Spring/Summer 2011 2009/2010 Annual Report
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Spring/Summer 2011 2009/2010 Annual Report Independence with Dignity
Contact Center to Train and Employ the Visually Impaired Virtually all nonprofit organizations have experienced financial struggles in the recessionary climate of the past four years. CVI is no different. In the face of declining state contracts, shrinking United Way funding and overall difficulty in raising individual funds, the Center is embarking on a bold plan to secure its economic future by the establishment of a new contact center enterprise. “This new entrepreneurial venture will create a revenue stream to lessen the Center’s dependency on traditional funding sources, while providing employment for people who are blind or visually impaired,” said John Rhett III, chair of CVI’s Board of Trustees. “Additionally, it will help us meet the service needs for the ever-growing population of Georgians with vision loss.” When CVI developed its 2010-2015 strategic plan, Trustees identified the crucial need for the organization to earn a portion of its revenues as a balance to the decline in outside funding. After extensive research and discussion among business leaders from the Board and the community, it was determined that a contact center (a newer term for call centers that includes contact through various technologies in addition to telephone) would be the best business opportunity for us to meet our goals. “Atlanta is recognized for its strong global presence in contact center business, an industry that is predicted to experience strong, long-term expansion,” said Mac Martirossian, chair of the task force created to investigate potential business opportunities. “By using a variety of assistive technology that either reads from the computer screen or magnifies it, CVI clients have already been successfully employed in a variety of contact centers for local businesses.” As a springboard for this project, CVI applied for and received ARRA Stimulus Funds from the Georgia Department of Labor, which are being used to create a customer service training program at the Center – our first job-specific vocational rehabilitation program funded by the State. CVI is committed to training 30 clients by January 2012, preparing them for employment either at CVI or in other local contact centers. The next step in the process was hiring Jim Carruthers as the Managing Director for Contact Center Services. Jim brings more than 20 years of contact center industry experience to CVI, which includes creating successful centers from scratch. “Our new center is located in a portion of under-utilized space on the fourth floor of the CVI building with work areas for 18 employees,” said Carruthers. “We are committed to the employment of people with vision loss as a significant measure of our success, so the majority of agents hired will be blind or visually impaired.” In addition to building and staffing the Contact Center, Jim will also be soliciting contracts with area businesses, and eventually, federal contracts through the National Industries for the Blind AbilityOne program to provide contact center services. This spring, CVI began a $2.25 million campaign to raise the funds necessary to start and sustain the venture for three years, with a tremendous lead gift of $800,000 from the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation of the Woodruff Family of Foundations. By 2014, it is anticipated that increasing contact center customers and contracts will cover operating costs and provide an income stream to help fund the Center’s programs. The CVI Board recently kicked off its own Call for Independence campaign at the Annual Meeting in May, and by July 1, plans to have gifts and pledges from 100 percent of the trustees. “CVI has helped guide thousands of visually impaired individuals and their families to hopeful futures where vision loss is not a barrier to an active, fulfilling life,” said agency President Subie Green. “Creating a contact center is an important step in helping people with visual impairment become financially independent – turning tax users into taxpayers – while providing revenue that can fund and expand CVI’s mission and programs in the future.” If you would like to help support this historic new venture, please contact Subie Green, CVI’s president at 404-602-4281 or sgreen@cviga.org. If you are interested in using the Contact Center’s services in the future, contact Jim Carruthers at 404-602-4341 or jcarruthers@cviga.org. Cutline: Jim Carruthers and Mac Martirossian in the construction zone. Work on the new space was completed in a few short weeks. True Blue Do! Co-chairs D.D. and Bick Cardwell and Jennifer and Brand Morgan welcomed hundreds of CVI’s true blue friends at the True Blue Do on May 5 at Opera in Midtown. The event raised more than $150,000 to support the Center’s life-changing programs and services. Guests enjoyed entertainment by the Macular Degenerates, the house band of Eye Consultants of Atlanta, and former BEGIN and STARS student Timothy Jones, who kicked off the evening with a keyboard performance. Jason Pullman, host of 94.9 FM The Bull’s Caffeinated Radio, emceed the annual event which included a silent auction featuring wine and works of art by CVI clients of all ages, a carnival-style wine toss, and the Flip for A Trip coin toss, where one lucky guest won airfare for two to any AirTran Airways destination worldwide. Major support for the True Blue Do was provided by: True Blues AirTran Airways Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta Laura & Montague Boyd Richard & Cathryn