Children who are Blind Get Hands-On Experience with Classical Music at the Charlotte Symphony’s Orchestra Olympics

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ON-SITE CONTACT: Alli Romero, SEE Program Coordinator
M (980) 230-9454

CHILDREN WHO ARE BLIND GET HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH CLASSICAL MUSIC AT THE CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY’S ORCHESTRA OLYMPICS

Local children who are blind or visually impaired are heading to the Orchestra Olympics, a youth-focused program offered by the Charlotte Symphony. The children are part of SEE (Student Enrichment Experience) Charlotte, a new resource in the Charlotte area offering weekend experiences, after-school program and summer camps.

SEE Charlotte program coordinator Alli Romero keeps the activities varied and fun so that the children and their families have a special time to build relationships and share experiences. She also wants the children to participate in the Charlotte community by bringing them to events like the Orchestra Olympics and joining with service projects such as making clay bowls for the upcoming fundraiser for Second Harvest Food Bank.

SEE Charlotte is run by nonprofit IFB Solutions, based in Winston-Salem and the largest employer of people who are blind. The SEE program is completely free thanks to the generosity of IFB donors and grants. IFB began the SEE program in Winston-Salem more than a decade ago with expansions over the years to Asheville and now Charlotte.

IFB Solutions is a nonprofit corporation founded in 1936 that provides employment, training and services for people who are blind or visually impaired. As the largest employer of people who are blind in the United States, IFB operates manufacturing facilities in Winston-Salem, N.C., Asheville, N.C., and Little Rock, Ark., in addition to more than 40 office supply stores and optical centers across the country. IFB Solutions funds employee training and services as well as community programs through grants and private donations, making possible the SEE program for children who are blind or visually impaired, IFB Community Low Vision Centers across North Carolina and in Little Rock, Ark., and Tracy’s Little Red Schoolhouse based in Winston-Salem. www.ifbsolutions.org

IFB, Luxexcel Provide Free Eyeglasses for Students

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Last week, IFB Solutions and Luxexcel, the only company in the world with technology that can 3D-print custom ophthalmic lenses, provided more than a dozen local students with free eyeglasses.

The eyeglasses, which where made at IFB Solutions using the printer developed by Luxexcel, were distributed on Thursday, March 7, at the IFB location on North Point Blvd. As the students from various schools across the district entered the building, they were greeted by the smiling faces of the IFB team.

According to event organizers, the students were selected based on need. In a press release Michael Pesce, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools director of social work, said one of the biggest challenges they face is making sure students have what they need to be successful and that’s why they are grateful for the partnership with IFB and Luxexcel.

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More than 85 of North Carolina’s Best Blind Bowlers Compete March 16 in Winston-Salem Tournament

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Contact
Nicole Ducouer, IFB Solutions Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Programs
336-685-2393 | nducouer@ifbsolutions.org

 

MORE THAN 85 OF NORTH CAROLINA’S BEST BLIND BOWLERS COMPETE MARCH 16 IN WINSTON-SALEM TOURNAMENT

WINSTON-SALEM, NC – More than 85 of the best bowlers across North Carolina who all happen to be blind are converging on Winston-Salem for one of the best tournaments of the year on March 16th.

Avid sports fans may think college basketball is the marquee event for this Saturday with the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte, but North Carolina’s bowlers would argue it’s the Charles E. Roane Invitational Tournament in Winston-Salem hosted by the Forsyth County Blind Bowlers.

Clayton Sanders, a sewing machine operator at IFB Solutions in Winston-Salem, is one of the event organizers. Clayton lost much of his vision following a premature birth at less than two pounds. He joined IFB Solutions 10 years ago and joined Forsyth County Blind Bowlers five years ago as a stress reliever. He enjoys the team camaraderie and the spirit of competition. Clayton was IFB’s Employee of the Year in 2017, and frequently speaks about the organization to groups across the country.

