LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th Anniversary of ABVI-Good-
will to be celebrated on October 15, 2011

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of organizations
and individuals who work to improve the well-being of the community and
its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 100th Anniversary of ABVI-Goodwill to be celebrated with a
Dinner Dance at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center, Rochester,
New York, on Saturday, October 15, 2011; Don Alhart, WHAM Anchor, will
serve as Master of Ceremonies; and
WHEREAS, In 1911, a group of four graduates of the New York State
School for the Blind in Batavia decided to form an agency to serve the
local population of people who were blind; two years later, in 1913, the
Association for the Blind was incorporated; and
WHEREAS, The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI),
an affiliate of Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, is dedicated to carrying
out its mission of preparing and empowering people who are blind or
visually impaired to be self-sufficient and contribute to their families
and communities; and
WHEREAS, As a leading not-for-profit organization and community
resource, ABVI adheres to the following core organizational values:
Respect, Integrity, Accessibility, Self-determination, Service Excel-
lence, Confidentiality, Development, Communication, Culture, Continuous,
and Improvement; and
WHEREAS, Under the luminous direction of President/CEO, A. Gidget
Hopf, ABVI has grown into one of the leading social enterprises in the
Finger Lakes; its non-profit characteristic is greatly increased by
businesses that generate revenue; this revenue allows ABVI to provide
services that empower people with vision loss to lead independent,
fulfilling lives; and
WHEREAS, The social enterprise model has great impact, not just on the
organization or the people it serves, but also on the community; through
the services provided and the jobs created, ABVI is empowering people to
be contributing members of their community; and
WHEREAS, In 2009-2010, ABVI provided services to over 3,000 individ-
uals between the ages of 10 months and 102 years; it also provided over
12,220 hours of Vision Rehabilitation service to 465 individuals in
their homes and 471 people at the main campus and in the InSight Shop,
and served 802 individuals in its Low Vision Center; as well as provided
services to 193 children with visual impairments; and
WHEREAS, Currently, ABVI employs over 500 people, one-fifth of whom
are blind or visually impaired; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that when organiza-
tions and individuals of such commitment and accomplishment are brought
to its attention, it is appropriate to publicly proclaim and commend
them for the edification and emulation of others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of ABVI-Goodwill to be celebrated on
October 15, 2011; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to A. Gidget Hopf, President/CEO, ABVI-Goodwill, 422 South Clin-
ton Avenue, Rochester, New York 14620-1198.