The Beacon Issue 4, 2006 A publication of the Association for the blind and visually impaired (ABVI)-Goodwill Industries of Greater Rochester, Inc. Articles in this edition: New Mission to Mark a Second Century of Service Reaching New Heights with Your Help From The President From the Medical Director January is Braille Literacy Awareness Month Support Strengthens 2-1-1 Program Brockport Goodwill Grand Opening Nears BonTon Goodwill Sale- A Successful Partnership Goodwill Hosts Guests from Korea End the Year with a Donation to Goodwill ‘Tis the Season for Affordable Shopping Goodwill Gift Cards Make Great Gifts! Adult Recreational Program Our Volunteers Inspire by Example! ABVI-Goodwill Welcomes New Leaders to its Board “Excellence” of ABVI-Goodwill Call Center Recognized Nationally ABVI-Goodwill to Host Regional Braille Competition Exploring Career Options By Ruth Phinney, Program Director, WXXI Reachout Radio Positive Steps for Microsoft Office Software Accessibility By Kim Kline Hope for the Future By Kimberly Lawrence Working Never felt so good! Our Wishlist... Honorary and Memorial Gifts Shop at ABVI-Goodwill for Gifts on your List this Season Cans and Clothing for a Good Cause OUR MISSION “To prepare and empower people who are blind or visually impaired to be self-sufficient and contribute to their families and communities.” **New Mission to Mark a Second Century of Service In only five short years, ABVI-Goodwill will celebrate its Centennial, marking 100 years of service and commitment to the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region. This major milestone has prompted us to rethink our mission and begin to identify what ABVI-Goodwill should look like in its second century of service. With this in mind, the agency’s Board of Directors and senior leadership have developed a new vision, mission and strategic plan to guide the organization towards its Centennial Celebration. This updated mission represents a new paradigm from which ABVI-Goodwill will plan its future services to people who are blind or visually impaired. It moves us from a charitable, helping role to an empowerment role– an exciting and energizing change for all of us. The agency’s former mission statement served us well for decades. It read, “To assist people who are blind or visually impaired to achieve their highest level of independence in all aspects of their lives.” Now, our new mission statement is: “To prepare and empower people who are blind or visually impaired to be self-sufficient and contribute to their families and communities.” We believe this new mission statement offers the exciting promise of new ways of serving people who are blind or visually impaired so that opportunities are created that enable them to be a vital part of the community. The challenge to achieve this new mission is only limited by our imagination to create those opportunities. But as our history will attest, imagining the possibilities has always been our strength. **Reaching New Heights with Your Help Tiffany is a high school freshman who participates in Student Council, Drama Club and community service. She lives a full and happy life. And she is blind. When Tiffany was two weeks old, cat scans, spinal taps and other tests didn’t explain why her eyes wandered. When she was five years old, she had surgery to tighten her eye muscles but doctors still could not diagnose her disease. Doctors now believe that Tiffany has a rare degenerative disease called Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis that causes blindness. Tiffany and her family struggled with not knowing where to turn, until they found ABVI-Goodwill. Throughout her childhood, Tiffany has used the programs and services that ABVI-Goodwill offers to help her reach her goals. She has consulted with our world-class staff and learned how to safely cross streets as well as cook her favorite foods (which include brownies and macaroni and cheese). Tiffany is able to succeed in school with the help of her textbooks on tape and has excelled in our children’s recreational programs including Summer Sizzle and Winter Chill. With your donation to ABVI-Goodwill, Tiffany and many others in the Rochester area will reach their goals. If you have supported ABVI-Goodwill over the years we want to thank you, but if you have never made a donation to ABVI-Goodwill, this is a great time to donate. A generous donor has provided a matching grant where every new donor’s gift will be matched, dollar for dollar! To make a donation to ABVI-Goodwill, please use the envelope enclosed, or to pay by credit card please call (585) 697-5711. **From The President This past November marked my 20th anniversary as president and CEO of ABVI-Goodwill. As difficult as that is for me to believe, it gave me the chance to reflect upon my career here and