The Foundation is a Nebraska corporation that is qualified as a tax-exempt organization under federal and state income tax laws.
History
In the early 1960's, a group of compassionate women began the Omaha Sight Center Nursery at the Beth El Synagogue. To better meet the needs of these families, these women incorporated the Nebraska Foundation for the Visually Handicapped so that they could receive a $10,000 grant from the Eppley Center. This money was used to start a pre-school at the Omaha Sight Center.
During this time, Ruth Sokolof and Berniece Wolfson initiated an annual Christmas party for blind and visually impaired children. Although changes in federal and state law and policy eventually made the pre-school unnecessary, the Foundation continued the party and expanded its activities to include a variety of programs designed to stimulate the intellectual, social, cultural, and emotional growth of visually impaired and blind children.
What we've accomplished
Over the years, the Foundation has:
- Funded the wages of teachers of the visually impaired at JP Lord School
- Worked with legislators to change jurisdiction of children with visual impairments from under the Board of Control to the Board of Education
- Worked on legislative matters related to special education and visual impairments
- Enabled the first child who was blind to be enrolled in District 66
- Sponsored a special summer camp through the Salvation Army
- Established a specialty blind shop for aids and devices
- Assisted with funding the Radio Talking Book Network
- Helped with the design and implementation of a barrier-free park
- Offered opportunities for educators and family members to attend advanced training
- Sponsored children with music lessons and events, and sponsored children to attend national and international sporting events
- Sponsored family members who were deaf-blind to attend the Helen Keller Center
- Sponsored interpreters for the deaf-blind at conventions and workshops
- Arranged tours for persons with visual impairments at the Joslyn Art Museum, Fontenelle Forest, SAC Museum, Durham Western Heritage Museum, and Omaha Children's Museum
- Assisted the National Federation of the Blind in funding audio-described movies at the Omaha Oakview Theater
- Assisted with funding for the Weigel Williamson Center for Visual Rehabilitation
The Foundation celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011 with a fundraising event that raised nearly $20,000 for Foundation activities. In 2011, the Board of Directors approved a restructuring plan to refocus Foundation activities primarily on the programs described on this website, with a special emphasis on the provision of adaptive technology to blind and visually impaired children.
Board of Directors
The Foundation's activities are supervised by and conducted through a Board of Directors. All Board members are unpaid volunteers. The current president is Nancy Flearl, former Omaha District Supervisor of the Nebraska Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired.