[NFBC-SFV] The Gift That Keeps Giving - Your Ongoing Support For HFS

[Hearts For Sight Foundation]

Supporting the VIP Community through Giving  HFS Newsletter November 2021 Happy Thanksgiving from our Hearts for Sight Family to Yours     "Be thankful for everything that happens in your life; it’s all an experience." Roy T. Bennett Table of Contents President's Message Thank You to Our Supporters Upcoming Activities Monster Bash Photos and Review VIP Testimonial HFS partners with CSULA HFS Online Holiday Bake Sale Ways to Support VIPs ‌ ‌ ‌ Donate November's Presidential Note: Dear NFB SFV Chapter, , Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! We are grateful for everyone that has supported Hearts for Sight. Without your assistance, the impact we have had, on the lives of people living with vision loss, would not be possible. As the "Season of Giving" begins, we want you to know about a special day. The Countdown has started to the World's Biggest Day of Generosity, Giving Tuesday, on November 30th, 2021. #GivingTuesdayHFS. What is Giving Tuesday? Giving Tuesday is "global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world". (In our case, the VIP community.) Giving Tuesday was created as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. Every act of generosity counts, and everyone has something to give.   As Giving Tuesday quickly approaches, we invite you to join the movement and give – each day - leading up to Giving Tuesday (November 30th). It’s a simple idea: Your gift can be making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people you care about, or giving some of what you have to those who need your help. This year our Giving Tuesday financial goal is to raise $5,000 to expand Hearts For Sight’s Adaptive Fitness Programs. With your support during this Giving Tuesday HFS can DOUBLE the number of Bike Rides and Yoga sessions we can provide in 2022!   If you weren’t aware, HFS and Wheel Fun Rentals started our partnership in 2019, to provide an opportunity for members of our VIP community to safely get out and engage in physical activity while enjoying a great social event. (See for yourself by clicking this link). Currently, HFS can only host four surrey bike ride events per year. Hearts for Sight also provides adaptive yoga through our partnership with the Lioness Touch Online Yoga Studio. Our program makes yoga accessible while being energetic and challenging. Our Yoga can be enjoyed from the comfort of your home via Zoom, however, currently HFS can only host a limited number of these events per year.   When you support HFS this Giving Tuesday, you bring hope to our visually impaired and blind community members who want to feel safe and confident while being physically active. The ultimate goal is to keep our VIP community healthy and avoid debilitating diseases like diabetes.   HFS’ founders Joseph and Racquel will be going live on Facebook and Instagram on Giving Tuesday, November 30th at 9 am. Come check us out and learn more about our programs and how your donation will impact VIP lives. Click below for our Giving Tuesday video that talks about current and upcoming plans for VIPs. Later in this newsletter hear from one of our members who has shared how your support impacts their life. If you would like to donate now, please click here. You can also GIVE to Hearts for Sight in other ways. Whether it’s some of your time, sharing your talents or the power of your voice in your local community. Contact us by email at hearts4sight at gmail.com or call us at (818) 457-1482. As always, thank you for the continued support and your allyship! Wishing you and yours the brightest of holidays!   Joseph Burton, MSW President and Co-Founder Hearts for Sight Foundation A 501(c)3 Non-profit Organization "Remember that the HAPPIEST PEOPLE are not those getting more, but those GIVING MORE” -H. Jackson Brown, Jr. Thanks to our Sponsors, Supporters, Volunteers, and Clients! We can't list everyone, but know that you are appreciated. CSUDH Innovation Incubator - Richard Rueda - New York Life Agent Ashley Dania Gutierrez and Jason Crow - Robert Rayas - The Sierra Club Los Angeles Chapter - Honda Federal Credit Union - Jessie Wolinsky - Nebiyu Dingetu - Adrienne Johnson - Alexis Chen - Trader Joes - Wheel Fun Rentals - Bob & Sue Sweetman - Dr. Wilfredo Villegas - Dr. Bill Takeshita - Starbucks - Inspiring Connections Outdoors (ICO) - Will McWhinney - Joan Schipper - Delia Garcia- "We must give more to get more. It is the generous giving of ourselves that produces the generous harvest." ~ Orison Swett Marden Upcoming HFS Community Activities We hope to see you at any of these Hearts For Sight activities. For more information or to sign up email us at hearts4sight at gmail.com or call (818) 457-1482 Please don’t forget to share this information with your friends and family or anyone that may be interested.  ‌ ‌ ‌ With the big city looming in the background, three amigos pause during a hike. Hiking in Malibu Creek November 28, 2021 1925 Las Virgenes Rd, Calabasas, CA 91302 Sorry, Registration is closed! We are full! Beautiful and rugged Malibu Creek State Park is in the Heart of the Santa Monica Mountains near Malibu. It is the home of many types of plants, birds, and animals. Malibu Creek is known for its mountainous landscape, waterways, and hiking trails. We will hike through the Braille trail and other areas, visit the nature center, talk to the docents and picnic in this natural haven. Facebook and Instagram Live Giving Tuesday, November 30 at 9:00 AM (PST) We invite you to join co-founders Joseph and Racquel when we go live on Facebook and Instagram. Come learn more about Hearts For Sight’s upcoming plans and activities. Ask us any questions you may have. Follow us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts and watch for the announcements. ‌ ‌ ‌ Hearts for Sight invites you to Adrienne’s Invigorate Yoga Flow in the comfort of your home via Zoom. Join us for an energetic class meant to be challenging yet accessible. Expect to move through a gentle warm up, before moving through a series of standing postures, some core work, and finish with some restorative stretches before savasana (rest). Here are the next dates of sessions scheduled: Wednesday, December 1 at 7:00 PM Sunday, December 19 at 5:00 PM  You will be provided the Zoom link to access the class several days before the scheduled session. Just email or call to sign up. Volunteer to Help Save the Planet and Advise Park on What Helps VIPS on Trails Saturday, December 4, 2021 Rio Hondo Trail Peck Conservation Park 5401 Peck Rd, Arcadia Join Hearts for Sight and our friends at Amigos de Los Rios for a day of giving as we volunteer our help to provide basic site care, plant trees and shrubs at Peck Trail Park. We will also offer advice for how trails and open spaces can be more universally designed to allow for VIP to enjoy outdoor space. Additional information will be provided as the date gets closer. Please email or call HFS staff if interested.  USA Goalball Day Saturday, December 11 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Goalball Introductory Coaching Clinic 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM  USA Goalball Learn to Play Expo Center 3980 Bill Robertson Lane Los Angeles, CA 90037 Did you know that Goalball is the most popular team sport for VIPS? Hearts for Sight is partnering with Angel City Sports, Wayfinder Family Services, United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA), and other blind-field service providers to promote the sport of Goalball. Athletes of all ages and abilities levels with blindness or a visual impairment are invited to come play Goalball and practice their skills. If you have never played, no worries! Come see what this amazing sport is all about. Click here to read more about Goalball and the upcoming event. Down by the sea - Hearts for Sight went surrey bike riding in Long Beach. Photo of captain Bernice with Caesar, Mark and Yesenia. Multi-People Powered Surrey Biking at Lake Balboa Saturday, December 18, 2021 9:00 AM to 12 Noon Wheel Fun Rentals Location – Lake Balboa 6300 Balboa Blvd., Van Nuys, CA 91316 (Meet at the boat dock) Join HFS at our last outdoor activity for 2021! Wheel Fun Rentals generously sponsored another bike ride for us, and this time it will be at Lake Balboa Park in Van Nuys. Enjoy a fun and sunny day biking with us on a beautiful December day! Hearts For Sight Individual Therapy Program Do you know someone who is struggling to cope with the loss of their eye sight, challenges at work, or dealing with the holidays? We can help! Hearts For Sight (HFS) is now providing individual therapy. HFS is offering an opportunity for adults 18 years old and up to sign up for this therapy program. Therapy sessions will be pro-bono (for free) for now. To sign up for individual therapy program, please contact HFS staff via email, hearts4sight at gmail.com, or by calling 818-457-1482. The HFS staff will assist you with the registration and intake process. HFS support groups will take a break during the holidays. Registration for the next batch of support groups sessions will begin in mid-December. Group support resume in January. We will keep you posted.   Save these dates in your calendar: Hiking - Sunday, 1/2/22 - Griffith Park Vista Point Start off the new year with a moderately hard route Griffith Park. Away from many of the tourists drawn to Griffith Park’s great landmarks (like Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Sign), you’ll find locals enjoying views of their city from Vista View Point. Hiking - Saturday 1/22/22 - Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden Explore 127 acres, is an arboretum, botanical garden, and historical site nestled into hills near the San Gabriel Mountains in Arcadia, California. "If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody." ~Chinese Proverb MONSTER BASH REVIEW Our Monster Bash was a big success. Thanks to all of us coming together to support the HFS mission. It was great to have so many blind, visually impaired and sighted people gathered together. We met our fundraising goals thanks in part to our 50/50 winner Richard Rueda donating back his portion and wonderful sponsors like New York Life Insurance, the Sweetman Systems, Trader Joes, Starbucks etc.. People seem to really enjoy themselves. The costume contest was hilarious and there was some tough competition for the Musical Chair Championship. We hope this includes you. Roy Payan (dressed as one of the Three Musketeer) escorts Argelia (dressed as a sexy cat) Costume Contest Winner Mark Pritchard dressed as Miss Blind America  See More Pictures Here! VIP Testimonial Nebiyu Dingetu has been a long time member of the Hearts for Sight community. He likes to be active and often joins the group hikes and bike rides. He’s also a big fan of the yoga classes that Hearts for Sight offers. He shared the following about his experiences with yoga:      “Most yoga classes are usually taught visually. The yoga instructor demonstrates the various moves to the students while they watch and try to follow along. Because of my visual impairment, I often felt left out when it comes to reaping the numerous benefits of having a yoga practice. So I was very glad when I found out Hearts for Sight is offering accessible yoga classes that doesn’t require any sight to participate.”          