the growth and development that ABVI-Goodwill and I have experienced together. Twenty years ago I came to the agency as a young professional with a husband and two young children and a belief that as a CEO I could lend my talents to help people who are blind become successful in their endeavors. In 1986, I started the journey to help build this great organization into something bigger, more visible and one that could help dispel negative stereotypes and promote positive images and beliefs about the capabilities of people who are blind or visually impaired. In the beginning I was driven by instinct and intuition – take care of the people and the rest will take care of itself. I believed that then and I believe that now. Over the years, I learned that patience and caring go a long way to growing an organization and growing a family. I learned that treating people honestly and authentically was the real key to success. Through the years, I worked together with many talented and creative people to build something special. It started with securing the Note Pad contract through the federal government, allowing us to employ over 100 individuals since 1990 and generate millions of dollars in net revenue which helped spur our growth. It continued when we became a member of Goodwill Industries International in 1994 which helped ensure our ability to fulfill our mission and enjoy financial sustainability and independence through successful retail operations. We made a vision a reality in the late 1990s when we created the Call Center to teach technological and customer service skills and employ people who are blind or visually impaired in this burgeoning industry. Building on that success, we have secured many new contracts, including the local 2-1-1/LIFE LINE program, and have provided challenging employment for people who are blind or visually impaired. During this time we never lost sight of our purpose, and worked diligently to enhance and develop our vision rehabilitation, low vision and community outreach services for people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired. Indeed, 20 years have past. In fact, they have flown by. Over the years, I have grown as a person and as a professional. ABVI-Goodwill has grown into a robust, vibrant community that serves people and its surrounding community in powerful and unique ways. I have truly been blessed to have had the opportunity to “grow up” and mature along with this exceptional organization, and to have had the opportunity along the way to hopefully have an impact on the lives of others. As 2006 comes to a close and we look ahead to the coming year, please accept my sincere wishes for a joyous holiday season and a peaceful and prosperous New Year. On behalf of everyone here at ABVI-Goodwill, thank you for all you do to support our work, our mission and, most importantly, those we serve. Happy holidays! **From the Medical Director Up to half of American adults between the ages of 40 and 80 have an uncorrected refractive error. That means that their vision could be made better with simple eye glasses. Uncorrected refractive error is the most common cause of impaired vision in senior citizens, and visual impairment is one of the leading causes of physical decline among older adults. Impaired vision can often lead to social isolation, earlier placement in a nursing home, and an increased risk of falls, fractures, accidents and other problems. Recently, people over the age of 65 with impaired vision were entered into a study in which half were given a prescription for free eyeglasses and half served as controls. The group receiving the eyeglasses not only reported that they were better able to function at tasks affected by visual acuity; they also had better overall mental health. A careful eye exam to identify and correct refractive errors is important for everyone. It is especially important for people who have age-related eye diseases like macular degeneration or glaucoma that cause impaired vision. When someone is known to have an eye disease, it is easy to blame every visual problem on the disease. Often, a simple adjustment in the patient’s eyeglasses can make a world of difference. We can’t cure every disease, but we should be able to correct every refractive error. **January is Braille Literacy Awareness Month More than 175 years after the first book was published in Braille, millions of people who are blind or visually impaired continue to read, write, and communicate through the “six dot system” created in the early 1800s by then-15-year-old Louis Braille. “People rely on their own literacy skills for almost everything they do, from reading a book or sending an e-mail, to managing their checkbook or paying bills,” said Gidget Hopf, President and CEO of ABVI-Goodwill. “For many people who are