IFB SOLUTIONS ANNOUNCES MAJOR DONATION TO EXPAND ACCESS TO ITS COMMUNITY LOW VISION CENTER SERVICES

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Anastasia Powell
apowell@ifbsolutions.org, M 336-456-9824

IFB SOLUTIONS ANNOUNCES MAJOR DONATION TO EXPAND ACCESS TO ITS COMMUNITY LOW VISION CENTER SERVICES

Donation will expand financial assistance program, enable more people to access services

WINSTON-SALEM, NC (April 27, 2021) – Nonprofit IFB Solutions, the largest employer of people who are blind in the U.S., is expanding its financial assistance program for the IFB Community Low Vision Center (CLVC) in Winston-Salem thanks to a significant private donation made possible by the friends and family of the late Ronnie Sherrill, former Chairman and CEO of Charlotte-based SteelFab. The new initiative focuses primarily on assisting adults who receive services through the CLVC including the purchase of easy-to-use technology and household devices from talking watches to magnifiers. The program complements IFB’s existing Focus on Literacy program which loans school-age children assistive technology free of charge for home use.

“Coming to the CLVC is a life-changing experience for many people and this donation ensures that everyone will have access to our extensive services regardless of their ability to pay,” said Shonn Redmond, IFB Low Vision Services & Technical Support Coordinator. Redmond is low vision and personally tests out every device before it’s added to the CLVC. “Our goal is to equip people with the technology and devices that allow them to maintain important and independent life activities from reading and paying bills to cooking and working on the computer.”

The facility, which is being renamed the Ronald G. Sherrill Community Low Vision Center, is located on the IFB Solutions campus off Silas Creek Parkway and is open to the public although appointments are encouraged. Redmond or another CLVC associate work with each person to understand their challenges and needs and identify the best tools. Members of the Sherrill family along with lifelong friends collaborated with IFB on the philanthropic effort to have a direct and immediate impact on people who are low vision.

“My father would have been very moved by the inspiring work happening at IFB Solutions each and every day,” said Glenn Sherrill who took over for his father as CEO of SteelFab. ““My Dad lost sight in his right eye when he was in his early 50s yet kept a very positive outlook – the same spirit that was exemplified here at IFB Solutions. Dad was very generous, and I know he would be pleased that his donation will benefit so many people in need of these type of services.”

Ed Rose, CEO of Shelco and one of Ronnie Sherrill’s closest friends, was instrumental in connecting the Sherrills to IFB. Several years ago, he, Ronnie and Ronnie’s brother Don Sherrill underwrote the cost of a van to transport children who participate in IFB’s S.E.E. program in Charlotte. Ronnie’s wife Paulette, who came to know of IFB’s work through her family and Rose, made the lead gift to the new financial assistance initiative.

“It’s a tremendous honor to join with Paulette and the entire Sherrill family in making this donation to the Community Low Vision Center. Together, we’re supporting a very worthwhile organization and at the same time honoring one of my very best friends in life. I want to thank IFB for doing what it does to help those in our community who are blind or low vision and I want to thank the Sherrill family for letting us honor Ronnie in this way.”

IFB also operates Community Low Vision Centers on its campuses in Asheville, North Carolina and Little Rock, Arkansas. To learn more about the Centers, visit www.communitylowvision.org.

ABOUT IFB SOLUTIONS
IFB Solutions is a nonprofit corporation founded in 1936 as Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind, and it 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 operating nearly 20 office supply stores across the country and producing mattresses. IFB produces eyewear under its Twenty200 brand at its Winston-Salem lab. IFB Solutions funds employee training and services as well as community programs through grants and private donations, making possible summer camps, afterschool programs and activities for children who are blind, and Community Low Vision services through its low-vision Centers across North Carolina and in Little Rock, Ark. ifbsolutions.org

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Pinnacle Mercantile Authentic Woobie: Manufacturing with Meaning

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Written by: Dale Baker

man in army uniform

I spent 24 years in the Army and served all over the world. There were very few constant forms of comfort during my service, but my woobie was certainly one of them. I remember the poncho liner material was silky and kept me warm, plus it was lightweight and easy to carry. I remember seeing the Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind label on the material and wondering how people who are blind make products for the military.

man wearing glasses facing camera
Dale Baker – Army Veteran, IFB Solutions Employee

After my service, I toured Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind, which is now called IFB Solutions. I was shocked to see a manufacturing operation that creates jobs for people who are blind by making things that I used in my Army days. I was amazed.

