FRIENDSO F T E N N E S S E E S C H O O L

F O R T H E B L I N DFOCUSonFRIENDS The Newsletter of Friends of

Tennessee School for the Blind

Welcome to Our Fall 2013 Newsletter

TSB Student Broadcasting Room Underway Thanks to the Wilson County Photography Guild

Goal Set To Undertake Phase Two of “Bring Back Bowling to TSB”

Since the completion of upgrades and the replacement of pinsetters in the bowling alley, Friends of TSB has been listening closely to feedback from teach-ers and staff. At the most recent board meeting, members unani-mously voted to fund Phase Two of the bowling alley project, which would make the alley more acces-sible to many TSB students who

utilize wheelchairs and walkers, or have mobility issues. Renova-tion plans are being drawn up by an architect to create easy access to the lanes and ensure safety codes are met, while maintaining the look and history of the lanes. If you would like your donation to be directed to this worthy project, please let us know on your dona-tion form.

Our thanks to Wilson County Photography Guild members and event organizers, Marian Young (L), Jana Pastors (R) shown here with with TSB Superintendent, Dr. Martin Monson.

At the beginning of this year, Friends of TSB was contacted by Marian Young of the Wilson County Photography Guild (WCPG) with an exciting concept for hosting their first “Eye on the Arts” fundraiser to benefit their community. After learning about the work of Friends of TSB, and the needs of TSB students, the WCPG chose to donate the proceeds of the event to the Friends organization. When the WCPG listened to Friends of TSB president, Jim Oldham, describe the foundation’s continued dream of creating a student broadcasting room, they knew the proceeds would create great opportunities for TSB students.

After months of careful plan-ning, on the evening of June 4th, at the Stonebridge Subdivision Clubhouse in Lebanon, the “Eye on the Arts” event generated a large turnout resulting in a fun-filled and successful fund-raiser. Guests were treated to hors

d’oeuvres, a wine tasting, and live music from “Runaway Home” and Patricia Baxter. Professional and amateur photography contests, and a silent auction, were popular with the guests. In all, the event raised over $6,400 for Friends of TSB to be used toward the broad-casting room.

In September of 2013, Friends of TSB board members voted to begin work on the production and broadcasting studio in the Life Skills Building, which would allow for the creation of a small internet radio station, an internet video news channel, and school

newscasts. Work is underway to create some soundproofing for the room and Friends is consulting with a sound expert to purchase the needed computers, software, microphones and adaptive items for the students. Students will soon have an opportunity to learn about broadcasting in a hands-on setting thanks to the generosity of the WCPG. Our sincerest thanks to their organization, and to the many sponsors and supporters of this event.

A special thanks to these generous donors who helped us complete funding for Phase One of “Bring Back Bowling to TSB”!

Friends of TSB board member, Sue Glore with Rusty Moore, Michele Friedrichsen, and Andrea Woodard from Bob Parks, received a tour of the renovated bowling alley which received generous funding through the Brunch and Bid event.

In December, 2012, the Nashville & Parks Properties division of Bob Parks Realty sponsored the 12th Annual Brunch and Bid fundraiser to support the Friends of Tennessee School for the Blind foundation. The event included a live and silent auc-tion, hor d’oeuvres, and a performance by members of the TSB Chorus. This event raised over $11,000 for Friends of TSB.

In 2012, Modern Woodmen of America, through Chapter 15294, chose Friends of Tennessee School for the Blind as a recipient of a Modern Woodmen of America Matching Fund Project. Modern Woodmen provided a matching grant of $2500 to Friends of TSB through the 2012 Parks Brunch and Bid fundraiser. Pictured Left: Friends of TSB board members, Bobby Bass and Donna Richmond, Center: Kim Lacy and Sarah Jackson from Modern Woodmen of America, Right: Friends of TSB president, Jim Oldham, and Dr. Martin Monson, TSB Superintendent.

On November 8, 2012, Dr. Nicole Zyla-Herrera of Precision Care Chiroprac-tic, hosted a “Ladies’ Night of Indulgence”. Through an admission charge and donations, she raised $550 for Friends of TSB.

On January 24, 2013, student members of the Future Farmers of America at Perry County High School and TSB students held a combined bowl-ing tournament to

benefit Friends of TSB. Organized by PCHS teacher and FFA leader, Cindy Hale, and Perry County Sheriff’s Office Investiga-tor, Michael Sankey, this successful event raised over $500. Pictured: Dr. Martin Monson (L) and Mike Sankey (R).