blind or visually impaired, knowing Braille is a basic literacy skill the same way that reading print is for a sighted person.” Braille gives people who are blind or visually impaired a way to read and write in any language. For many people, it is the key to intellectual freedom, independence and rewarding careers and employment opportunities. Yet some believe that learning Braille isn’t as necessary today because of the popular use of technology such as audio books and screen readers. However, listening to a book is not the same as knowing how to read it. As a result, efforts such as Braille Literacy Awareness Month are vital to focus attention on promoting literacy and to eliminate obstacles that discourage people from mastering Braille. ABVI-Goodwill is proud to celebrate Braille Literacy Awareness Month. **Support Strengthens 2-1-1 Program A New York State grant of $6.9 million included in the 2007-2008 state budget moves millions of New Yorkers one step closer to having their human service questions answered with the ease of dialing 2-1-1. State funding of 2-1-1 comes after a difficult budget process and years of behind the scenes work by United Way of New York State, local United Ways across the state, New York State Alliance of Information and Referral Systems, and many local partner agencies, including ABVI-Goodwill. “We are deeply appreciative of the bipartisan support shown by the Senate and Assembly in providing state funding in the new budget,” said Susan Hager, President of United Way of New York State. The new funding stream will bring approximately $940,000 in planning, capital and operating support to our local Finger Lakes 2-1-1. One of the key legislators involved in the bipartisan support of 2-1-1 was the Honorable Susan V. John. Assemblywoman John supported the proposal and joined other Senate and Assembly members in advocating for enhancing the 2-1-1 program across the State. Assemblywoman John’s efforts on behalf of 2-1-1 were recognized at a special ceremony and reception held at our local 2-1-1 Call Center in September. “Rochester is blessed with so many not-for-profit organizations that can help families in need,” said Assemblywoman John. “I applaud the United Way of New York State and their community partners for working with the legislature, ensuring that this successful program is now offered to all New Yorkers.” **Brockport Goodwill Grand Opening Nears The concrete foundation is poured, the walls are going up and the parking lot is being paved. Soon the new Brockport Goodwill store will be ready for its Grand Opening! In a few short months the now-empty building will be filled with thousands of brand-name clothes and household items just waiting for eager shoppers to find a bargain. Located off Transit Way directly behind the new location of the WalMart super-store, the Brockport Goodwill store will be bigger, brighter and stocked with quality merchandise at affordable prices. And with the construction of the 25,000 square foot building on schedule, we’ll soon be opening our doors to customers who are looking for a great deal and who want to donate their gently used items to support our mission. A specific Grand Opening date (planned for sometime in February) isn’t as concrete as the walls that are being constructed, but watch for additional announcements about the special Grand Opening events coming soon. For more information, check out the agency’s web site at www.abvi-goodwill.com. **BonTon Goodwill Sale- A Successful Partnership This past September, local BonTon stores and Goodwill partnered together for the first semi-annual BonTon Goodwill sale. Eight regional Bon Ton stores participated in this promotion to collect clothing donations to support the mission of ABVI-Goodwill. BonTon offered customers who donated clean, gently-used clothing a 20% off coupon for each item they donated. All donations supported ABVI-Goodwill’s programs, services, job training and employment opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired. At the end of the event, over 53,000 pounds of merchandise was collected! We would like to thank the BonTon stores in Arnot Mall, Camillus Mall, Carousel Center, Eastview Mall, Greece Ridge Center, Marketplace Mall, Medley Center and Pyramid Mall for their participation. The BonTon associates, without exception, were fantastic to work with and showed a commitment, energy and passion that we appreciated. We look forward to future partnerships with BonTon stores and their energetic teams of associates. **Goodwill Hosts Guests from Korea A Korean delegation from Goodwill Pusan visited four U.S. Goodwills from September 28- October 10, getting retail training, observing how facilities operate and gathering information on various business line processes. ABVI-Goodwill was one of the hosts for this