VISIONS Insights Newsletter
Winter 2021, Issue 17
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Celebrating Our 35th Annual Charity Golf & Tennis Outing, Our Most Successful Yet!
VISIONS 35th Annual Golf & Tennis Outing was a spectacular success. The event raised more than $190,000 to support VISIONS Center on Blindness (VCB) and VISIONS free services in Westchester and the Lower Hudson Valley.
The outing was held at Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, NY. More than 180 golfers and 15 tennis players enjoyed a wonderful day of sports and networking. Approximately 200 individuals participated at the end-of-day reception featuring a silent auction and door prizes, during which, we acknowledged our outstanding honoree, Robert Heidenberg.
Mr. Heidenberg, a board member of VISIONS, is the founder and Managing Partner of Heidenberg Properties Group, which develops, owns, and manages shopping centers and retail properties. He provides the strategic vision for the company’s development, redevelopment and acquisition initiatives.
In addition to his position on VISIONS Board of Directors, he is active with a number of other foundations serving the blind and visually impaired community, and over the years has been a board member at several educational and religious institutions.
Mr. Heidenberg lives in Demarest, NJ. with his wife Susan, an interior designer, Zoe, a Hall of Fame guide dog and a menagerie of four-legged creatures. He was the 1973 Metropolitan Golf Association Boys Championship runner-up, and 1974 junior champion.
The event was chaired by long-time volunteers, Ric Apter and Robbie Davis.
At the evening reception, Nancy D. Miller, VISIONS Executive Director/CEO, was presented with a beautiful gift of jewelry to celebrate her incredible leadership of VISIONS
Upcoming Events
To learn more and register for these, or future events, click here.
Bronx-Westchester Advisory Board Annual Awards Reception
May 18, 2022
The Surf Club
280 Davenport Ave
New Rochelle, NY 10805
Brooklyn Advisory Board Annual Dinner
June 2, 2022
Gargiulo’s
2911 W 15th St
Brooklyn, NY 11224
VISIONS @ 95: We Know What is Possible
June 15, 2022
Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital
210 E 64th St
New York, NY 10065
VISIONS 36th Annual Charity Golf & Tennis Outing
September 19, 2022
Fairview Country Club
1241 King St
Greenwich, CT 06831
Dear VISIONS...
“For Jian Shen, VISIONS opened a window for him to see that there are many children out there who are just like him, making strides forward every day. He is not alone.”
– Hong Guo (Jian Shen's Mom)
VISIONS Board and Staff Updates
VISIONS Welcomes New Board Member Jyotika Bisht
Jyotika has over 20 years of work experience in process engineering and digital transformation across healthcare, telecom, and financial sectors. She delivers strategic projects by managing global cross-functional teams. Jyotika currently works as Director, Business Management in S&P Global Ratings. She has an MBA from Columbia University, and recently joined VISIONS Board of Directors, and serves on its Human Resources/DEIA Committee, Program Committee, and Strategic Planning Committee. Jyotika enjoys traveling, running and hiking.
VISIONS Welcomes New Board Member Bill Resnick
Bill Resnick is the founder of EmpiRx Health, a revolutionary Pharmacy Benefit Management company, formed to address the major gaps in the management of Rx benefits. After EmpiRx formed a strategic alliance with Nautic Capital, Bill stepped down from his role as Chairman and will serve as a board member. Prior to the transaction, a Foundation was established whereby Bill and his family will pursue hands-on work, human capital, and financial commitments with a select few non-profit agencies. Bill recently joined VISIONS Board of Directors and serves on its Development Committee and Program Committee, as well as Co-Chairs its 'Golf and Tennis Event' Committee.
New VISIONS Staff
Full-time
Rev. Dr. Holly Bonner (Part-Time to Full-Time)
Jake Mariani
Jenny Santiago-Comas (Part-Time to Full-Time)
Sherrice Stephen
Part-time
Michelle D. Davidson
Diamond Sommerville
Interns
Marie Bolona
Inna Prehogan
Joshua Samuel
New Advisory Board Members
Bronx-Westchester Advisory
Doris Varlese
CareMount
Dr. Ken Landesman
Family Vision Care
Manhattan Advisory
Janet Squitieri
JP Morgan Asset Management
Rebecca Zarett
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
VISIONS Insights Newsletter: A Publication About VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
VISIONS Board of Directors:
President: Robert Schonbrunn
Past President: Nancy T. Jones
Vice President: Dr. Cynthia Stuen
Treasurer: Burton M. Strauss, Jr.
