Maximizing local support for people with vision loss: The Maximus Foundation

Society for the Blind is honored to be a long-time partner with the Maximus Foundation, which has been a steadfast donor, giving more than $99,000 over the past 16 years to Society for the Blind’s programs that empower people with vision loss.

“It’s been inspiring for us to see the growth and impact that our foundation has had as Society for the Blind continues to invest in its infrastructure and expand services across Northern California,” said Benjamin Coss, Senior Vice President of Health Services at Maximus. “We are impressed with Society’s large footprint spanning 27 counties. There’s obviously a reliance on their wide portfolio of services across Northern California. It has been personally rewarding to see the work that Society for the Blind is doing and the impact that it has on so many people.”

For more than 40 years, Maximus has partnered with federal, state and local governments to provide communities with critical health and human service programs that are tailored to the unique needs of each community. With the tagline “Moving People Forward,” Maximus works to transform public policy into programs that change lives.

The Maximus Foundation was created by the Maximus Board of Directors in 2000 to give back to the communities it serves and is funded by the parent company as well as employees. Over the years, there have been hundreds of Maximus employees and their families and friends who live in the Sacramento area and the communities that Society for the Blind serves.

“It’s important to our employees that these grants have an impact locally,” Coss said. “Our employees vote on where funds go, and a lot of times there’s a personal connection based on our employees’ family members who have received referrals to these organizations. It’s really meaningful to see firsthand the work going on in the community. That is part of why I have been with the Board so long.”

This year, in addition to Society for the Blind, the Maximus Foundation supports three other nonprofits in the Sacramento area, and 19 across the state. This year alone, the foundation has awarded more than $2 million in grants across the nation.

“We have been particularly proud of our long-term relationship with Society for the Blind,” Coss said. “I’ve been there on multiple occasions to visit, and Society for the Blind represents the kind of effort we look to support in communities across the country. We hope that, through our continued work alongside Society for the Blind, the lives of thousands of people with vision loss and blindness and their families and loved ones will be better, and they will be empowered to make an impact in the Sacramento community and beyond.”

Thank you, Maximus Foundation!