visit and Gidget Hopf, President & CEO, spent time with the two Korean visitors, as well as two interpreters from a Korean church in Buffalo. During a day-long tour, the group visited the adaptive technology center, the call center and the manufacturing division, where our guests saw the production of CD-ROMs, sewing products and self stick note pads. **End the Year with a Donation to Goodwill Tax season is right around the corner, so the time is right to make those end-of-the-year donations of gently-used clothing and household items to Goodwill. Take advantage of the tax write-off and support programs and services for people who are blind or visually impaired at the same time! Donate your new or gently used clothing and household items at any of our six convenient Goodwill locations. When you donate to Goodwill you are helping people who are bind or visually impaired become self-sufficient and contribute to their families and communities. In the spirit of the season, a donation to Goodwill is a great way to give to your community while getting more back from Uncle Sam! Goodwill currently has locations in Webster, Greece, Henrietta, Downtown Rochester, Gates and Perinton that will eagerly accept your donations before January 1st. For more information on donations and hours of operation, please call ABVI-Goodwill’s Retail Division at (585) 232-2163 or visit www.abvi-goodwill.org. **‘Tis the Season for Affordable Shopping According to a survey by CNNmoney, shoppers spent a combined total of eight billion dollars last year on “Black Friday” alone, and the average shopper still plans to spend over $1,000 during the entire holiday season. If that amount of spending isn’t in your budget, don’t let it dampen your holiday spirit. Instead, shop at the place where you know you can get more for your money— Goodwill. During this season of joy and giving it is hard to stick to a budget, but Goodwill makes it easy with a huge selection of low-cost, name-brand clothes, toys and other household items. You can buy more holiday gifts this year and spend less money if you shop at your local Goodwill. Whether you are shopping for a sweater for Grandma, toys and games for the kids or bedding and furniture for your favorite college student, you can find everything you need and more at your local Goodwill. With unique merchandise at each location and new donations arriving daily, you are sure to come across that special gift you are searching for. So this year, start your shopping off right at your local Goodwill, and enjoy a very merry start to your holiday season. **Goodwill Gift Cards Make Great Gifts! Finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list can be difficult, but Goodwill makes it easy! Now you can purchase gift cards for your entire shopping list and let your friends and family pick out their favorite items. These attractive gift cards fit easily into wallets and purses, and make a great gift for the holidays. They can be purchased for any dollar amount and the cards never expire, so there is plenty of time to shop for great bargains. With thousands of quality items for sale at affordable prices, a Goodwill gift card is the gift that lasts throughout the year! These new, easy to use gift cards are available at all Goodwill stores. Stop by your local Goodwill and purchase the gift that keeps on giving! **Adult Recreational Program Imagine experiencing the wine making process where you could feel and taste the grapes on the vine and touch the barrels where the wines were aged. That is what a group of 18 blind or visually impaired adults were able to do at Casa Larga Vineyards thanks to the Adult Recreational Program offered by ABVI-Goodwill. This group of adults was part of a new program that offers outings and field trips around Rochester as a way to socialize with other adults who are blind or visually impaired and have fun! Transportation for the first outing was provided from ABVI-Goodwill and for a small registration fee, the group was able to tour the vineyards at the local winery and taste five different varieties of wine. Future events include trips to Geva Theater, museum tours and horseback riding. If this sounds like a program you would like more information about, call Rene Latorre at (585) 697-5721 or email her at rlatorre@abvi-goodwill.com. **Our Volunteers Inspire by Example! Each year, hundreds of volunteers give their most treasured assets - their time, talents and energy - to ABVI-Goodwill and our consumers by volunteering. Without this resource, our organization would not be able to provide the many programs and services we offer. ABVI-Goodwill volunteers were honored for their invaluable contributions to the organization at our annual Volunteer Recognition & Awards Luncheon, held on November 6, 2006. At this event, the 2006 Volunteer