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ASB Visions Newsletter |
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June 2004:
For making a better tomorrow today, volunteers thanked For their dedication and commitment to helping people who are blind and visually impaired, ASB's volunteers were thanked on April 21, 2004 at the agency's 21st Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon at the DoubleTree Hotel. The theme of the luncheon was 'Making a Better Tomorrow Today.' In her opening remarks, Linda Gaffney, Coordinator of Volunteers, thanked the more than 200 volunteers for making ASB a better place everyday. ASB volunteers serve as trip escorts, home visitors, radio and magazine narrators, copyholders, braille transcribers, and Drop-in-Center assistants. Former client, Richard Morton, spoke first hand about his experience with ASB and the importance of its volunteers. He said it was the support of ASB's staff and volunteers that helped him cope with his vision loss. "They made me realize that just because I am disabled, doesn't mean I'm unable," he said. Surgery has restored most of his vision and Morton is anxious to give back to the organization by becoming a volunteer himself. Peter Svanda, who was Helen Keller's chauffeur and gardener, was the keynote speaker. He shared anecdotes of his time with Ms. Keller, and spoke of how she communicated, her ability to tell the color of a rose by its scent, and her enjoyment of good food and long walks. In addition to the inspirational speakers, several Delaware Valley businesses donated door prizes, which were raffled off at the end of the luncheon, as a thank you to ASB volunteers. Dr. Roy Fitzgerald, Chairman of ASB's Board of Directors, concluded the luncheon by thanking everyone for coming and for their service throughout the year. Protect your eyes from UV rays Ultraviolet-absorbing eyewear provides the greatest measure of UV protection. When buying sunglasses: CHECK the label for UV protection (look for 99 to 100 percent protection of UV-A and UV-B).
Program provides recreational opportunities for clients When residents of Philadelphia who are blind and visually impaired were looking for a place where they could enjoy recreational activities, ASB answered by developing a Drop-in-Center, which after only seven months, is thriving. Since opening its doors on October 28, the Drop-in-Center has seen a steady increase in people who are blind and visually impaired participating in activities such as BINGO, descriptive movies, arts and crafts, seminars and guest speakers. "The idea behind the Drop-in-Center was to have a place where our clients could enjoy recreational and educational programs, socialize and just have fun," said Patricia C. Johnson, Chief Executive Officer and President. "We are thrilled with how it has been embraced." Recently, Mary Kay beauty consultant, Sylvia Abernathy, spoke to clients about skin care and make-up application techniques. In addition to in-house activities, future plans for the Center include visits to museums and art galleries. Coordinator of the Center, Maria Zedda, looks forward to planning trips to sites throughout the community that clients may not have realized are accessible to them. The Drop-in-Center is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information, call 215-627-0600. ASB supporters brave the rain at spring fundraiser Although rain soaked much of the region on June 5th, it did not dampen the spirits of ASB supporters who turned out for a reception before the Savoy Company's 2004 performance at Longwood Gardens, which ended up being postponed due to the weather. ASB was a beneficiary for this year's production of Trial by Jury and The Sorcerer, presented by the Savoy Company, which is the oldest amateur theater company in the world dedicated solely to the production of the works of Gilbert and Sullivan. A picnic reception for friends and supporters of ASB was planned to precede the performance. Since the decision to postpone the opera was not made until late, the picnic went on as scheduled. Refreshments were generously donated by Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe's, Flying Fish Brewing Company and Wawa. Dressed in rain gear and equipped with umbrellas, faithful ASB supporters enjoyed good food and the opportunity to show their support for the agency. "We were disappointed that it rained, but turned the picnic into a tailgate party and everyone had a great time," said Patricia C. Johnson, Chief Executive Officer and President of ASB. Under dry conditions, the show did go on the following evening and was enjoyed by all in attendance. Appointed to the Board of Directors Russell Redenbaugh is a managing partner of Kairos, Inc., a Philadelphia-based investing and advising firm he co-founded. From 1969 to 1999 he was a partner and director of Cooke and Bieler, Inc. He received his MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated with honors, sixth in his class, in 1969. He has been a Commissioner of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights since 1990 and in July 2002 he was reappointed by the U.S. Senate to serve a six-year term. In August of 2003, Redenbaugh was the winner of the gold medal in the World Jujitsu Competition. Victor P. DiFelice is a talented executive with a broad and varied financial background, mostly in the insurance industry. He is an experienced corporate financial officer with particular expertise in strategic and tactical planning, performance analysis, productivity enhancement and modeling. He was with ACE USA (formerly CIGNA Property & Casualty Group) for 23 years, most recently the Senior Vice President, Planning and Capital Management. Mr. DiFelice graduated with a BS in Business Administration from Drexel University, summa cum laude and first in his class. Say "Congratulations!" With a Gift to ASB Celebrate someone special, or recognize an important event, such as a birthday, holiday, wedding or graduation, with a gift made in honor of a loved one. Honorary tributes are the perfect way to say "Congratulations!" Many of our donors find it to be a fun way to remember holidays, milestone birthdays and anniversaries, or any special occasion. Father's Day is Sunday, June 20th. Why not mark the occasion by making a gift to ASB in honor of a special dad? ASB client taking steps in the right direction Although Marilyn Jones' vision deteriorates more and more each day, she is determined to keep on living an independent life, and is taking the necessary steps to do so. Marilyn has experienced vision problems all of her life. She is currently dealing with the effects of cogenital glaucoma, acute myopia, retinal degeneration and cataracts, which makes everything she sees look "like I am looking through wax paper." For a majority of her life, Marilyn's vision problems did not interfere with her daily routine, which included working as a non-teaching assistant for the School District of Philadelphia. However, in 1999, her vision took a turn for the worse. Her loss of depth perception made it difficult and dangerous for her to travel on public transportation as she had for so many years. She left her job. Her life was changing rapidly. "I lost my independence and could no longer do things that I was used to doing by myself," she said. This past April, Marilyn was directed to ASB's rehabilitation department and enrolled in the Personal Adjustment to Blindness (PABT) program, to adapt to living with limited vision. She is learning to travel with a white cane, use a computer keyboard, and most important to her, learning to read braille. An avid reader, Marilyn has tackled her introductory braille classes with great enthusiasm and looks forward to learning more. Through her training at ASB, Marilyn has received the necessary tools to live independently without vision and is looking forward to taking the next steps in her life. |
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| Copyright 1995-2003. All rights reserved. Associated Services for the Blind, 919 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 Phone: (215) 627-0600 | Fax: (215) 922-0692 |
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