Assistant Treasurer: Kenneth J. Gralak
Secretary: Denise G. Rabinowitz
Newsletter Staff
Executive Director/CEO:
Nancy D. Miller
Editor, Chief Development Officer:
Russell C. Martello
Newsletter Design & Layout,
Director of Marketing and Communications:
Ryan Melendez
VISIONS would like to thank the following former board members who recently left VISIONS Board of Directors, for their service:
Steven Bernstein
Jasmine Campirides
Henry Saveth
VISIONS Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)
As we celebrate the uniqueness in each of us, VISIONS continues to embrace the value of DEIA. In the past few months, we have broadened our opportunities by increasing diversity on the board, staff, and volunteers. The effectiveness, and creativity that it brings to VISIONS family, continues to keep us on our journey while we continue to grow and implement policies that reflect our awareness and commitment to DEIA.
VISIONS DEIA Statement
VISIONS was founded by a group of women who believed in, promoted, and fought for the equal rights and opportunities for blind and visually impaired individuals inclusive of all races, ethnicities, nationalities, income levels, and ages. Proudly this remains the essence and passion of our mission today. Ahead of its time from its inception in 1926, VISIONS focus is on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility for all.
VISIONS provides the tools and training for people who are blind or multi-disabled to succeed in school, work, raise a family, lead independent lives and contribute to community life. All services include a diverse collective of participants, more than half of whom identify as persons of color and speak sixteen languages. This includes residential programs which have always been and remain racially and ethnically integrated.
Celebrating its 95th anniversary in 2021, VISIONS remains laser-focused on the traditions and basic tenets of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in all programming. The Board of Directors and the advisory boards, including blind members, embody broad representation and expertise. Half of VISIONS staff, from executive to direct service, are people of color with nearly one-third identifying as blind.
DEIA is in our DNA as an organization. We confront racism, discrimination, and violence experienced by all marginalized populations or individuals. We recognize the different lived experiences of Black, Brown, Asian, Pacific Islander, Latinx, Indigenous, LGBTQ people, members of religious minorities such as Jews and Muslims, older adults, and people with disabilities – and take a stand against all forms of discrimination. This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Commitment to social justice is integral to our past, current, and future operations.
In the Spotlight
VISIONS Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)
On October 28, VISIONS hosted its second annual virtual “National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and Fireside Chat” which featured a conversation with former VISIONS participant Laurel Hilbert. Laurel gave the nearly 100 individuals in attendance an account of his amazing journey, which started with him immigrating to the U.S. as a 17-year old totally blind individual traveling alone; to receiving VISIONS services while in New York; to being employed by a US senator. Today, Laurel is employed at Robinhood Financial Services and studies economics at Harvard.
Attendees also had the opportunity to network and participate in thought-provoking discussions. Several employers received Community Partner Awards for their commitment to hiring employees, and hosting interns who are visually impaired. Employers who were honored included Metropolitan Development Center, Accessible Pharmacy, Omnium Circus, and Chronic Warriors. VISIONS would like to thank all of the employers, funders, Board Members, New York State Commission for the Blind personnel, and other stakeholders who attended.
Maxine: VISIONS Participant, Seamstress, and Author!
On April 19th 2021, Alphapointe welcomed VISIONS participant Maxine Michelle Beary to their family, as a trainee in their sewing department. Maxine conquered each challenge of sewing and aced every operation she was trained on, even having never been exposed to sewing or sewing machines for her adult life, prior to joining Alphapointe.
Maxine, who migrated from Jamaica to the U.S.A. in 2007 has faced many challenges and struggles for survival, but used these experiences as opportunities for greater achievements. One such commendable achievement is publishing her own book, “A BLIND GIRL’S SURVIVAL”.
Her book is currently available on Amazon in paperback format.