of the Year award was given to Frank Roselli. Frank was chosen for this honor for his selfless commitment over almost 20 years of volunteering his time, talent and support to ABVI-Goodwill’s mission. Congratulations to Frank and thank you to all of our volunteers! **ABVI-Goodwill Welcomes New Leaders to its Board ABVI-Goodwill is pleased to announce the appointment of four new members to the agency’s Board of Directors. Richard Bell, William Love, Jean Maess and William McCullough have joined the board and each will serve a three-year term with the agency. “Each of these professionals and business leaders bring a unique blend of talent and experience to help lead ABVI-Goodwill into the future,” said A. Gidget Hopf, Ed.D., President and CEO. “We are excited about the contributions they will each make to our work and to our mission as we head into our next century of service to this community.” Richard Bell is President of North Central Mechanical, Inc. in Victor, New York. William Love currently serves as Treasurer of Eastman Kodak Company. Jean Maess is Vice President of Practice Area Marketing & Development for Thomson West. William McCullough served as the Executive Vice President of United Way of Greater Rochester until his retirement this past fall. We welcome the new ABVI-Goodwill board members and we look forward to new ideas and continued growth in the upcoming years. **“Excellence” of ABVI-Goodwill Call Center Recognized Nationally National Industries for the Blind (NIB) recently implemented a Center of Excellence grant program as part of its strategy to significantly increase the number of employees at NIB associated agencies who are blind or visually impaired. The national awards of excellence are given to those agencies that have demonstrated exceptional program operations and a commitment to the promotion of job opportunities and career training and development for employees who are blind or visually impaired. NIB also expects these programs to serve as role models to other NIB agencies interested in creating similar programs and initiatives in their communities. ABVI-Goodwill’s Call Center was unanimously selected as one of only two recipients of the 2006 Center of Excellence designation by NIB. This award was given in recognition of the Call Center’s excellence in service delivery and creation of meaningful, challenging employment opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired. The Center of Excellence Award was presented to ABVI-Goodwill by NIB President & CEO, Jim Gibbons, at a reception held in October in conjunction with the national meeting of the National Council of Private Agencies for the Blind and Visually Impaired (NCPABVI) in Rochester. **ABVI-Goodwill to Host Regional Braille Competition ABVI-Goodwill is excited to be the host for an upcoming regional Braille reading competition known as The Braille Challenge. The Braille Challenge, sponsored by the Braille Institute, is a national competition to test the reading and writing skills of Braille students between first and twelfth grades. The competition includes reading, proofreading and writing Braille documents. The children participate in the regional competitions with hopes of making it to the finals which is held in California during June. The regional event will take place on Saturday, March 10, 2007 at ABVI-Goodwill. The participants will be children from the Rochester area and from as far west as Buffalo and as far east as Utica. The competition will be a day long event filled with test sessions, parent networking, prizes and of course, fun! This regional event is still in its preliminary stages of development, but participants need to register by February. If you are interested in being a part of this exciting competition, please contact Sarah Favro at (585) 697-5746 or sfavro@abvi-goodwill.com. **Exploring Career Options By Ruth Phinney, Program Director, WXXI Reachout Radio In July 2006, WXXI Reachout Radio was contacted by the Fairport School District to see if we had an internship program that would be appropriate for a 16-year-old student who is totally blind. Although we did not have a plan in place at the time, we firmly believed that this would be a wonderful opportunity for WXXI Reachout Radio to truly live our mission of education and enrichment. After all, we had been through years of growth ourselves, finding ways to respond to the rapid changes in technology and the challenges they present to our blind operator, Andy Shields. Although Andy did not have any training as a teacher, the example he would be able to model for this young man would be a learning experience in itself. In September 2006, Steve, a high school sophomore, began shadowing at Reachout Radio three days per week. He came with an interest in broadcasting, and strong Braille reading