When piano teacher Amy Hansel got a new student who was legally blind, she says she had to make a few adjustments to how she taught. Her student had some usable vision and benefited from large-print music, further enlarged by a magnifier attached to his piano. Continue Reading Year-End Gift to the Council Can Come in Many Forms
For the past six months, clients who call the Council to ask about vision services have been welcomed by our navigator, Kate Bleyl-Ericson. We’ve known for years that people coming to the Council in search of vision services frequently have needs beyond what we can address. It’s not uncommon to discover that a client is… Continue Reading Giving Tuesday Gift Supports New Service for Council Clients
The Council relies on gifts of all kinds and sizes to enable us to empower people across Wisconsin who are blind or low vision. But some supporters go above and beyond in their generosity, giving $20,000 or more over their lifetimes. We call this group of committed donors Council Visionaries. Visionaries are some of our… Continue Reading Council Visionaries Go Above and Beyond to Support Our Work
For decades, the Council has maintained a close relationship with Lions Clubs across the state. This friendship is rooted in our shared goal of supporting Wisconsinites who are blind or low vision. Lions Club International, the umbrella organization of local Lions Clubs are members, began supporting people with vision loss in 1925 when Helen Keller asked them to become “knights for the blind.” Continue Reading Lions Clubs Across Wisconsin Share the Council’s Mission
In September, we hosted our fourth and final Dining in the Dark event of 2025 at Old Sugar Distillery in Madison. We were joined by a diverse crowd for camaraderie, a fantastic meal prepared by Blue Plate Catering, and an opportunity to learn more about the lives of people who are blind or low vision.… Continue Reading Dining in the Dark Brings Learning and Good Food to Diverse Crowd
Have you thought about making a will only to realize you don’t know how to begin? If making a will has been on your mind but you’ve never managed to take the steps to get it done, this is a great time to do it. August is Make-A-Will month! Having a will benefits your loved… Continue Reading Consider the Council During Make-a-Will Month
A bus ad the Council ran in Waukesha last fall promoting Wisconsin’s White Cane Law. The Council relies on funding from many different sources. People make individual gifts almost every day. Others contribute through workplace giving or by requesting a matching gift from their employer. The Council also receives a variety of grants to support… Continue Reading Grants Help Spread the Word About the Council Statewide
Executive Director Denise Jess receiving a check from David Anderman of the Madison South Rotary Foundation. The Council relies on a variety of funding sources to help us meet the needs of Wisconsinites who are blind or low vision. We receive gifts from individuals almost every day. Store customers round up their purchases to the… Continue Reading Local Grants Support the Council’s Efforts to Change Lives
Sarah Evans says that one of her favorite things is going for a walk in the park near her house. Legally blind from cataracts, Sarah says she was able to walk through the park without a white cane, but crossing the roads to get to the park was a real challenge… Continue Reading Support Independence and Confidence During the Council’s White Cane Appeal
Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) have become a popular tool for philanthropic giving. The Council receives many gifts from donors who have a DAF and who see the value in making gifts every year. But despite how easy it is to make gifts from a donor advised fund, some people choose to leave a significant portion… Continue Reading It’s Time to Let Your Dollars Work for a Better World
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When piano teacher Amy Hansel got a new student who was legally blind, she says she had to make a few adjustments to how she taught. Her student had some usable vision and benefited from large-print music, further enlarged by a magnifier attached to his piano. Continue Reading Year-End Gift to the Council Can Come in Many Forms
For the past six months, clients who call the Council to ask about vision services have been welcomed by our navigator, Kate Bleyl-Ericson. We’ve known for years that people coming to the Council in search of vision services frequently have needs beyond what we can address. It’s not uncommon to discover that a client is… Continue Reading Giving Tuesday Gift Supports New Service for Council Clients
The Council relies on gifts of all kinds and sizes to enable us to empower people across Wisconsin who are blind or low vision. But some supporters go above and beyond in their generosity, giving $20,000 or more over their lifetimes. We call this group of committed donors Council Visionaries. Visionaries are some of our… Continue Reading Council Visionaries Go Above and Beyond to Support Our Work
For decades, the Council has maintained a close relationship with Lions Clubs across the state. This friendship is rooted in our shared goal of supporting Wisconsinites who are blind or low vision. Lions Club International, the umbrella organization of local Lions Clubs are members, began supporting people with vision loss in 1925 when Helen Keller asked them to become “knights for the blind.” Continue Reading Lions Clubs Across Wisconsin Share the Council’s Mission
In September, we hosted our fourth and final Dining in the Dark event of 2025 at Old Sugar Distillery in Madison. We were joined by a diverse crowd for camaraderie, a fantastic meal prepared by Blue Plate Catering, and an opportunity to learn more about the lives of people who are blind or low vision.… Continue Reading Dining in the Dark Brings Learning and Good Food to Diverse Crowd
Have you thought about making a will only to realize you don’t know how to begin? If making a will has been on your mind but you’ve never managed to take the steps to get it done, this is a great time to do it. August is Make-A-Will month! Having a will benefits your loved… Continue Reading Consider the Council During Make-a-Will Month
A bus ad the Council ran in Waukesha last fall promoting Wisconsin’s White Cane Law. The Council relies on funding from many different sources. People make individual gifts almost every day. Others contribute through workplace giving or by requesting a matching gift from their employer. The Council also receives a variety of grants to support… Continue Reading Grants Help Spread the Word About the Council Statewide
Executive Director Denise Jess receiving a check from David Anderman of the Madison South Rotary Foundation. The Council relies on a variety of funding sources to help us meet the needs of Wisconsinites who are blind or low vision. We receive gifts from individuals almost every day. Store customers round up their purchases to the… Continue Reading Local Grants Support the Council’s Efforts to Change Lives
Sarah Evans says that one of her favorite things is going for a walk in the park near her house. Legally blind from cataracts, Sarah says she was able to walk through the park without a white cane, but crossing the roads to get to the park was a real challenge… Continue Reading Support Independence and Confidence During the Council’s White Cane Appeal
Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) have become a popular tool for philanthropic giving. The Council receives many gifts from donors who have a DAF and who see the value in making gifts every year. But despite how easy it is to make gifts from a donor advised fund, some people choose to leave a significant portion… Continue Reading It’s Time to Let Your Dollars Work for a Better World