Click Here to Read More About This VIP Testimonial Click here to help fund an additional yoga session. "Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth" ~ Mohammed Ali Monster Bash Review One of the ways to give is to be a sighted guide to someone who is visually impaired. Our HFS hikes are available at a variety locations. Partnering with Cal State LA's Mobility Center ‘Be the change you want to see in the world’ HFS is rising to that challenge and today we want to share with you what we are doing to fulfill our mission to break down barriers to health and fitness that restrict the blind and visually impaired. Earlier this month, Hearts for Sight visited the students of Cal State University Los Angeles to provide education and perspective on exercise and rehabilitation at the school’s Mobility Center. We shared the barrier related to access and accessibility for exercise through the lens of three of our VIP staff. We focused on how their program and facility can be more universally designed so that the health needs of our VIP communities can be met. Recommendations were shared and hands-on trainings were provided to all the students. The importance of educating up-and-coming health care and rehabilitation specialists of how to work with VIPS cannot be overstated. Moving forward, HFS is excited to continue to work with CSULA to establish learning opportunities where students can increase their competency with working with visually impaired people. Eventually, we will host CSULA students to be a part of HFS’ Adaptive Fitness Program staff. Hearts for Sight Foundation envisions a society where VIPs can count on unfettered access to and unhindered use of health facilities and services. And this partnership with CSULA brings us one step closer! Stay tuned!  Online Holiday Bake Sale Benefiting HFS Indulge your sweet tooth without guilt! All proceeds will be donated to Hearts for Sight to support the Giving Tuesday Campaign. #5kforHFS Event begins December 1st, 2021 through December 21st 2021. Thank you for helping support Hearts For Sight's Giving Tuesday Campaign provided for the blind and visually impaired community! See the links below for more information. Included in the bake sale is: Carrot Cake Cupcakes | Tres Leches Cupcakes | Rice Krispy Treats | Chocolate Cookies | Double Fudge Brownies with Walnuts. Order online and pick up locations and delivery options are available in the Flyer and Order Request buttons below. Click Here For More Information Holiday Bake Sale Order Request Form ‌ HFS Newsletter November 2021 Our Mission Hearts for Sight is committed to continuing our mission of breaking down barriers to health and fitness that restrict the blind and visually impaired, so they may pursue physical, mental, and emotional wellness. Your contributions will help us to realize our long-term goal of having a Wellness and Fitness Center, including a specialized gym for the visually impaired. A lot of technology is available that would make a fitness center more accessible. Raised patterns on the floor could help with directions. Electronic voices could announce the type of machine and the amount of weights. This month we need your help by: 1) Give a donation to Hearts for Sight on Giving Tuesday, November 30th and then think of a non-monetary way you can give to our non-profit to help the blind and visually impaired be healthy and fit. 2) Share this newsletter to your social media page or pass this email on to someone who is blind or visually impaired. 3) Place your order for the HFS Holiday Bake Sale. 4) Sign up for one of our activities and please invite a VIP to join you (virtually or outdoors). 5) Volunteer to be a sighted driver for our next surrey bike ride on December 18th by emailing Racquel at hearts4sight at gmail.com or call 818-457-1482. 6) Enjoy the holidays and find time to celebrate with friends, family or on your own. Donate Now Hearts for Sight hopes you have enjoyed this newsletter. Please let us know if you have any thoughts or ideas that would improve it. Email us at hearts4sight at gmail.com or call us at 818-457-1482. We look forward to helping you achieve health and wellness. Joseph, Racquel, and the entire team at Hearts for Sight Foundation Sign-up for Updates ‌ ‌ ‌ Hearts for Sight Team and Supporters During Surrey Biking in Long Beach with the Pacific Ocean in the background Hearts For Sight Foundation | 1540 Prospect Avenue, San Gabriel, CA 91776 Unsubscribe nfbc-sfv at nfbnet.org Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by hearts4sight at gmail.com powered by Try email marketing for free today!
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