skills that helped him work with our adaptive equipment. Very rapidly Steve and Andy were able to relate to one another and find a common bond. At first Steve would observe, with Andy verbally describing each task as it was performed. Soon Andy would be giving Steve some hands-on experience that allowed him to explore all the buttons and knobs on the console and discover how the adaptive software would permit him to know if a feature was turned on or off. Throughout his experience Steve would become acquainted with the technical aspect of broadcast-ing, along with the history of radio, writing broadcast copy, and he would have exposure to other areas of WXXI radio. His experience would not be complete without learning some of the techniques that are useful in the job-seeking process, along with the daily work environment and transportation issues for people who are blind. “Steve is really beginning to grasp concepts and he’s even helped me remember some things that I forgot myself,” said operator and mentor Andy Shields. “He really seems to be enjoying this experience.” “It’s incredible! I hope to be doing something like this some day,” said Steve about his experience at WXXI Reachout Radio. Steve’s internship at WXXI Reachout Radio ends at the end of December and we all wish him the best as he moves on to another career-exploration opportunity. **Positive Steps for Microsoft Office Software Accessibility By Kim Kline In its newest version of Window-Eyes screen reader, GW Micro takes Microsoft Office accessibility two giant steps forward. Version 6.0 adds support for Microsoft PowerPoint and a truly innovative approach to making the Microsoft Outlook Calendar fully accessible. Window-Eyes provides complete access to the Outlook Calendar by designing a completely accessible interface to the calendar which provides day view, week view and month view. Starting last year with version 5.0 of Window-Eyes, GW Micro set out to make Microsoft Office 100% accessible, 100% of the time. They began with Microsoft Word, then moved on to Excel and now are tackling PowerPoint and Outlook. The plan is to release a service pack to update Window-Eyes when Microsoft finally releases Windows Vista. The Service Pack will be a free download or a CD can be purchased for a nominal cost. GW Micro’s approach is simple. Rather than put a lot of time into developing extra features that aren’t overly useful, they have decided to put their focus on stability and reliability in their programs. While there are significant steps being taken to improve accessibility, there are still some shortcomings in the Window-Eyes screen reader. If your workplace uses a lot of custom databases, Window-Eyes might not be the perfect choice for screen reading software because there are problems with reading customized information. On the other hand, for home users and college students, right now GW Micro is a very useful program because of their support for Microsoft Office products. Freedom Scientific indicates that they will have support for Windows Vista in their next release, but they also are planning a free update when Microsoft finally releases Windows Vista. There are always new steps being taken towards complete accessibility for computer users who are blind or visually impaired, and GW Micro is making navigating Microsoft office easier. **Hope for the Future By Kimberly Lawrence Project Eye Care isn’t just about providing eye exams and glasses to those who need eye care services. It goes far beyond that. For Arthur Cowans, it was about hope for the future. Mr. Cowans was examined by Project Eye Care in August, and had been struggling for some time without being able to see beyond five feet. He could hardly recognize faces, wasn’t able to work, and had a hard time getting around. It was determined at his exam that he had cataracts. He needed to be referred to an eye care center that could provide cataract surgery, but he had no medical insurance. Mr. Cowans is from Jamaica and was in Rochester visiting his family. It was through his brother and sister-in-law that he heard about Project Eye Care. Mr. Cowans has lived in Jamaica all his life. Until he lost his vision he was a farmer growing crops like bananas, yams and peppers in addition to working part time on a sugar cane farm. Living in Jamaica had its hardships, especially with heavy rains from hurricanes wiping out his crops and devastating his livelihood. He had a family to support and basic, affordable health insurance was not available. Project Eye Care helped him apply for charity care status at a local eye care center to help pay for his eye exams and cataract surgery. “When I was informed that my cataract surgery would be paid for 100% I could not believe it!, “ said Mr. Cowans. “After my initial eye exam with Project Eye Care, in