FFB Written Articles » Macular Degeneration
Passionate Volunteers Drive VisionWalk Past the $10 Million Mark
The Foundation’s VisionWalk program has come a long way since its first event in Orlando on May 7, 2006. Jim Schott was the chair for that walk and admits that he had concerns about meeting expectations for this brand new fundraiser with no track record. He says, “I remember thinking about how difficult it might be to collect even $25,000 in Orlando. I was shocked when we raised over $100,000, doubling our goal. It made me a believer. But we didn't just ask for money — we asked people to restore sight.”
The original idea for the VisionWalk program came to Bill Schmidt, while he was interviewing for the chief executive officer position with the Foundation. As Bill was learning about the organization and the strong support around the country for driving research, it became clear to him that a national signature event could be very effective in raising significant revenue and awareness. “The commitment of the Foundation’s donors and volunteers was very impressive to me,” recalls Bill, “I was confident that a walk program could be a successful fundraiser and help make the Foundation a household name.” Shortly after Bill was hired as CEO in the summer of 2005, Bill, the board, and trustees put the wheels in motion to begin the VisionWalk program. Jim Minow, who joined the Foundation as chief development officer shortly after Bill’s arrival, began recruiting volunteer leaders, hiring event managers, and building the organizational structure to launch the new and ambitious fundraising program. “We’ve come a long way, and we will go a lot further,” says Bill. “I am continually amazed by the grassroots support for driving research. At each and every walk, people are so impassioned to organize and rally their family, friends, and colleagues. They see no limit to what they can do.” |
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