Today, I’m the distribution manager at IFB Solutions. It’s my job to ship out the Pinnacle Mercantile Authentic Woobie to our armed forces and most recently, private citizens who can buy a woobie on Amazon.

What’s a Woobie?

folded woobie with logoChances are, if you ask a member of the military about a woobie  they’ll know exactly what you’re talking about. No one knows for sure where the nickname “woobie” came from. It’s a sophisticated, military grade poncho liner used for protection from the elements. Some say it provides comfort like a baby blanket. I am proud to say the Pinnacle Mercantile Authentic Woobie, manufactured by IFB Solutions, is made in the U.S.A. and provides jobs for people who are blind.

Brief History Lesson

The U.S. Army issued liner was introduced in 1962 for use by special forces in Vietnam. IFB Solutions has been making this durable product since 1991, exclusively for the army and marines. Now, we’re making the same product, matching the same military specs, and same quality, to shoppers on Amazon. Unlike a lot of knockoffs out there, this is authentic. It’s the same thing our soldiers and marines use, the only difference is the label.

Manufacturing with Meaning

man working with textile manufacturing machineryOur poncho liner has provided hundreds of jobs for people who are blind over the years at IFB Solutions. People who are blind or visually impaired face so many barriers to the workforce, whether it’s transportation or lack of education among employers who won’t hire people with disabilities for fear of liability or cost. In fact, 70% of the working age population who are blind are not employed. At IFB Solutions, our mission is to bring that statistic down. People who are blind from all over the country have relocated to work at IFB Solutions, a place where there are no barriers, just opportunities.

AbilityOne Program: Creating Jobs, Changing Lives

IFB Solutions, now 85 years old, began in a church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with only a few employees who were blind. Today, we have nearly 1,000 employees working all over the country in call centers, manufacturing operations,  Base Supply Centers, optical lab and more. We even have programs for kids who are blind.

We wouldn’t have had the opportunity to make such a beloved product as the Pinnacle Mercantile Authentic Woobie and employ so many people who are blind if it wasn’t for the AbilityOne Program. There are more than 500 nonprofits, including IFB Solutions, that are under the AbilityOne umbrella. All of them provide opportunities for more than 45,000 people with disabilities in America. The AbilityOne Commission governs a procurement system that provides products and services for the federal government at a fair market price. At IFB Solutions, these products include office supplies, tactical gear, mattresses and more. Each product or service from IFB Solutions represents a life that has been changed thanks to training, upward mobility opportunities, and a diverse pool of jobs from which to choose.

Every day, I am moved by IFB Solutions employees who are blind. It is an inspiring place, and I am honored to play a role in a product like the Pinnacle Mercantile Authentic Woobie that gave me comfort during my service.

 

Asheville’s IFB, Nation’s Largest Employer of Blind, Visually Impaired, Awarded $20K Grant

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ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — IFB Solutions in Asheville, the country’s largest employer of people who are blind or visually impaired, has received a $20,000 grant for job training.

The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina recently awarded the company the grant through the foundation’s Human Services Grant Program. The funds will be used to support a paid training program for people with visual impairments, which includes training in sewing, orientation, mobility, the use of assistive technology and independent living skills.

Read more HERE

 

IFB Solutions Receives $20,000 Grant for Job Training in Asheville

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ASHEVILLE, N.C. — IFB Solutions, the country’s largest employer of people who are blind or visually impaired, recently received a $20,000 grant from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina for job training in its Asheville facility. The grant, which came from the foundation’s Human Services Grant Program, is being used to support a paid training program for people with visual impairments, which includes training in sewing, orientation, mobility, the use of assistive technology, and independent living skills.