Click Here to Order Maxine's Book
Click Here to Watch Maxine's Interview with Dream Young Media
Staten Island Honoree Wins 'WHOPPER' of a Scholarship
Angelica Mroczek, a recent graduate of the International Baccalaureate Program at Curtis High School, was named a Burger King Scholar and recipient of a $50,000 “Whopper” Scholarship by the Burger King McLamore Foundation, the company’s philanthropic organization. The foundation is named in honor of Burger King co-founder James W. McLamore.
Mroczek, 17, was the valedictorian of the class of 2021 at Curtis. She was a double-varsity athlete in softball and swimming. Angelica was also the captain of the softball team. She is now attending Brown University in Providence, R.I. in the fall.
Angelica and her twin sister, Tatiana, who is now a student at Columbia University’s prestigious Barnard, were honored by VISIONS Staten Island Advisory Board in 2019 for their dedication to the borough’s annual beeping egg hunt.
VISIONS congratulates Angelica and Tatiana Mroczek on all their achievements!
VISIONS Staff Went Above and Beyond to Help a Participant
Amazing things can happen when VISIONS employees work together! When Director of Occupational Therapy, Teddy Kern, told Holly Bonner, Staten Island Borough Coordinator, that there was a blind child in her borough in need of an iPad, Holly acted quickly and sought help from a group of local chaplains and members of her Episcopal church. Together, the church members were able to raise enough money to purchase the iPad, as well as a protective case, headphones, and software. Our staff works hard to help participants "see what is possible", and they go the extra mile to make that happen!
VISIONS Summer Program Spotlights
VISIONS Snack Bar at Selis Manor Re-Opens
VISIONS Youth Services Department succeeded this summer, despite the pandemic! The Snack Bar, located at VISIONS at Selis Manor was able to reopen, Monday through Thursday. The five Snack Bar interns sold delights like Oreos, Ruffles and Yoo-Hoos which had been missing for far too long. Tenants and community users flowed through the space with excitement, looking for sales while respecting social distancing rules. In addition to snacks, the Snack Bar interns sold VISIONS t-shirts, bump dots, and braille UNO cards.
Through our virtual Work Experience Training (WET) program, our Workforce staff was able to place one of our youngest WET participants at Omnium Circus, where she assisted with outreach and updated the camp and school contact list.
Virtual Pre-College Program at Manhattanville College
For the second year in a row, the Pre-College Program, a program that prepares high school juniors and seniors for college life, had to run virtually due to continued COVID-19 restrictions. The 18 participants completed an Introduction to College course, taught virtually by Manhattanville College staff on their iPads, as well as learned independent living skills in a hybrid model.
Participants received a VRT kit in the mail with the tools they would need to carry out tasks including cleaning, cooking, and laundry, and worked both in groups, and one-on-one with VRT staff (Travis Joseph, Flora Shao, and Sherrice Stephen), who ensured that each participant had a private space to share challenges, concerns and work on goals for the near future. The O&M instructor (Alyssa Goldman) used outdoor spaces to demonstrate techniques on camera, in addition to the discussion of past travel experiences. She highlighted a number of apps to use to explore spaces virtually and practice within the community.
Participants also engaged in social activities, including game nights and movie nights, and a special career panel discussion hosted by VISIONS Manhattan Advisory Board member Alexandra Sukin.
Summer Transition Program
This year’s Summer Transition Program (STP) took place in the Vocational Rehabilitation Center (VRC) at VISIONS Center on Blindness (VCB). The group consisted of 9 participants and was directed by Michexa Belizaire, VRT and O&M instructor. STP is a four-week residential experience designed to provide legally blind high school students with the skills and training needed to thrive in a college and employment setting.
Participants learned important independent living, and mobility skills, aided by their smart devices to make tasks easier and more efficient. Lessons included tasks like slicing, mixing, pouring, laundry, and vacuuming. Alyssa Goldman, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS), provided a number of small group community exploration orientation and mobility trips, allowing participants to use apps, and explore the community with their canes, as well as solicit assistance when appropriate. They also explored Manhattan through an orientation and mobility lesson with Meghan Fink. During their recent trip to the city, they visited the Andrew Heiskell Library for a lesson on origami.
Participants also enjoyed many activities and experiences, which included horseback riding; field trips to a trampoline park, STEM camp, and Six Flags Great Adventure; and fun games and sports adapted for people with visual impairments, like goalball, beep kickball, and tethered running. They also took advantage of the amenities and activities at VCB, including the fully accessible pool, paddle boating, and tandem biking.