DuBow Midnight Blues AGL Resources Brand Properties D.D. and Bick Cardwell Indigo Blues Georgia Natural Gas Georgia’s Own Credit Union Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP/ Rosanne & Andy Kauss MARTA’s Office of Diversity & Equal Opportunity SEI Group Southern Company Standard Press SunTrust Investment Services Peter & Kay Amann Mr. & Mrs. Douglas K. Garges David & Carol Lindenbaum John & Toni Rhett Anne B. Skae Pictures of: 1: Co-Chairs Bick and D.D. Cardwell and Jennifer and Brand Morgan 2: Timothy Jones, former STARS student with event emcee Jason Pullman of 94.9 FM The Bull 3: Gregg Pavlak, CVI volunteer, Doug Moody, CVI Trustee John Vinson, and Terry Vinson 4: Moanica Caston, Chris Collier, Tahirah Works, Andrea Snorton, and Mitchell King of Southern Company 5: CVI Foundation Trustee Peter Amann and Kay Amann 6: CVI Trustee and Macular Degenerate Dr. Michael Roach 7: Brian Jordan; Keisha Williams, Brian Jordan Foundation Treasurer; Julee Brunson, Georgia’s Own Credit Union; Jim Bridges, SHRM Atlanta; and Vivian English, Georgia’s Own Credit Union 8: John M. Jackson and CVI Trustee Lolita Browning Jackson 9: Kelly Garges and CVI Foundation Trustee Doug Garges 10: Amy and Dan Codman, parents of BEGIN student Eliot 11: Alexis Hill, Kathy Perkins Hill, Angela Gillis, Carla Tatum 12: Tiffany Temple, Nathan Ballard, Lisa Baker, Cecilia Torrence, Demetrius Williams, Chandra Thornton and Marie Smalls of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta 13: Toni Rhett, Michele Poirier, David Giancola, Connie Morris, Kathy McMillon 14: CVI Trustees Susan Prutzman and Amy Slack 15: Flip for a Trip 16: Charles Mason and Charles Mason II - CVI graduate, volunteer and AirTran employee 17: Hayley and Bryan Alli, parents of BEGIN student Raveena From the President
In the late 1960s, the Community Chest (now United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta) initiated a dialogue between Community Services for the Blind (CSB) and the Metropolitan Atlanta Association for the Blind (MAAB), incorporated in Georgia by Professor P. J. Woods in 1944 to “maintain a register of the blind and near blind and promoting their welfare through training, education, social adjustment, and recreation.” Neither CSB nor MAAB denied services on the basis of race although MAAB was perceived in the community as serving African Americans and CSB as serving Caucasians. When merger discussions were raised in 1962, most Atlanta schools were still segregated as were restaurants, theatres, social events, trains, buses, restrooms and drinking fountains. The Georgia Academy for the Blind had been established in Macon in 1852, with separate campuses for black and white students. The driving force of the Community Chest was to offer integrated services for Atlantans with vision loss, which raised many emotional and programmatic challenges. After heated debate and negotiation, the Board of the Community Chest voted to establish and fund an entirely new organization and to withdraw support from both original organizations. As a result, Atlanta Area Services for the Blind was incorporated in 1972 and the Board of Community Services for the Blind agreed to merge with AASB in 1973. MAAB followed into the merger in 1974. Samuel Hudgens was elected the first AASB Board Chair in 1972, succeeded by Eddie Lomax in 1974. Services of the new organization expanded under the leadership of Executive Director Richard Wayne Edwards. Robert Crouse, who held a master’s degree in orientation and mobility from Western Michigan University, was the first staff member professionally trained in vision rehabilitation. Services to teenagers were begun with a six-week summer program. Consultations for children’s needs continued through collaboration with the Foundation for Visually Handicapped Children. By 1969, 731 clients were being served and the organization was looking again for additional space. A 27,000 square-foot building at 763 Peachtree Street was identified, which had been occupied for years by the Dwoskin’s wallpaper and carpeting business. The space was really two buildings joined by doors and hallways and made attractive on its Peachtree side by a handsome façade designed by noted Atlanta architect Philip Trammell Shutze. The building was owned by Florence Hunt Maxwell and a long-term lease was contracted. During her term as Board Chair, Evelyn Ullman approached Mrs. Maxwell and successfully received a letter of intent from her to bequeath the property to AASB. To honor that generous bequest, the Florence Maxwell Low Vision Clinic bears her name and an oil painting of the 16-year-old Florence hangs in the clinic. Ownership of the building became even more important as a source of funding upon its sale to help purchase and renovate CVI’s current building on West Peachtree. In late 1973, AASB moved into the first floor of 763 Peachtree, “as is.” Bob Crouse had been named executive director and developed a Service Delivery Plan that was submitted to the Georgia Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services along with a grant request for $200,000. With this grant the building could be renovated and equipped for specialized services. Increased space allowed for a low vision clinic, audio recording suite, braille library, and classrooms for mobility, braille, typing, communication skills and activities of daily living. A cafeteria was included for food service and vocational training along with a workshop for work adjustment training. The new location offered improved access by public transportation and clients commuted by MARTA buses, learning to navigate the fixed routes as part of their O&M