spite of my circumstances, I felt I had been given back my dignity. Now I feel so blessed that someone is willing to help me see again by providing eye surgery, and for free!” During Mr. Cowan’s evaluation for cataract surgery, it was also determined that he had glaucoma. As a result, his cataract surgery was postponed until the glaucoma is under control. Mr. Cowans is currently undergoing laser treatment for the glaucoma, and as soon as that is stable he will receive the cataract surgery. Mr. Cowans will be returning to Jamaica in January, and he said, “I’m looking forward to going home and feeling useful again. I have more self-esteem now and I know the help I have received here will increase my independence and allow me to be what I need to be for my family and my community.” For more information about Project Eye Care, call (585) 697-5738 or email klawrence@abvi-goodwill.com. **Working Never felt so good! If you are interested in working in a place that makes a difference everyday, then ABVI-Goodwill has an opportunity for you! ABVI-Goodwill is currently interviewing for the following positions: Retail Associates for all Goodwill store locations Retail Assistant Manager for all Goodwill store locations Retail Associate Manager for all Goodwill store locations Telecounselors for ABVI-Goodwill and United Way’s 2-1-1 program Research/Resource Specialist for ABVI-Goodwill’s Call Center ABVI-Goodwill is always accepting applications from enthusiastic people who are willing to make a difference and work in a job that continues to offer new advancements. ABVI-Goodwill offers a friendly work environment, a tremendous opportunity for growth and competitive pay and benefits. Please visit our website at www.abvi-goodwill.org About Us/Careers, for more details on the requirements for these current openings. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Suppe at (585) 697- 5751. **Our Wishlist... The kindness and generosity of our donors help us to offer the best and most up-to-date services possible. The following is a list of much needed items that are not covered in the budget. To donate funds to purchase any of the items, please contact Tracy Schleyer, CFRE, at tschleyer@abvi-goodwill.com or (585) 697-5780. Mounted projector: This projector will provide a clearer view of items that are presented in meetings held in our conference room. This will enhance presentations for both the sighted and visually impaired viewer. Cost: $7,500 Projector for meeting room: To be used to enlarge documents so meeting materials can be viewed easier. Cost: $1,500 Scanner: Will allow for more efficient record keeping so that records can be archived. Cost: $500 Adult Recreation Transportation: Our Adult Recreation Program is our newest initiative that encourages adults to become active and socialize through group outings. Adults who are blind or visually impaired pay for the activities themselves, but transportation can be cost prohibitive. Therefore, we have set up a fund for donations that will assist with transportation. Cost: $1,000 WAMS Senior Group: WAMS is a monthly social gathering of those over 60 years of age who are blind or visually impaired. We are looking to fund one year of programming which will provide speakers, lunches and entertainment. Cost: $1,200 Reachout Radio Receivers: ABVI-Goodwill and WXXI partner to provide a closed-circuit radio reading service for people who are blind or visually impaired. Reachout Radio’s frequency is only available on special receivers and each receiver is $90. We would like to increase our supply to 10 receivers. Cost: $900 Adaptive Technology Upgrades: JAWS and Duxbury are computer software programs that some employees who are blind use at ABVI-Goodwill. Software is always changing and for our staff to have the most up-to-date tools to do their jobs, we need to upgrade this software. Cost: $4,820 New IRA Legislation Increases Support to our Mission Recently, new legislation went into effect giving people aged 70½ or older the opportunity to make a “Charitable IRA Rollover” before December 31, 2007. The new legislation allows you to make lifetime gifts from your individual retirement account (IRA) to charitable organizations like ABVI-Goodwill, without claiming it as taxable income or using it as a deduction—in effect making it a pure wash. Some of the benefits of the Charitable IRA Rollover: • The charitable distribution counts toward minimum required distributions. • The transfer generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so even those who do not itemize their tax returns receive the benefit. • You may transfer any amount — $5,000, $10,000, up to $100,000 per year directly from your IRA. For more information about this great new opportunity to help further our mission, please contact Tracy Schleyer, CFRE, at