Family Weeks at VCB
Despite the ongoing pandemic, a total of 31 blind children and their families participated in one of our three, one-week residential programs at VCB. The children were provided rehabilitation therapy that included money identification, simple meal preparation, social skills, and communication skills. The children also enjoyed recreational activities that included beep kick ball, swimming, gardening, adaptive golf, and a petting zoo. Throughout the week workshops were offered to the parents on topics such as adaptive sports, advocacy, and resources. Both the children and their families were grateful for the services, the fun activities, and the new and renewed friendships.
Employment Readiness and Pre-ETS Program at the VRC
Congratulations to our newest group of Pre-ETS Program participants for completing their 15-Week courses!
VISIONS Residential Employment Readiness & Pre-ETS Program prepares legally blind young adults 18 to 21 for the workforce. Graduates successfully complete one to two certificate programs in an occupation of their interest, vocational skills classes in job exploration, resume writing, interviewing skills, navigating the internet, understanding and managing emotions in the workplace, and more. Participants also received training in technology, orientation and mobility, and some vision rehabilitation therapy.
All participants who have completed the program received a Rise-Up Customer Service Certificate from the National Retail Federation, and for the first time in any Pre-ETS program, this graduating class had the opportunity to participate in an 80 to 100 hour paid work experience training (WET) related to their vocational goals. VISIONS is happy to announce that the WET paid internship experience will continue to be offered for all VISIONS 15-week Employment Readiness & Pre-ETS programs in the future.
Follow VISIONS on Social Media
Help Spread the Word!
In addition to following VISIONS on social media, you can help spread the word by sharing our posts. Sharing our posts allows your friends and followers to see what VISIONS is doing, and gives them the chance to like, comment, or follow VISIONS. The more people share our posts, the more people learn how we help participants see what is possible.
To share a post on Facebook, look for the share icon at the bottom right corner of a post or picture, and tap it. From there, you can share it to your feed, or send it to somebody else.
Bonus, you can create posts using our hashtags, #SeeWhatIsPossible, and #VISIONSVCB and people will be able to see those posts and learn even more about VISIONS!
VISIONS Borough Advisory Board Updates
Bronx-Westchester Advisory Board's Awards Dinner
The newly expanded Bronx-Westchester Advisory Board celebrated its annual event on July 21 at Frankie & Johnny’s Pine Restaurant in the Bronx. Honorees included Irene Amato, A.S.A.P. Mortgage Corp; Dr. AJ Contento, Eye Care Unlimited; Gene DiNapoli, Entertainer and Actor: Michael Knobbe, BronxNet. Through the hard work of the advisory board members and our honorees, the event raised almost $20,000 to support VISIONS free services in the Bronx & Westchester. Next year, for the first time, the annual dinner will be held in Westchester in celebration of VISIONS expansion into that county and the Lower Hudson Valley.
Brooklyn Advisory Board's Awards Dinner
In early June, VISIONS Brooklyn Advisory Board hosted its annual dinner in-person. For many, this was their first time venturing out since the start of the pandemic. The event was held under a tent at Gargiulo’s in Coney Island. With the help of our advisory board members and our honorees, Zadie Davis, The Friends of Crown Heights Educational Centers; Dr. David Pinhas, Glaucoma Consultants of New York; Joseph Ruggiero, Kiwanis; and keynote speaker, Yvonne Whitehurst, the event raised over $11,000 with approximately 115 guests in attendance. The proceeds support VISIONS free services in Brooklyn.
Queens Advisory Board's Cocktails for a Cause
VISIONS Queens Advisory Board held its 4th Annual Cocktails for a Cause fundraiser on August 22nd, 2021.
The festivities were held at J Fallon's Tap Room, located in Floral Park. Despite the threat of torrential rains from Tropical Storm Henri, 45 guests braved the weather and had a great time. It was a reunion of our loyal supporters, as it was the Queens Advisory Board's first in-person fundraiser since March 7th, 2020! Our generous hosts and venue owners, Marc and Jason DiCarlo, donated the space, staff, and food. Joe DePiola donated his talents providing live music and 35 local businesses donated door prizes. The afternoon event exceeded expectations raising $8,000 to support VISIONS free services in Queens and Long Island.