training. Crouse brought a new level of professionalism to vision rehabilitation services by hiring staff who were trained in master’s degree programs that began to crop up in university schools of education across the country. Low vision services were established by Dr. Randy Jose, an optometrist from the University of Alabama at Birmingham who brought optometric students, a social worker and a technician to AASB every two weeks for several years. By 1977, AASB decided to hire its own part-time optometrist and ophthalmologist. Dr. Bob Elwell began his relationship as a low vision optometrist that continues to this day, while Dr. Stuart Silverman was hired as a staff ophthalmologist. Now a partner in the Thomas Eye Group, Dr. Silverman continues to refer patients to CVI. Funding from the English Foundation made it possible to hire a Low Vision therapist by 1980. While the Low Vision Clinic served a growing need, other programs proved to be financial drains. The cafeteria was discontinued and office space was provided to a vocational counselor and a job placement specialist, both employed by the Georgia Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, who provided support to clients who sought employment. The financial burden of an expanded staff became a challenge and staff held bake sales and took vacation time in lieu of wages to keep the organization afloat. June Willis came to AASB after many years with the Foundation for Visually Handicapped Children, which closed in 1974, ending its essential services to children throughout the state. With federal Title 16 funds, a program to serve visually impaired adults in their own homes was designed in 1974. June was hired as its social worker/director. The program continues to be an important service to Georgians as the Older Blind Program, now administered by the Georgia Department of Labor. June was named a CVI Lifetime Trustee in recognition of her professional contributions and personal service on both the staff and the board. In my next column, I’ll tell you about the founding of the BEGIN program and also of the financial crisis that nearly bankrupted the organization in its second decade. Stay tuned! Cutlines: CVI President Subie Green Eddie Lomax CVI’s home on Peachtree St. from 1973-2004 CVI ANNUAL REPORT: 2009-2010
We see ourselves….working with committed and generous people in an organization poised for expansion and greater sustainability. For many organizations, the year 2010 was one of budget cutting and diminished funding. CVI certainly has shared those experiences. Yet last year was the best fund-raising year in the history of the Center outside of a capital campaign. We are grateful for the gifts and grants that supported our work when our traditional funding was being cut in every direction. Starting with the CVI Board of Trustees and continuing through to grateful clients, we know that you have given generously to help us through these hard economic times. We are grateful to those forward thinking folks who have worked this year to create the plans and structure for our CVI contact center, which will become a revenue producing business in several years. Earning a portion of our own revenue will be increasingly important for our future. Despite medical and technological advances, the need for vision rehabilitation, education and support for people with vision loss continues to grow. This is an exciting time to be able to offer people new products and approaches to living with low vision or blindness. We’re all amazed at the “apps” that seem to crop up each week offering our clients ways to identify currency, travel more confidently or enjoy their leisure time more easily. Yet, the health disparities of diabetes, premature birth and glaucoma increasingly rob sight from thousands of Georgians each year. CVI actually serves clients in 84 of Georgia’s 159 counties. We hope to continue extending our services into areas of our state where there are simply no resources available for children or adults with vision loss. Your support can help us do that. CVI’s mission is to empower people impacted by vision loss to live with independence and dignity. Whether you are a client, family member, friend, volunteer, donor or employer, we hope that you are proud of the work that your support makes possible. We are proud of your participation at CVI and we couldn’t possibly see ourselves doing it without you. Many thanks! Cutline: John Rhett III, 2010 board chair and Subie Green, CVI president. Jennifer and Elizabeth Hooper: “I See My Daughter Taking on the World”
Alzea Allen-Bey: “I See Myself Traveling With Greater Independence and Confidence” Alzea Allen-Bey, a retired federal government employee, was accustomed to living an independent life and traveling when and where she pleased. But when she lost her vision to macular dystrophy, she had to make the tough decision to put down the car keys. “I stopped driving on my own because I didn’t want to hurt myself or others,” she said. “I religiously walk now.” During her routine jaunts around the neighborhood, Allen-Bey uses a white cane as a mobility aid and also for identification purposes. Since coming to CVI, her self-confidence has increased greatly. “I have learned a lot from listening to others and taking group classes,” said Allen-Bey. “I am not as despondent as I was in the beginning and have learned that it is okay to ask for help.” With continued assistance from CVI, Allen-Bey sees herself gaining even more confidence and traveling safely and independently. “My future plans are to learn how to use my white cane more, especially when crossing streets,” she said. “I also