American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Future Reflections Summer 2024 NEWS
“I can’t imagine my life without Braille and my long white cane. I am so blessed that my mom fought to help me develop skills I value now.”
For many blind children, the journey to independence and inclusion begins at an early age. Through tactile exploration and literacy, children gain the skills and confidence needed to navigate the world. In partnership with the National Federation of the Blind, the American Action Fund believes no blind child should be without the tools necessary for this journey. This is the motivation behind our Early Childhood Initiatives, which include the Braille Reading Pals Club and the Early Explorers program.
The Braille Reading Pals Club is designed to introduce young blind children and their families to the joys of literacy through Braille. This program fosters a positive attitude toward Braille and encourages sighted family members to share in the love of reading with their blind children. Tailored for blind and low-vision children from birth to age eight, the Braille Reading Pals Club provides an array of resources to support early literacy. Participants receive print/Braille books and Braille birthday cards, and they build a connection with the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children. When they join the Braille Reading Pals Club, families access essential literacy tools and become part of a supportive network dedicated to the growth and development of blind children.
The Early Explorers program is crafted to introduce young blind children and their families to the long white cane, promoting independence and confidence from an early age. This program equips children with the foundational skills they need for cane travel, setting them on a path of curiosity and self-reliance. Program participants have access to an informational DVD that provides strategies for teaching beginning cane travel skills to young children, a child-sized free white cane, and a variety of Future Reflections articles on cane travel.
By joining the Early Explorers program, families take a crucial step toward fostering their child's independence and confidence in navigating the world with a white cane. You can sign up for one or more of our early childhood programs at https://nfb.org/programs-services/early-childhood-initiatives/early-childhood-application.
By supporting the American Action Fund, you're not only helping a single program; you're investing in a future where blind children can grow up with the tools and confidence they need for full participation and independence. Your contributions are instrumental in creating a more inclusive and accessible world for the blind community.
Join us in our efforts to ensure that every blind child has the opportunity to explore, read, and grow with confidence. Together, we can make a significant impact in the lives of these young explorers and readers.
Learn more about our programs, including the Early Childhood Initiatives, on our website: www.actionfund.org/programs.
Your support helps keep our resources free for blind children and adults. You can contribute to the Action Fund in three easy ways.
Make a gift online by visiting https://actionfund.org/donate.
Give over the phone by calling 410-659-9315.
Send a check made out to "American Action Fund" to 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, MD 21230.
Often the simplest and most significant way to make a charitable contribution is to plan a legacy gift. Creating a lasting impact is easier than you might think. Choose an option that works best for your circumstances.
You can plan to give all or part of a bank account, insurance proceeds, investment assets, real estate, or a retirement account. You can even give a required minimum distribution from your IRA directly to charity and avoid taxes on the distribution. After taking care of your loved ones, you can bequeath a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate to an organization whose mission is important to you.
The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults Legacy Society recognizes and honors the generosity of friends of the Action Fund who have chosen to leave a legacy through a will or other planned giving option.
If you wish to give part or all of an account, simply fill out a P.O.D. (payable on death) or T.O.D. (transfer on death) form. For pensions and insurance assets, simply designate a charity as a beneficiary. If you would like to leave a legacy to the Action Fund in your will, include the following language:
"I give, devise, and bequeath unto the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults, 1800 Johnson Street, Suite 100, Baltimore, Maryland 21230, (EIN# 52-1192529) the sum of $______________ (or) _________ percent of my net estate (or) the following stocks and bonds: ____________________, to be used for its worthy purposes on behalf of blind persons."
If you have questions or would like more information, please reach out to Patti Chang at 410-659-9315 or [email protected]. If you have included the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults in your will or have made some other provision for a future gift, please contact Patti so we can recognize you as a member of our Legacy Society.
Legacy gifts carry the values and ideals that have been important to you throughout your lifetime and provide for generations of blind children and adults. Please consider the American Action Fund in your future plans.