Outstanding Volunteer Leaders Recognized with Awards at VISIONS 2011
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June 29, 2011 - The Foundation Fighting Blindness proudly presented its inaugural Member Excellence Awards at the VISIONS 2011 Conference Saturday night Awards Dinner and Dance, recognizing outstanding volunteers, chapters and VisionWalks that have truly advanced the fight for sight by raising awareness and funding for vision-saving research. The enthusiastic crowd of more than 600 Foundation members, founders, board directors, trustees, researchers and staff watched seven deserving Volunteers of the Year from different regions, and three new national trustees, accept their awards onstage. Chapter and VisionWalk leaders were also recognized with eight group awards for their admirable accomplishments to forward the Foundation’s mission. A very special Founding Chapter Award was presented to Lulie Gund and the Princeton Chapter to acknowledge the group’s success in raising millions toward blindness research since this inaugural chapter was established back in 1972. Outstanding New Trustees: Janni Lehrer-Stein, Pam & Ed BabinInstrumental to the Foundation’s growth and presence in the San Francisco area, Janni has chaired the San Francisco Dining in the Dark dinner for the past two years, leading the event to raise more than $1.1 million for sight-saving research. Affected with retinitis pigmentosa and driven by her work ethic, her presidential nomination to the Board of the National Council on Disability was recently confirmed, amplifying her voice for people with visual impairment and other disabilities. The Babins have been a driving force for the Foundation in the Philadelphia area, supporting the successful Philadelphia VisionWalk and the annual Philadelphia Dining in the Dark to raise more than $300,000 between the two events. As recently named National Trustees, they constantly raise awareness about vision-robbing diseases in hopes to help advance research toward a cure for their two sons who are affected with Stargardt disease. Volunteers of the Year
Motivated to lead the Tampa Bay Chapter since 2007 because her sister Melissa is affected with retinitis pigmentosa, Lufriu’s drive to help find a cure grew even more when she and two of her children were also diagnosed with RP last year. In addition to being a busy wife and mother who works three jobs, April finds the time to put her whole heart into the Foundation’s mission. To further raise awareness, she returned to pageantry and won the national Mrs. America crown this year to share her story with the world. Northeast Region: Martha Steele Affected with Usher syndrome, Martha was honored for her outstanding fundraising efforts and her work to spread awareness about research advancements and the Foundation’s Boston Chapter news and events. She will chair the upcoming 4th Annual Boston VisionWalk on Oct. 29 with a goal to raise $160,000 for blindness research. Mid-Atlantic Region: Lisa & Steve Mack The Macks were honored for their dedication to advancing sight-saving research, through their leadership of the Montgomery County Chapter and several events that raise research funding. Not only do the Macks spearhead a golf event each September, which has raised over $1 million, they are also involved with the annual Montgomery County VisionWalk and the Northern Virginia Dining in the Dark dinner. Two of their three sons are affected with retinitis pigmentosa. Mid-West Region: Julie Anderson As president of the Foundation’s Northern Lights Chapter, Julie has worked tirelessly for a decade to raise awareness in her community about the importance of blindness research. She is affected with retinitis pigmentosa and has been involved since the inception of the Twin Cities VisionWalk. A true leader, Anderson has successfully engaged local businesses and the medical community to participate in the annual 5K event, which is taking place this year on Sept. 25. She also spoke at VISIONS 2011, sharing her experience as a clinical trial participant. South Region: Gina & Scott Smith As co-presidents of the Foundation’s newly formed Birmingham Chapter, the Smiths helped spearhead the first-ever Birmingham VisionWalk in 2009 as co-chairs, exceeding the inaugural year fundraising goal. They have remained involved in the annual 5K event, which is taking place this year on Oct. 29, and have encouraged new participation from the local business community. Southwest Region: Jodi Avis Affected with retinitis pigmentosa, Jodi became president of the Foundation’s San Antonio Chapter in 2009 with aspirations of building one of the most impressive chapters and 5K VisionWalks in the nation. She has succeeded, expanding resource information for