More than 85 blind bowlers representing teams from Greensboro, Durham, High Point, Forsyth County, Raleigh and eastern parts of the state are expected.

The Forsyth County team includes many employees of IFB Solutions, the largest employer of people who are blind in the country, with headquarters in Winston-Salem.

 

Luxexcel and IFB Provides Free 3D Printed Glasses to Schoolchildren

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Dutch 3D printed optical lens manufacturer, Luxexcel, and a non-profit organization for visually impaired, IFB Solutions have celebrated their one-year partnership in a unique way.

The two companies provided free glasses with customized 3D printed lenses to seventeen school children in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where IFB Solutions is based.

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Free Technology and Summer Camps Available for Blind or Low-Vision Children in NC

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DURHAM, N.C.– The Community Low Vision Center is operated by nonprofit IFB Solutions, the largest employer of people who are blind in the country. IFB has three centers in North Carolina — Winston-Salem, Durham and Asheville — as well as a Mobile Vision Clinic, which travels across the state bringing IFB’s low-vision expertise directly into the community.

According to Prevent Blindness North Carolina, more than 25,000 preschoolers and close to 350,000 school-age children have visual problems. One of these children includes Aiden Bradley, age 7, who was born with vision challenges and whose family struggled for many years to find resources that would help make the most of what vision he did have.

“It was very frustrating for me as a parent not to be able to immediately connect him with the services he needed,” says Aiden’s mom, Amanda. “We saw countless specialists before we finally found our answer at the Community Low Vision Center.”

 

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Triad School Kids Receive Coolest Eyeglasses in Town with 3D Printed Lens

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Nearly 20 Triad school children received a pair of glasses Thursday.

  • The glasses were a gift in lieu of IFB Solutions and technology developer Luxexcel celebrating one year of partnership.
  • The giveaway took place at IFB Solutions in Winston-Salem.
  • The glasses feature lenses made with IFB’s 3D printer developed by Luxexcel, making it the world’s first commercial 3D printer of ophthalmic lenses.

 

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Companies Give Out Free Glasses to Kids

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Two companies, IFB Solutions and Luxexcel, celebrated one year of their partnership by giving out glasses to Winston-Salem and Forsyth County children.

  • IFB Solutions, based out of Winston-Salem, is the largest employer of the blind or visually impaired.
  • Luxexcel is the first company to 3D print prescription lenses.
  • Seventeen children received free glasses.

 

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IFB Solutions Announces Appointment of Ed Vest as Controller

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Contact
Nicole Ducouer, IFB Solutions Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Programs
336-685-2393 | nducouer@ifbsolutions.org

 

IFB SOLUTIONS ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF ED VEST AS CONTROLLER

WINSTON-SALEM, NC (Mar. 19, 2019) – IFB Solutions, the largest employer of people who are blind in the country, announces the appointment of Ed Vest as Controller.

Vest joins IFB after 25 years with BB&T. He served as BB&T’s Corporate Controller for seven years and most recently was the company’s Corporate Strategy and Funding Manager. Prior to BB&T, Vest worked for Deloitte & Touche.

In his new role at IFB Solutions, Vest will be responsible for planning, directing and coordinating the non-profit’s accounting operations. IFB Solutions generates more than $150 million in sales primarily through contracts with the U.S. government, and employs nearly 1,000 individuals across its three manufacturing facilities in Winston-Salem, N.C., Asheville, N.C., and Little Rock, Ark. IFB also operates more than 40 office supply stores and optical centers across the country. Through private donations and grants, IFB funds employee training and services as well as community programs such as its Community Low Vision Centers, Tracy’s Little Red Schoolhouse and the SEE (Student Enrichment Experience) after-school and summer camp programs.

“We are very fortunate to have Ed joining our leadership team,” said IFB President and CEO David Horton. “Our organization continues to grow as we work to create employment opportunities for people who are blind, and it also is very complex with our portfolio of products, government contracts and crucial community programs.”