In the Spring of 2013, the Hillwood High School Developing Community Lead-ers Class and Coach Bubba Spears held a bowl-a-thon for Friends of TSB which raised $500.

Thank you!

Each year the Murfreesboro Breakfast Rotary Club sponsors a Blindness Awareness Golf Scramble to support projects undertaken by Friends of TSB. This year’s tournament raised over $13,000 through the generosity of many sponsors, players, and the Murfreesboro Breakfast Rotary Club.

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD

As the holiday season approaches, it is traditional and right that we pause to be thank-ful and count our many bless-ings. Friends of TSB supporters have been privileged to partici-pate in the growth and success of students who ask for so little and give so much to us. How can one quantify the laughter and joy of these children? Witness-

ing a young student make his first strike on the new TSB bowling alley was, as the TV ad puts it, “priceless”. But sometimes it’s the little things that make a difference, like purchasing supplies and the services of an instructor to enable students to develop their artistic talents, or providing funds for our seniors to go grocery shopping while learning independent living skills. Many of us, either directly or through their example, have been touched and inspired by the TSB students.

There are literally hundreds of wonderful and giving volun-teers at fundraising events and activities for students. What could be more rewarding than your impact on the lives of these very special students? As for me, being a Friend of TSB is at the top of my “I am thankful” list.

Respectfully, Jim A. OldhamFriends of TSB Board President

We would like to express our deepest appreciation

to community organizations, business leaders, corporate

foundations, and generous in-dividuals who support and are an integral part of the chari-table efforts of Friends of TSB.

Through your generosity, Friends raised over $60,000 in 2012/13 towards projects to

benefit TSB students.

FRIENDS Donors

Friends of Tennessee School for the Blind

Mission Statement

The mission of Friends of Tennessee School for the Blind is to supplement state appropriations by enhancing and enriching the educational, vocational, special skills, and social development of students enrolled at the Tennessee School for the Blind.

FOUNDATION, GRANT, BUSINESS and COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION SUPPORT

CIC FoundationParks/Bob Parks RealtyMurfreesboro Breakfast Rotary ClubWilson County Photography GuildModern Woodmen of AmericaPerry County FFA AlumniPerry County High School FFAMotor Parts & BearingLouis R. Draughon FoundationAT&T United WayHCA Caring for the CommunityUnited Way NashvilleCross Country EducationTSB Alumni AssociationHillwood High School Developing Community Leaders Class

Verizon FoundationComdata Corporation

INDIVIDUAL DONATIONSMichael and Kathy DumontJohn CothamMike SankeyDr. Nicole Zyla-HerreraLeroy KrantzMichael GalvinEvangeline MorrisMarvin and Larhea SanfordRandall and Carol Ann BeasleyJames and Sharon PerdueScott R. RedlingerDonald ConleyBlake and Lee TidwellChris GilbertRaymond Beck Dr. Deborah HattonWendell O. MandrellLisa B. WheelerPam BelfordBobby BassVijayalakshmi SaminathanLeigh A. HartmanMichele FriedrichsenVirginia HubbardJeannie StaudtChristy RussellPenny WalshStephanie HollandTracy M. ThurberDelores IvySharon E. Loftis

Catherine Keating in honor of James R. Keating

Yvonne C. Moles in honor of Judy Buckman

Elmer and Sarah Young in honor of Hargus Robbins

Denise Yeargin in honor of Jim Oldham

Donna Richmond in honor of Lauren Williams

Amy Jones in honor of her daughter, Emily Bowers

Virginia Russell in memory of Martha Ann Wright

Gifts in memory of Jerome P. Richmond: Phillip A. Wilson, Bill and Beverly Holley, Debbie Holley & Randy Guidry, Lori and Tracy Weeks, Pat Galvin

Kortni Businda in memory of Mary Kyle

Judy G. Jones in memory of Earl N. Jones and in honor of Pat Galvin

Jim Oldham in memory of: Anne Murray, Hilary Murtagh’s broth-er, Rob, and Dianna Henderson Foy

Adriana Echeverri in memory of Linda Gail Wise

Danielle Anderson in memory of Paul Boyd

Kay Livesay in memory of John Weese and Roger Green

Sandra R. Gray in memory of Dorothy Sweat

Gifts in memory of Margie DePriest to the Frank DePriest Scholarship Fund: Pat Galvin, Frances K. Tragle, Anna Rochelle Rice, Sara Ogle, Helen Alsup and family, Jim and Carolyn Oldham, Ralph and Linda Brewer, Martha Redman, Patsy McClendon and Mary Webb

Enrichment OpportunitiesIn addition to major projects, Friends of TSB funded enrichment opportunities throughout the year including:• The Souper Bowl art project that allows students to give back to the community.• A Senior Independent Grant which provides independent liv-ing skills for students including money manging, shopping, and cooking.• Student awards

A Sincere Thanks to the CIC Foundation for

their generous year-end donation.

