Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1023845
12 Giving Guide 2018 Worcester Business Journal www.wbjournal.com Audio Journal Inc. 1. Expand the reach to and engagement of the nearly 5,000 local visually impaired persons. 2. Increase partnerships with blindness organizations, both consumer and service providers. 3. Improve the awareness of Audio Journal within the community at large. 4. Promote new technologies to deliver the service, such as "smart speakers." 5. Expand the prevalence of audio description services at previously underserved venues. 6. Provide hands-on work experience for individuals with vision impairments. 7. Create new Corporate Partnerships to help sustain the service into the future. 8. Recruit new volunteer readers and board members. "Dining in the Dark" has become our signature annual fundraising event. Corporate sponsorships, auction-item donations and ticket sales contribute to the success of this blindfolded "taste" of what individuals who are blind face every day. Radio-Active Theatre live performances also benefit from these types of support and donations. Dependable volunteer readers can receive training in broadcasting, engineering, and audio editing. Volunteers also help deliver our radios, assist with their particular specific skills (computer, electronics, engineering), or act as ambassadors. Board members help keep the operation funded and true to its mission. Give your employees the opportunity to impact our communities through volunteering at Audio Journal. Corporate Partnerships provide an opportunity to "give back" to the community, expand brand awareness and assist with a proven solution to the challenges of living with blindness. Individuals respond to our annual appeal directly, online, or by in-kind contributions. Gifts to be shared with our volunteers (i.e., gift certificates) are also most helpful and appreciated. Vincent dePaul Lombardi, Executive Director Edward J. Connor, Jr. Archstone Financial Services MISSION STATEMENT SERVICE AREA: Audio Journal provides news and information specific to Central Massachusetts. Through the Internet, news can be shared nationally and internationally to those with interests here. To inform and empower individuals in Central Massachusetts who are blind in order to help them overcome barriers that hinder their access to information, culture, employment opportunities and companionship. Memorial Foundation for the Blind ...............................42.5% Local Foundations .............21% Events ............................11.5% TOP FUNDING SOURCES: Tony Economou, ReMax Advantage 1 Maribeth Fisher, Seven Hills Aspire Arthur Lindberg, New England Low Vision and Blindness, Treasurer Lizbeth Myska, Attorney-at-Law Jack Peacock, COMMplements, Secretary Catherine Thornton, Uxbridge Lions Caroline J. Toomey-Gitto, MCPHS Audio Journal Inc. 799 West Boylston Street Worcester, MA 01606 Phone: 508-797-1117 www.audiojournal.net Full-time employees: 3 Annual revenues: $246,482 Year founded: 1987 BOARD OF DIRECTORS GIVING OPPORTUNITIES FUTURE GOALS FUNDRAISING EVENTS/OPPORTUNITIES VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Audio Journal gives me the chance to bring the power, beauty and pleasure of words… for those lacking sight but not vision. – Catherine Thornton, Board Member, Director of Radio-Active Theatre