting local, regional and national private and government business. For more information on ClearAnswer, please contact Jim Carruthers at jcarruthers@cviga.org or 404-602-4341. Caption: Lori Fretwell, CVI volunteer Scott Huey and Brian Smith discuss call strategy while Bill Epperson (far left) talks to customers. Georgia’s First Lady Sandra Deal Reads to Preschool Students who are Blind and Visually Impaired The Center for the Visually Impaired (CVI) recently welcomed Georgia’s First Lady Sandra Deal to its BEGIN preschool program for infants and children who are blind and visually impaired. Mrs. Deal read a poem about the joys of reading, written by her husband and Georgia’s Governor, Nathan Deal. She also had the opportunity to meet with the students’ parents and grandparents, who shared their stories of raising a child with vision loss. Mrs. Deal seemed right at home during her visit, as she has centered her life on matters involving children and family in her roles as mother, grandmother, teacher and volunteer. “The First Lady’s warmth and understanding for the both the children and their parents was evident throughout her visit,” said BEGIN Program Director Anne McComiskey. After the reading, the four-year-old students presented her with a brailled copy of the Governor’s poem and a bouquet of flowers. Take a Look at CVI’s New Website! The next time you visit us at www.cviga.org, you’ll see some big changes. After many years of utilizing the same website, we’ve made numerous adjustments including: * An updated look and feel with easier navigation * Better accessibility, including the ability to change text size and contrast colors * Direct access to CVI’s social media sites * A “share” button so you can forward information more easily * A blog called “SightSeeing” to help provide an in-depth understanding of what is happening at CVI, along with the capability to comment and share We hope you’ll log on to the new website soon and experience the exciting changes and improvements for yourself. We look forward to hearing from you! CVI Mission The mission of the Center for the Visually Impaired is to empower people impacted by vision loss to live with independence and dignity. CVI NEWS Independence with Dignity 50 Years Laurie Stephens Vice President for Development Liz Hayes, Editor Director of Marketing CVI News is available in three alternative formats: electronic mail, large print and CD. To request one of these formats, please contact Eva Mayhew at 404-875-9011, ext. 4280. 739 West Peachtree Street, N.W. Atlanta, GA 30308 404-875-9011 www.cviga.org Non-Profit Org. U.S.Postage PAID Atlanta, GA Permit No.1035 CVI receives 9% of its annual budget from United Way.