want to focus on how to organize my home better. There is so much to learn and I want to learn it all!” Bobby Glover Sees Himself Working in His Community In 1984, Bobby Glover was a newlywed working at Proctor and Gamble and a pre-med student at Morris Brown College. In September of that year, his life drastically changed: his home was burglarized and he was shot in the face by the robber. “The bullet damaged my right eye,” Bobby said. “The person was never found, and there was no conviction.” Medical professionals assumed that Bobby would be a “vegetable” for the rest of his life if he survived. “The doctors did not offer much hope for me and told my family I would have limited cognitive skills,” he said. But Bobby proved them wrong and recovered from his injuries, relearning how to walk, talk and handle his daily tasks. During his recovery, he was living in Fort Valley, Georgia, a small community with limited options for a person with a visual disability. He attempted to work with a rehabilitation program for the blind but was only taught how to travel with a white cane. “Rehabilitation programs were nothing like they are now,” he explains. “There were little to no resources back then where I was living.” He later moved to Atlanta where a relative encouraged him to revisit rehabilitation programs, and his current wife helped him to attend classes at CVI. In 2009, he finished his classes in orientation and mobility, typing/keyboarding skills, assistive technology, and activities of daily living. He recently completed a three-month internship at United Way handling customer satisfaction surveys for its 211 information line. “I was a Quality Control Specialist,” he said. “It was a very enjoyable experience working there and talking to people to get their feedback.” Even though his internship is over, Bobby has agreed to continue his work on a volunteer basis while searching for other job prospects. Bobby is very optimistic about his future employment opportunities and believes in having more than one iron in the fire. He is currently investigating options with the Fulton County Voter Registration office, where he has volunteered in his local precinct. He is also looking into customer service work at the Comcast Cable location in Alpharetta. “Both positions look great,” Bobby said. “I believe I will get at least one of them.” Cutline: Bobby on-the-job at United Way Tributes
Bob Crouse, a former executive director of CVI in the 1970s and most recently executive director of Vision Rehabilitation Services in Smyrna, passed away on April 5, 2011. Bob was instrumental in bringing professionally certified staff to CVI and helping clients achieve new levels of independence. Betty Garges, mother of former CVI Board Chair Doug Garges, passed away in April. Betty and her husband Kelly were strong supporters of CVI for many years. One of their most important contributions to CVI was ensuring that the next generation of volunteers included their son Doug and others. Those young people are now among CVI’s most involved leaders. Peter Hopkins, 4-year-old son of CVI Trustee Matt Hopkins and Anne Park Hopkins, and grandson of CVI Trustee Peter Amann and Kay Amann, passed away in October of 2010. In spite of his inability to see, hear, eat, speak or walk, he brought joy to all of those around him with his happy smile and cheerful disposition. CVI client Desta Tesafi passed away on February 7, 2011. He was a graduate of the vocational rehabilitation program and was a past recipient of CVI’s Sarah Woolf Spirit Award. CVI also remembers James Allen Glenn Jr., Marian Morrison Hawkinson, and John Simpson. Who We Serve CVI Services from July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010
Al Kaufman, former CVI orientation and mobility specialist orients client Bobby Glover to the Five Points MARTA station using a model created by tvs design. CVI graduate Jasmine Seabron reads a braille cookbook in CVI’s ADL kitchen. BEGIN student Raveena Alli explores the cello during a special up-close-and-personal jazz concert. Gender
Female 59% Male 41%
Birth to 19 17% 20 – 64 43% 65 and over 40%
440 Infants and preschoolers and their family members served in BEGIN early childhood program 157 School-aged children served by STARS 1,328 Children and adults who received services at the Florence Maxwell Low Vision Clinic 165 Adults who received Center-based vision rehabilitation services 578 Adults and their family members who received Community-based vision rehabilitation services 2,457 People who benefited from Client Services educational programs and case management 243 People who attended Toastmasters, exercise classes, book club and support groups 280 Volunteers who provided direct service and program support 5,648 Number of people served by CVI Where Our Clients Live CVI assisted people from 84 of Georgia’s 159 counties Directory: userFiles userFiles -> Class Schedule Credit Class Schedule userFiles -> Recovery: What's a Coach Got To Do With It? By Bill Ryan userFiles -> Title: Associate Professor userFiles -> Chief Patron Shri Avinash Dikshit Commissioner Patron userFiles -> Iccf congress, seixal, portugal 5th to 12th October 2002 userFiles -> Unit 1: Exploration and Colonization userFiles -> Ap united States History Course Description userFiles -> Note: Please look through resources very carefully. This is a controversial issue so some sources may have bias. Check carefully for the expertise or background of the writer or contributor userFiles -> Ap united states history mr. Storrs – Room 306 2009-2010 text Download 174.96 Kb. Share with your friends:
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