Special thanks to sponsors, Stephanie Belanich and Maxine Conlin, Keller Williams Greater Nassau, The Sandra Atlas Bass Foundation, and Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Lemma Sr. as well as everyone who came out to support VISIONS!
Manhattan Advisory Board's Music for All Senses
On November 16th, VISIONS Manhattan Advisory Board hosted a fully accessible musical fundraiser, "Music for All Senses". This event, produced by Bridge Mutlimedia, featured well-known jazz performer, Catherine Russell, and included interviews with honorees, Matthew Kaplowitz, Bridge Multimedia; Sam Latif, P&G; Peter Slatin, The Slatin Group; and keynote speaker Jason Eckert, Executive Director, Reader's Digest Partners for Sight Foundation. This state-of-the-art fundraiser included closed captions, audio descriptions, and American Sign Language interpretation. The event raised nearly $20,000 to support VISIONS free services in Manhattan.
Stories You Can't Miss
MasterCard Unveils a New Card Standard for People with Visual Impairments
Mastercard, in partnership with VISIONS and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), introduced an all-new accessible card for people who are blind or visually impaired called "Touch Card". The Touch Card features three distinct notches to help people identify which card they are using: A round notch for credit cards, a broad squarish notch for debit cards, and a triangular notch for pre-paid cards. The standard has been designed to work with point-of-sale terminals and ATMs, ensuring it can be deployed at scale.
Samsung Donates Smart Speakers to Better Serve Participants
Samsung recently donated smart speakers and soundbars to VISIONS Center on Aging, and VISIONS Center on Blindness. In addition to providing a major upgrade to sound quality for music and movies, these smart speakers allow younger and older participants to learn how to use services like Amazon Alexa to make their lives easier. VISIONS would like to thank Samsung for their wonderful donation, which has already positively impacted participants in these facilities.
The Staten Island Foundation Awarded VISIONS a New Grant
The Staten Island Foundation has awarded VISIONS a $15,000 grant for a new initiative called Project VISION Compass. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives have become a top priority for today’s organizations. Studies continue to show that non-profit organizations that value DEI are more profitable than those that don’t, and their employees report higher levels of engagement, trust, and satisfaction. These are all critical components for success. As DEI has taken the spotlight, strides have been made towards equality based on gender, race, and sexual orientation. One aspect of DEI that is often overlooked, however, is disability and accessibility. Project VISION Compass aims to point Staten Island non-profits in the right direction when it comes to including these critical components into the culture of their organizations and assist them with providing more inclusive programming. Project VISION Compass provides a 6 hour, three-session, invaluable training for nonprofit administrators and their staff. Session 1: defines disability and provides an overview of basic etiquette practices. Session II: focuses on maintaining compliance with the American’s With Disabilities Act (ADA) and how to implement universal design methods both digitally and in-person. Finally, Session III explains how nonprofits can utilize pre-existing accessibility within their current technological capabilities and incorporate accessibility into their social media and PowerPoint presentations. VISIONS Staten Island Borough Coordinator, Holly Bonner, will be partnering with the Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness (SIPCW) to conduct the training. Be sure to check out our next newsletter for updates on this exciting new programming!
Congratulations, Rev. Dr. Holly Bonner!
Congratulations to Rev. Dr. Holly Bonner, Staten Island Borough Coordinator, for being honored by the New York State Optometric Association (NYSOA) with their 2021 Public Service Award. The New York State Optometric Association was founded in 1895. It is dedicated to enhancing the vision care and health of the public and promoting the art and science of optometry. NYSOA plays a significant role in how optometry is perceived by other professions, government agencies, and the public at large. Dr. Bonner was recognized for her dedication to community outreach work and her ministerial efforts in making all houses of worship accessible for the blind/visually impaired. The award was presented during NYSOA’s Innovation for Vision Conference in Corning, NY earlier this fall.
VISIONS Reschedules 95th Anniversary Celebration!
Due to increased COVID-19 restrictions, we had to make the difficult decision to reschedule our 95th Anniversary Event, originally scheduled for December.
The event has not been canceled, and we look forward to celebrating over 95 years of great service on our new date of June 15th, 2022, at Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital (MEETH).
