[Colorado-talk] Colorado Gives Day and the Colorado Center for the Blind

[Lorinda Riddle]

November 26, 2012



Dear Alumni, Family and Friends of the Colorado Center for the Blind:



On Tuesday, December 4th the Colorado Center for the Blind is participating
in Colorado Gives Day.  This giving campaign boosts charitable giving to
non-profit organizations like the Center.  FirstBank has put together an
incentive gift, and depending on how much money the Colorado Center raises,
the Center will receive a percentage of that incentive gift along with 100%
of your giving.  Last year I am pleased to say that we raised over $10,000.
To assist us by donating, please follow the link on our website at
www.givingfirst.org/index.php?section=organizations&action=newDonation&fwID=15595.



I want to thank you for all of your support in the past year. As a result
of your assistance, we have made a number of accomplishments:



*Year Round Youth Services*

We now have an active year round youth services program. Last week over 10
high school students who are blind learned how to independently dissect a
shark. Often blind students do not have the opportunity to fully
participate in science, math, woodshop and vocational programs as a part of
their high school program. We are working hard to change this. Last summer
nine blind kids ages 5 to 10 participated in our Confidence Camp for Kids.
This two week skills training and confidence building program got the kids
using their canes, traveling around the city, cooking, cleaning and
learning that they are not the only blind student. They loved going through
a buffet line with our blind adults and realized that they can be
independent and have jobs when they grow up. Their parents gained a great
deal as well because they got to see and to learn from independent blind
adults. Too often, parents of blind kids do not have this opportunity and,
thus, they do not realize that their kids can be self-sufficient.



*McGeorge Mountain Terrace Apartments*

A year ago we were able to purchase an apartment complex. With this new
acquisition we have the ability to provide more services. One of our
students has a small child. Since we own these apartments we were able to
accommodate her with her child so that she could get the training that she
needs to flourish and to be a positive role model for her son. Our students
enrolled in the Independence Training Program can now easily travel to
stores, restaurants and into Denver evenings and weekends. They are able to
practically apply their skills each day.



*Senior Services *

In this last year, 12 seniors participated in a week long residential
training program. They learned that they can still use a grill, read
Braille, use a computer and so much more. Mostly they gained belief in
themselves again and loved meeting other blind seniors. Our vibrant senior
program is expanding every day. Our seniors and their families are learning
together that being blind is not a tragedy and that they can continue to be
happy.



With your donation, we continue to build upon our accomplishments.  Next
year’s plans include:  increasing our services to youth, have more
participants in our confidence camp and middle school program, serve more
students from around the world, facilitate three “Seniors in Charge”
programs and put together seminars for families.



Your work with us to refer students and provide volunteer and financial
support is tremendous. We appreciate everything that you do for us and any
support that you can offer is much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Julie Deden, Executive Director





Lorinda Riddle

Coordinator of Special Projects

National Federation of the Blind

 of Colorado (NFBCO)

www.nfbco.org

2233 W. Shepperd Avenue

Littleton, CO 80120

303-778-1130, ext. 236

Cell: 720-384-5871

lriddle at cocenter.org