It Takes All of Us
For those who follow March Madness, it is an incredible opportunity to see the power of teamwork and individual effort as 64 men’s and women’s basketball teams compete over three weeks to win a championship. What makes for a winning team is far more than the starting five players and their head coach. The team includes so many other people: the bench players, assistant coaches, trainers, parents and so many more. It takes everyone pulling together to achieve this goal.
April 20 – 26 is Volunteer Appreciation Week. I think of our volunteers as an essential part of the team here at Society for the Blind. It takes all of us – whether a group of volunteers from a local Lions Club or the Delta Gammas, or individuals who read for Access News, help run our Bingo Program or serve on our board of directors. The 250 volunteers who shared their time and talent made it possible for Society for the Blind to serve nearly 6,000 people living with vision loss last year.
In 2024, Society for the Blind volunteers donated more than 16,000 hours of service. One hour of volunteer time is valued at $33.49. That is more than $535,000 of in-kind support! But what our volunteers do, the lives they impact, is priceless. We are deeply grateful to all our volunteers for their dedication and support.
In just a few weeks, the Sacramento Region will hold its annual Big Day of Giving. This year’s event, hosted by the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, will take place on May 1. This is another example of how it takes all of us to make a community vibrant and accessible for everyone.
This year, Society for the Blind is aiming to raise $30,000 in support of our Low Vision Clinic. With increasing referrals for pediatric patients and more seniors seeking low vision eye care, our clinic is looking to build its capacity. Your support will make it possible for a child to get a low vision evaluation to ensure they have access to the adaptive tools they need to succeed in school. Your Big Day of Giving support will also enable older adults to get training on assistive devices from our occupational therapist. These devices can help an older adult remain independent and stay engaged in their community.
Big Day of Giving funds will make it possible for people with low vision to get eye care, occupational training and access to devices.
All of us, together, can ensure that people with vision loss can discover, develop and achieve their full potential.