If you wish to register, make a donation on behalf of the event, or purchase a journal ad/sponsorship, please visit: https://visionsvcb.org/event/visions-at-95/
VISIONS Remembers Ed Lucas, of the Ed Lucas Foundation
Ed Lucas passed away on November 10, 2021 after a long illness. Ed was a generous donor to VISIONS through the Ed Lucas Foundation and a keynote speaker at VISIONS and national events. Ed lost his vision when hit by a baseball playing with friends. Ed was the first blind father to be awarded custody in New Jersey of his two young sons when he and his first wife divorced. A talented sports writer and fundraising professional, Ed was befriended by many sports celebrities including Phil Rizzuto and David Cone. He had a close relationship with George Steinbrenner, the majority owner of the Yankees. Ed is the only person to be married at home plate of Yankee Stadium. His wife Allison who is also visually impaired is a retired nurse and florist. Ed will be sorely missed and we send heartfelt condolences to Allison, his sons and grandchildren.
VISIONS Would Like to Thank the Following Donors: 6/1/21-10/31/21
Monetary Donors
$10,000 or more:
Anonymous
Con Edison Company of New York, Inc.
Douglass Winthrop Advisors, LLC
Field Hall Foundation
Dr. and Mrs. Andrew S. Fisher
Gourevitch Family Foundation
Greenberg Traurig, PA
JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Kessler Foundation
Jeff Mayer
Robert Schonbrunn
Harriette K. and Burton M. Strauss, Jr.
The Andrew R. Heyer and Mindy B. Heyer Foundation
The Barker Welfare Foundation
The Beth C. and Henry E. Adams Family Foundation
William G. & Helen C. Hoffman Foundation
$1,000 - $9,999:
1919 Investment Counsel
American International Group
Fredric Apter
Mr. & Mrs. Mal L. Barasch
Stephanie Belanich
Ben Bay Kiwanis Foundation, Inc.
Chad Bernstein
Richard Blatt
Douglas Andrew Borck
Bronx Community Cable Programming
Brooklyn Bridge Lions Club
Chris Case
AJ Contento, O.D.
Allen Cooperman
Richard Cross
Alan Dosik
David and Alan Dosik, MD
Steven Elias
Estate of Arlene Rapp
Estate of Eli & Diane Rudolph
Norma P. Eversley
Shepard Federgreen
Fiduciary Trust Company International
First American Title Insurance Company
Florence & Melvin J. Cohen Family Philanthropic Fund
Foreseeable Future Foundation
Lucius L. and Rhonda N. Fowler
Howard Geneslaw and Marlo Dickman
Todd Girshon, Esq.
Steven Gnessin
Judith Rock Goldman
Larry Goldstein
Thomas Gram
Jay Green
Michael and Ellyn Greenspan
Glenn Hamroff
Daniel Hanwacker, Jr.
Haves, Pine and Seligman
Heidenberg Properties, LLC
Rick and Cheryl Heller
Hershey Norse Realty, LLC
Peter Heyer
High Construction Company
Jane and Alan Cornell Family Foundation
Allen Kaufman
Rabbi David-Seith Kirshner
Kiwanis Club of Glendale NY Inc.
Kiwanis Club of Parkway East Inc.
Theodore Peter and Linda Klingos
Lavelle Fund for the Blind, Inc.
Jason and Lauren Lazar
Richard and Wendy Levine
Paul Levy
Lions Club of Larchmont Mamaroneck
Lori and Mark Fife Foundation, Inc.
Mantel McDonough Riso, LLP
Marble Collegiate Church
James and Jane McGroarty
Metzger-Price Fund, Inc.
MikeWorldWide
Nancy D. and Gerald Miller
Richard Miller
Anthony Missano
Nathan and Augusta Simpson Foundation
James and Laurien Oestreich
Okin Hollander, LLC
Oyster Bay Lions Club
P S Marcato Elevator Co., Inc.
Michael Palermo
Pearl River Lions Club
People’s United Bank
Levana Pinhas
Jean and Sudhakar Prabhu
PDG Angelo and PDG Ellen Purcigliotti
Denise G. and Jonathan D. Rabinowitz, Reader’s Digest Partners for Sight Foundation
William Resnick
Thomas Rettaliata
Rita J. & Stanley H. Kaplan Family Foundation, Inc.