 

Read more HERE

IFB Solutions Receives $20,000 Grant for Job Training in Asheville

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nicole Ducouer
nducouer@ifbsolutions.org, M 304-685-2393


IFB SOLUTIONS RECEIVES $20,000 GRANT FOR JOB TRAINING IN ASHEVILLE

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — IFB Solutions, the country’s largest employer of people who are
blind or visually impaired, recently received a $20,000 grant from The Community
Foundation of Western North Carolina for job training in its Asheville facility. The grant,
which came from the foundation’s Human Services Grant Program, is being used to
support a paid training program for people with visual impairments, which includes
training in sewing, orientation, mobility, the use of assistive technology, and
independent living skills.

“Almost 90% of our employees who are blind would not have a job if not for IFB
Solutions, and training is the key to that employment. This grant helps our employees
increase their income and support themselves and their families,” said Randy Buckner,
vice president of operations support at IFB Solutions. “We are grateful to The
Community Foundation for their support.”

A nonprofit organization dedicated to providing employment, training and services for
people who are visually impaired or blind, IFB Solutions operates three manufacturing
facilities in Asheville, Winston-Salem, and Little Rock, Arkansas. The Asheville facility
employs more than 137 people, about half of whom are blind or visually impaired. The
Community Foundation grant will be used to provide paid training for new employees as
well as retraining for those already employed so they can pursue more advanced,
upward mobility opportunities. The paid job training is especially important for those who
may have recently lost their sight and are looking to reenter the workforce.

Ed Smith, an employee at IFB Solutions who is visually impaired, is one of many
workers to benefit from IFB’s job training program. “I worked on computers for 20 years
before losing my vision,” Smith said. “After losing my vision, I was told that applying for
disability was my only option. IFB Solutions showed me that it isn’t true. Thanks to IFB
Solutions’ job training program and assistive technology, I am back to a career that I
love. Plus, I get to help manufacture products for our federal government and the U.S.
Armed Forces — and I’m proud of that work.”

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
The Community Foundation is a nonprofit serving 18 counties in Western North
Carolina. The Foundation is a permanent regional resource that facilitated $22 million in
charitable giving last year. CFWNC inspires philanthropy and mobilizes resources to
enrich lives and communities in Western North Carolina. Learn more at cfwnc.org.

ABOUT IFB SOLUTIONS
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
operating nearly 20 office supply stores across the country and producing mattresses.
IFB produces eyewear under its Twenty200 brand at its Winston-Salem lab and
operates a retail location in Winston-Salem. IFB Solutions funds employee training and
services as well as community programs through grants and private donations, making
possible summer camps, afterschool programs and activities for children who are blind,
and Community Low Vision services through its low-vision Centers across North
Carolina and in Little Rock, Ark. ifbsolutions.org
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Fundraiser selling Brailled ‘Happy Holidays’ cards aims to empower blind and vision-impaired Charlotte children

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Haye sitting down in a chair and playing a guitar. Our IFB holiday fundraiser has the power to empower blind and vision-impaired children for the rest of their lives. We are selling brailled “Happy Holidays” cards to raise money for our S.E.E (Student Enrichment Experience) Program.

“You could just make a kid’s life,” teenager Hayes Hanvey of South Charlotte says of the card fundraiser.

Full story from FOX 46 here.

 

 

IFB Solutions Receives $25,000 Grant from the Truist Foundation

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IFB logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Nicole Ducouer nducouer@ifbsolutions.org, M 304-685-2393

IFB Solutions Receives $25,000 Grant from the Truist Foundation

Nonprofit will use grant to bridge existing gaps in low vision services in the Triad

WINSTON-SALEM, NC (Dec. 1, 2021) – Local nonprofit IFB Solutions, the largest employer of people who are blind in the country, announced today that it has received a $25,000 grant from the Truist Foundation to help people who are low vision connect with IFB’s services and resources.

 

As part of its mission of employment, training and services for people who are blind or low vision, IFB operates Community Low Vision Centers open to the public at its manufacturing campuses in Winston-Salem, N.C., Asheville, N.C., and Little Rock, Ark. The Truist Foundation grant will help IFB launch a new initiative to increase awareness for its low vision services starting with a focused community effort in the Triad.

 

Low vision is defined as vision that cannot be corrected with glasses or contacts. Low vision occurs in people of all ages and is more common in people over 65. In the Triad, the estimated number of people over 65 with vision challenges is 32,200, and those numbers are projected to increase as the youngest baby boomers hit 65 in 2029.