In December of 2012, Friends of TSB received $10,000 from the CIC Foundation which completed funding ahead of schedule for Phase One of Bring Back Bowling to TSB. We are very grateful for this generous gift and their continued support of the TSB students.

Our heartfelt thanks to the family and friends of Samantha Leech who contributed $2,300 by matching their gift through the Verizon Foun-dation Matching Gifts Program in Samantha’s honor. Each year, since

2006, they have made a generous contribution to benefit the TSB children, as their Christmas tradition in lieu of giving gifts.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Friends of Tennessee School for the Blind

Jim Oldham, President John Harris, Vice PresidentCarla Caraway, Treasurer

Donna Richmond, SecretaryRalph BrewerBobby BassGinger Bell

Judy BuckmanJoanie Dixon

Sue GloreDee Gee LesterMartin Monson

Allison NannemannDebbie Propst

Kim Walker

The Board of Directors of Friends of Tennessee School for the Blind, Inc. would like to thank all persons and organizations that have assisted in the efforts to enrich the lives of students at Tennessee School for the Blind.

FRIENDSO F T E N N E S S E E S C H O O L

F O R T H E B L I N D

Preds goaltender, Pekka Rinne (2nd from left) and mascot Gnash present a grant check to Jim Oldham (center), President of Friends; along with TSB Superintendent, Dr. Martin Monson (L), TSB Principal, Dr. Kim Walker (R), recent TSB graduate, Caleb Freeman, and TSB student, Alicia Whitehead.

May 20th, 2013 was an exciting afternoon at Bridgestone Arena as the Nashville Predators presented the biggest grant allocation in franchise history to Nashville and Middle Tennessee-based community service and charitable organizations.

Friends of TSB was elated to be awarded a grant of $1,500 for 32 new pair of skates for TSB students. This much appreciated funding will replace the old, worn-out skates that the students can no longer use. In addition, Friends of TSB supplemented this funding with $1,000 to provide helmets, elbow, wrist, and kneepads.

This is the 7th grant awarded to Friends of TSB by the Nashville Predators Foundation.

TSB Students On a Roll Again Thanks to Grant from Nashville Predators

TSB students also benefit annually from the Predators Community Relations Program “Give & Go,” which provides free tickets for students to attend home hockey games.

The Louis R. Draughon Foundation has been a special friend to TSB for many years, pro-viding technology grants for low vision and communication devices that enable students to acquire knowledge from the written page, to access the internet, and to man-age activities of daily living.

This year, Friends of TSB was awarded a $7,000 grant to pur-chase a DaVinci desktop video magnifier with a text reader, a Transformer computer-compatible

portable electronic magnifier, and an Amigo portable magnifier.

These state-of-the-art low vision devices will allow students to access a wider variety of every-day print materials and textbooks not available in large print, as well as items at a distance within class-rooms. We would like to thank the Draughon Foundation on behalf of TSB for the new opportunities they have provided through their generous, ongoing support.

Louis R. Draughon Foundation Awards Grant for Low Vision Technology

Schedule of Upcoming Events

Brunch and Bid with FriendsWednesday, December 4th, 2013

Time: 10 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.Hampton Inn & Suites

5001 Crossing Circle, Mount Juliet, TNSponsored by Parks/Bob Parks Realty

Everyone Welcome!

2014 Blindness Awareness Golf TournamentDate: April 23, 2014

Get a foursome together or sponsor a hole for this fun event!

Contact Andy.Joiner@tsbtigers.org for more information

If you would like to make a do-nation to Friends of TSB, or desire more information, contact us, or visit our website at www.friendsoftsb.org Friends of Tennessee School for the Blind, Inc. c/o Jim Oldham, President 115 Stewarts Ferry Pike Nashville, Tennessee 37214 info@friendsoftsb.org(615)231-7307 Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FriendsofTSB

Friends of TSB is eligible for designations through the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville (UWMN) campaign, designa-tion code 1038.

Important: Your gift may be doubled if your employer has a matching gift program. Please contact your Human Resources Department.

To make a donation to Friends of Tennessee School for the Blind please print this page and mail it along with your check.

Make checks payable to: Friends of TSB

Mail to: Friends of TSB

115 Stewarts Ferry Pike Nashville, TN 37214

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