Rochelle & David A. Hirsch Foundation, Inc.
Peter A. Roffman
Howard and Shereen Rutman
Arthur Sachs
Samuel S. Adelsberg & Co.
Andrea and Lester Samuels
Kenneth and Marcia Schlechter
Jonathan Sheindlin
Arthur Sinensky
Southside Investment Partners, LLC
Janet Squitieri
Dr. Cynthia Stuen and Rev. William Weisenbach
Summit Facility Solutions, Inc.
Scott Tesser
The Baumann Family Foundation
The Sandra Atlas Bass and Edyth & Sol G. Atlas Fund, Inc.
Natan Vaisman
VASCA, Inc.
Westchester Putnam Gastro, P.C.
Dolly Williams
Marc Wolpow
Jonathan and Dorothy York
David and Rochelle Zarett
Zelis Healthcare Corporation
Randi Zuckerberg
Special Thanks To:
Government Contracts/Grants
N J Commission For the Blind
NYC Department for the Aging
NYC SEFA
NYS Commission for the Blind
NYSPSP
In-Kind / Donation of Goods and Services:
Acquista Trattoria/Rosario Acquista
Fredric C. Apter
Atlantic Westchester, Inc./Bud Hammer
Bourbon Street/Lara Fois, Manager
Kristen Cappelli
Pat Cappelli
Christie & Company Salon
Crabtree's Restaurant
Jane DeLuca
Donovan's Grill & Tavern/Martin Picone
Arturo Dusmet
Fairview Country Club/Friedrich Eder
Dr. Andrew S. Fisher
Garden Nails & Spa
Ellen Goldsmith
Iavarone Italian Café
Margaret Ioannou
J. Fallon’s Tap Room/Marc and Jason Di Carlo
Nancy T. Jones
K. Pacho Restaurant
Theodore P. Klingos
Lake Success Wine and Liquors
Robert S. Loeb
Louie's Grille and Liquors/Martine Picone
Nancy Melius
New York Country Club/Garret Hirsch
Periwinkle Boutique/Matthew Goldfarb
Allyne S. Price
Quaker Ridge Golf Club/Bob Musich
Franco Raicovich
Fern Rashkover
Residence Inn by Marriott Bronx NY/Clement Carey
Brian Roberts
Ronique Hair Salon
Jitka Seck
Clare Stokolosa
Sunningdale Country Club/Dana Cancellaro
The Harrison Restaurant/Bernadette Daly
Total Form Fitness White Plains/Adam Sienkiewicz
Vision Music & Entertainment/Joe Depiola
Westchester-Rockland Project Linus/Adele Shapiro
Marjorie Whitman
Wildlife Conservation Society - The Bronx Zoo/Daisy Rodriguez
How to Support VISIONS
Make a Donation
Whether you give us an individual donation, or a lead to a Foundation Grant, or Corporate Sponsor that is aligned with our mission, every effort helps!
Ways to Donate
- Online or by check:
Visit visionsvcb.org/donate for more instructions
- Donor-Advised Fund
- Gifts of Appreciated Stock
- Qualified Charitable Distributions
- Include VISIONS in your will*
*If you would like to consider naming VISIONS in your will, or making a testamentary gift, simply share the following information with your lawyer:
- Legal Name: VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
- Tax ID: 13-1624210
- Address: 500 Greenwich Street, Suite 302
New York, NY 10013
If you have any questions about ways to donate or know of individuals, foundations, or corporations interested in supporting VISIONS, please contact Russell C. Martello, Chief Development Officer at rmartello@visionsvcb.org.
VISIONS does not sell or otherwise make available the names, addresses or phone numbers of our donors to anyone. However, donors of major gifts or grants may be thanked by name in this newsletter, in VISIONS Annual Report, on the VISIONS website, in other print materials such as brochures, or at appropriate events. If requested, we will refrain from thanking a donor publicly. VISIONS will honor all requests to be removed from our mailing list or to limit the mailings you receive from us. We appreciate the generosity of our supporters and are respectful of the privacy of our donors and friends.
Our Vision is for Everyone to See what is Possible