community members who are visually impaired and raising thousands for blindness research as co-chair of the annual 5K San Antonio VisionWalk. West Region: Linda Becker A leader for the Foundation’s Orange County Chapter since its beginning, Linda is constantly spreading the word about the importance of sight-saving research. Blind from retinitis pigmentosa, she relies on her guide dog Anchorage to help her get around, and also helps others with visual impairment through teaching at the Braille Institute and participating with Guide Dogs for the Blind. Becker inspires others in the fight against blindness through the annual Orange County VisionWalk and is constantly a top fundraiser for the event. Founding Chapter: Princeton, established 1972 Foundation Co-founder and National Trustee Lulie Gund established the Princeton Chapter, the first chapter of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, laying the groundwork for the thriving nationwide network of 47 chapters that exist today. Through a successful letter writing campaign and various fundraising events, the Princeton Chapter has raised more than $____ for sight-saving research. Outstanding Chapter: New York City Chapter Co-Presidents Sherry Rogers and Katie James have been integral to growing the chapter around the New York boroughs, including organizing networking groups where people facing similar challenges can connect. Also, the Chapter’s New York City VisionWalk raises nearly $300,000 each year for important vision-saving research. Two New York City Foundation galas—Banking on a Cure and Fashion Ball: Dining in the Dark—have raised $1.5 million, and the New Jersey Taste for Sight wine event is also successful. Outstanding Chapter Honorable Mention: Denver The Denver Chapter continues to impress as they have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and dedication through public awareness outreach, fundraising and volunteer work. The Colorado VisionWalk has raised over $600,000 in five years, the Denver Golf Tournament has generated over $1 million in 11 years, and the chapter’s newest event—Blind Taste of the Rockies—has raised over $60,000 in three years. Chapter Momentum: Chicago Chicagoland Chapter President Phyllis Hamby has filled vacant leadership positions with others who share her passion to spread awareness, share information, raise funds to drive research, and be involved in finding a cure. The leadership team has the chapter moving in the right direction to grow members and partners across the Chicagoland area. Chapter Momentum Honorable Mention: St. Louis St. Louis Chapter President and National Trustee Jason Morris is succeeding in the effort to grow the chapter’s membership, and he has recruited a strong leadership team responsible for engaging the community and spreading awareness. Outstanding VisionWalk (large market): Dallas/Ft. Worth Passionate leaders including Chair Stephanie Tyson helped grow the funds raised from the event by over 40 percent, from $135,000 in 2009 to more than $190,000 in 2010 toward sight-saving research. More than 1,600 people attended the Dallas/Fort Worth VisionWalk last year, making it the largest walk in the Foundation’s history. Outstanding VisionWalk (small market): Milwaukee Motivated leaders including Milwaukee Chapter President Bunny Jordan, and VisionWalk two-time Co-Chairs Cheri McElhatton and Nicole Everson, have spearheaded the successful event and are on their way to surpassing the fundraising goal for three years in a row. They also helped encouraged more than 700 community members to support sight-saving research by taking part. VisionWalk Strides Award (large market): Atlanta In 2010, the Atlanta VisionWalk raised an amazing $132,000, compared to $72,000 raised the year before, for an impressive $60,000 increase. Thanks to the dedication of the chapter and VisionWalk leaders, the team captains, and all of the volunteers, the walk continues to grow year after year by increasing the number of teams, walkers and dollars raised. VisionWalk Strides Award (small market): Jacksonville In 2009, this first-year VisionWalk was off to a slow start but was still able to come back and secure a respectable 76 percent of its goal. The following year, Jacksonville took what they had learned, and with the help of Co-Chairs Megan Mauney and Lisa Pleasants, knocked it out of the park reaching 152 percent of their budgeted goal. The Jacksonville VisionWalk has grown immensely year after year in the number of committee members, teams, sponsors and dollars raised. Congratulations and a huge thank you to all of the deserving recipients for their continued passion, dedication, innovative thinking, and positivity as the Foundation advances research toward treatments and cures. |