tschleyer@abvi-goodwill.com or (585) 697-5780. **Honorary and Memorial Gifts Thank you to the following friends who made contributions from August 19, 2006 to October 30, 2006. In Honor Of Brian C. Eckman Julie Goodsell A. Gidget Hopf, Ed. D Virginia M. Badylewicz William J. Elser Shirley Preston Charles R. Adler W.F. Anders George N. Beer Mary E. Bigler Joan G. Birch Dugald A. Brooks Joyce R. Clark Corinne M. Coon Jane Coons Jean T. Davey Edwin Delano Mary Ellen Duford David S. Durfee Carol W. Eckman Jean D. Farley Helen A. Gamble Evelyn Hartigan Fredrick D. Hawke Anonymous Karen L. Kessler Dolores L. Kleinberg Sheila M. Kreuter Wanda C. Leet Jacqueline H. Lucas Donald D. McCowan Norma McLernon Barbara Phillips Alva L. Redfield Carol W. Searing Roberta Swingle William G. Wark Margaret B. Wilkinson Jessie G. Wolf In Memory of Marian M. Bentley James P. Davis Ray C. Taylor Anna Burkhardt Clement O. Bossert Anonymous Corey A. Hewitt Albert Lucas Marion Scheid Anonymous John Waskow Joseph Cornelius Richard H. Allaire Ralph Buis Robert L. Drake Charlene D. Gildner Daniel J. Hoffend Robert C. Kuhn Irving Matties Jane M. McCabe Earl L. Nifeneger Anonymous Donald E. Willer John Z. Dozier Barbara J. Sutter University of Rochester Division of Social & Behavioral Medicine Virgie A. Ercolamento A. Gidget Hopf, Ed. D Clinton O. Gotham Richard J. Thiel Goldie Nash Anonymous Marion Slavin, Kenneth Williams, Lucille Williams and John M. Odenbach, Sr. Ken lou Foundation Harriet Warth Patricia Warth Anne H. Yanicky Donn J. Calabrese Anonymous Ronald Devos Martha A. Fraver-Blum Allen Gutberlet Thomas L. Huber Mykola Jejna Susan L. Kamb-Shepard Anonymous Judith A. Koziatek Walter Kucy Anonymous Kevin B. Milne Dorothy A. Morrell Linda Norak John Nowak Caroline Pluta Anonymous Louis Russo William P. Schaefer Siemens Building Technologies The Snook Family Donna M. Stein Alice E. Stott James M. Van Overbake **Shop at ABVI-Goodwill for Gifts on your List this Season Finding the perfect gift isn’t always easy, and sometimes it is even more difficult when you are shopping for someone who is blind or visually impaired. But the ABVI-Goodwill Consumer Shoppe is the place to go for the perfect gift that is practical and helpful. Whether you are looking for a large button telephone or large print playing cards, you can find it and much more at the Consumer Shoppe. The Consumer Shoppe has been meeting the needs of people who are blind or visually impaired and their families for many years. The store is open to the public and offers a wide variety of products that promote independence, safety and maximize one’s remaining vision. These items make a difference for people trying to regain or maintain their independence and lifestyles. The Consumer Shoppe carries a wide variety of Braille, large print and talking merchandise. For the cook in your family, there are large print or talking timers, or a liquid-level indicator that beeps when it’s time to stop pouring. Help your loved one ring in the New Year with a large print calendar, or help them keep their resolution to be on-time with a talking alarm clock. From the most popular gifts, including talking and large print watches and clocks, to harder to find items such as Spanish speaking calculators and large print check registries, the Consumer Shoppe has it all! Next time you need to find that perfect gift, visit the ABVI-Goodwill Consumer Shoppe and give a little piece of independence. The Consumer Shoppe at ABVI-Goodwill 422 South Clinton Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620 **Cans and Clothing for a Good Cause Mark your calendars for the 2007 Scouting for Food and Clothing drive! On Saturday, March 24, 2007 eager Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will deliver food and clothing bags to hundreds of thousands of homes across Monroe County. We are asking you to fill the bags with non-perishable food and gently used clothing and leave them on your doorstep one week later on Saturday, March 31, 2007. All clothing donations collected during Scouting for Food and Clothing go directly to ABVI-Goodwill and provide funds for programs, services and jobs for people who are blind or visually impaired living in the Greater Rochester area and Finger Lakes region. Your non-perishable food donations will go to local food cupboards, shelters and kitchens in Monroe County that will meet the needs of people throughout the Greater Rochester area. This event is successful thanks to the many volunteers around Rochester. If you would like to volunteer your time and talents for Scouting for Food and Clothing we need you! Volunteers are needed at the donation sites to organize food and fill trucks with clothing donations. For more information on volunteering for Scouting for Food and Clothing please call (585) 697-5718.