Testimonial: how we help

In 2010, he "grudgingly" took a 10-week class in independent living skills through New Vision for Independence. He quickly realized that this class held the hope he had lost. It immediately began opening up the doors he was struggling with. Throughout the class and subsequent other training opportunities, he learned:

• Orientation and mobility skills, such as sighted guide and how to use public transportation; 
• Cooking and cleaning skills; 
• Skills to pour and serve beverages; 
• Clothes washing and labeling; 
• About accessibility tools; 
• About vocational rehabilitation opportunities; 
• And lots more. 

Services through New Vision "opened up my world and pulled me out of my cave."

Scott now attends Lake-Sumter Community College, working toward a degree in human services, and volunteers in the community. He stars as "Mr. July" in New Vision's large print 2012 calendar. And most recently, he spoke as the keynote speaker at the 2012 Dining in the Dark.

New Transition program

April 25, 2012 -- New Vision is proud to announce the new summer program for visually impaired high school students. This program will feature useful skills training and fun experience to prepare Lake and Sumter students for life after high school and the transition to college or work. 

Some activities the students will be doing this summer include:

• Bowling,
• Cooking using a toaster oven, microwave, George Foreman grill, and cupcake maker,
• Lake Dora eco-cruise,
• Creating tactile art in partnership with the Mt. Dora Center for the Arts,
• Exploratory trips of downtown Eustis and Mount Dora,
• Going to the mall for lunch, a scavenger hunt, and movies,
• And much more!

New Vision welcomes donations to help make this new program a success. Gift card donations such as the following are much appreciated:

• Grocery store (to purchase cooking supplies),
• Pizza (as part of the "learn to order a pizza" lesson),
• Bowling alley,
• AMC theater,
• Target or Wal-Mart (to teach shopping, asking for assistance, and similar skills).

Register for the 4th annual 5k!

Sign up today for the 5k Run/Walk for New Vision on October 27!

Taking place at Lake-Sumter Community College (LSCC), 9501 US Hwy 441, Leesburg, this event will feature:

• 5k run/walk,
• 1/2 mile walk, and
• Sensory Walk.

 The fourth annual 5k will be around Silver Lake. The 1/2 mile walk will be on the track at LSCC. The Sensory Walk is a blindfolded 1/2 mile walk around the track with activities and obstacles.

Registration is required to participate in all events. Pre-registration is required to be guaranteed a t-shirt. Awards will be given in overall and age group categories. Prizes will be given for most money raised.

100% of the proceeds from this event will stay in Lake, Sumter, and The Villages to provide free services to our residents with blindness or low vision.

 Online:   

Paper: 5k Registration form

Dining in the Dark results

The dinner helped raise community awareness of the difficulties faced by residents with vision loss, as well as raised over $6,000 for services for people with low vision or blindness in Lake and Sumter counties and The Villages.

Check out the 2012 Dining in the Dark video! 

Help New Vision win $1,000

April 5, 2012 --New Vision for Independence is proud to be recognized as one of the first nonprofits in Central Florida to be totally transparent. You'll be seeing a lot about a new knowledge base established by the Community Foundation of Central Florida to help donors and philanthropists validate the organizations they support. You can be among the first to visit and see everything from our management, governance, and programs to an in-depth look at our finances that is searchable and validated. The Community Foundation's leadership believes this new site will allow local nonprofits more exposure to the community, new sources of funding and improved performance.

To see our Portrait, click here.  

To search the knowledge base or share it with others, visit www.mycfcf.org .

Help New Vision win $1,000 - the agency with the most views on their DonorEdge portrait will win $1,000. Please view our portrait today  and pass it on to your friends!

Volunteers needed for 5k committee

March 30, 2012 -- Volunteers are needed to help with the planning, organization, and execution the annual 5k Run/Walk for New Vision, to be held October 27 in Leesburg at Lake-Sumter Community College. This is a fundraiser to raise funds for rehabilitation services for individuals with blindness or low vision in Lake and Sumter Counties, and The Villages. The event also includes a half-mile walk and a blindfolded sensory walk. A 5K Run/Walk organizational meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on April 30 at New Vision for Independence on the Leesburg campus of Lake-Sumter Community College. Directions

New Vision is also seeking door prizes and donations from area businesses that may be used as prizes during the 5k Run/Walk, and prizes for other events throughout the year. For more details, or to volunteer, call 435-5040.

Support a new blind radio show

March 30, 2012 -- Michael Golder created a new radio show called "Blind Matters." The goal is to be informative and fun, with comedy and prizes for trivia. There will be one segment called "What's Your Story?" geared to the listening audience and their "stories."

The radio station has given Michael 12 weeks to see if he can get listeners and if the listeners will participate. It is crucial that YOU participate. 

The first show begins April 7th at 3pm for one hour. Subsequent shows will last 2 hours if we have listeners.

You can listen live on www.big810am if you are out of the immediate Orlando area.

"I hope you will call in and talk to me on the air. We value your input. Any additional ideas for program content would be greatly appreciated," said Michael.

Station: WEUS 810 AM
Website: www.big810am.com

Donor Edge portrait

Check out our updated DonorEdge portrait, reviewed by the Community Foundation of Central Florida. This portrait includes very detailed information about New Vision, our history, our financial stability, program goals, and more! We are proud of our portrait and how you are too: New Vision Donor Edge portrait .

If you are proud of what you see, please consider making a donation by clicking on the Donate Now button on the portrait.  

New Vision store