 

“Our Community Low Vision Centers are unique resources for people who are low vision and their families,” said Chris Flynt, Director of Programs and Community Low Vision Centers at IFB Solutions. “We have a wide variety of assistive tools and technologies available for people to try out, including a space that’s designed to mimic how people would use the products at their own homes. And our Center staff members are low vision themselves, so they bring invaluable personal insights to the experience.”

 

The IFB Community Low Vision Centers offer these assistive tools and technologies for sale as well as low vision exams, and a portion of the grant will be used to provide financial assistance for these products and services to customers who qualify.

 

The primary focus of the Truist Foundation grant will be a broad community awareness program with a long-term goal of serving 3,000 additional individuals who are low vision each year.

 

“The commitment of IFB Solutions to employ, serve and support residents of the Triad embodies Truist’s purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities,” said Cantey Alexander, Triad regional president for Truist, speaking on behalf of Truist Foundation. “With this grant, IFB Solutions will reach more members of our community and have a greater positive impact on the lives of those who are blind and low vision, and their families.”

 

IFB Solutions is hiring a Low Vision Outreach Coordinator to lead the awareness and community engagement efforts. Those efforts will include developing relationships with local eye care professionals, retirement communities and other long-term care facilities to make them aware of IFB’s low vision services.

 

“With low vision, it is common for people to give up on hobbies and activities that they previously enjoyed or that gave them independence,” said Flynt. “What’s exciting for us is the opportunity to show people that there are easy-to-use tools and technologies available at our Centers that will help them maintain their independence and quality of life.”

 

To learn more about the IFB Community Low Vision Center or to book an appointment with a low vision specialist, visit the website at https://communitylowvision.org/

 

ABOUT IFB SOLUTIONS 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 operating nearly 20 office supply stores across the country and producing mattresses. IFB produces eyewear under its Twenty200 brand at its Winston-Salem lab and operates a retail location in Winston-Salem. IFB Solutions funds employee training and services as well as community programs through grants and private donations, making possible summer camps, afterschool programs and activities for children who are blind, and Community Low Vision services through its low-vision Centers across North Carolina and in Little Rock, Ark. ifbsolutions.org

 

ABOUT TRUIST FOUNDATION

The Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation’s (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. Established in 2020, the foundation makes strategic investments in nonprofit organizations to help ensure the communities it serves have more opportunities for a better quality of life. The Truist Foundation’s grants and activities focus on building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses. Learn more at Truist.com/Foundation.

 

 

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KENNETH FUENTES JOINS IFB SOLUTIONS AS INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Nicole Ducouer, IFB Solutions nducouer@ifbsolutions.org or 304-685-2393

KENNETH FUENTES JOINS IFB SOLUTIONS AS INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN
WINSTON-SALEM, NC (Nov. 17, 2021) – IFB Solutions, a non-profit organization based in Winston-Salem and the largest employer of people who are blind or visually impaired in the country, announces the hiring of Kenneth Fuentes as Industrial Engineering Technician.

Fuentes will work with IFB’s engineering team in the Winston-Salem manufacturing facility to convert
operations previously limited to sighted employees into opportunities for employees who are blind or
visually impaired. Additionally, he’ll be identifying new avenues for production efficiencies across the
organization.

“With our diverse manufacturing portfolio, it’s important that we continuously improve our processes and leverage our unique engineering expertise in converting operations from sighted to blind,” said Silas
Martin, chief operating officer for IFB Solutions. Fuentes is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Prior to joining IFB, Fuentes worked at Leidos, a FORTUNE® 500 technology, engineering and science solutions and services leader.

 

ABOUT IFB SOLUTIONS
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 operating nearly 20 office supply stores across the country and producing mattresses. IFB produces eyewear under its Twenty200 brand at its Winston-Salem lab and operates a retail location in Winston-Salem. IFB Solutions funds employee training and services as well as community programs through grants and private donations, making possible summer camps, afterschool programs and activities for children who are blind, and Community Low Vision services through its low-vision Centers across North Carolina and in Little Rock, Ark. ifbsolutions.org\

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