Sight & Sound Insights

Spring is a wonderful time of the year!  Flowers  bloom on branchs of the trees, perennials sprout from the soil, the birds are busy singing and of course it stays lighter out longer!  It is the time of the year when we all become more active, especially engaging in outdoor activities.

The Foundation for Sight & Sound has sprung forward with its 2012 fundraising endeavors kicking off with Pairsine  Wine and Chef competition and (with real enthusiasm) our first Day of Senses event at Connetquot High School.  Many accolades go out to High School Senior, Kelly Quinn who developed this unique event  in support of the Foundation!

Let’s first talk about what a  wonderful time we all had at the First Pairsine Wine & Chef Competition in New York City.  The evening featured  9 Top chefs who prepared two dishes each in a challenge in which there were professional judges and of course the People’s Choice Award.  All attendees had the opportunity to sample the dishes and vote for their favorite chef.  Wines were provided by 26 California Zinfandel Winemakers.   The extravaganza took place at Sun West Studio, overlooking the Hudson and a view of the Empire State Building, it was a spectacular way to watch the sun go down with a wonderful glass of wine and some great food.   If you weren’t at this event I really hope you folks attend one in the future. Here is a link to the photos for the Pairsine event

Day of Senses was a huge success despite the rain.   Assisting Kelly’s desire to make this event happen is our newest staff member, Danielle who worked tirelessly to put all the pieces together and orchestrate the elements of the day’s activities.  Of importance are the two dozen or so people who came as volunteers or registrants that braved the onslaught of the consistent downpour.  The school principal, Mr. Murtha came by to provide his support and even participated in the sightless strut.  This event was a race using a white cane and being blindfolded, walking fast around the quarter mile high school track.  It was a real eye opener to say the least.

This creative event will become a true educational testimonial to the challenges faced by the visually impaired and hard of hearing community.  A special thanks once again to Kelly Quinn, who is graduating from the school this year her dedication to the mission of Foundation for Sight & Sound and desire to make a difference in the community demonstrates true leadership quality.  The Foundation is Hopeful the event will continue at Connetquot for years to come. Here is a link to the photos of Day of Senses

 We encourage all  high school students and/or groups to consider taking on a Day of Senses project or creating a fundraising event of their own design for the Foundation for Sight & Sound. Please contact us and let us know of your desire to be involved.

Charitable organizations like FSS depend on the spirit of volunteerism from people of all ages.  Funds for the Foundation for Sight & Sound’s projects come from a variety of events held throughout the year.  Help us provide men, women & children with vision and/or hearing challenges the tools to lead a more productive life.   With your support we can make a difference each and every day,

Respectfully Submitted

Mitchel Shapiro

Sooooo, when was the last time you had a good laugh and couldn’t stop?   Laughter is known to be the best medicine alleviating stress , tension and sadness.  It puts smiles on people’s faces, and creates a friendly happy environment.  Everyone laughs for various reasons at different things that seem hilarious to them.

Ultimately it’s all decided by personal taste, the extent to which a person will find something humorous depends upon a host of variables, including geographical location, culture, maturity, level of education, intelligence and context.

Here are a few simple tips for a good sense of humor

v  Tell a joke or two

v  Smile, it makes people wonder what you are up to

v  Find something humorous when confronted with sadness, annoyance, anger, frustration and all negative circumstances.

v  Watch a comedy show or movie, listen to your favorite comedians.

v  Laugh at yourself, embarrassing moments are always a plus!

The best humor can be found in personalized stories especially situations which occur in our daily routines.  You may not realize it at that moment but I have had one too many times when it ‘hit me’ after the fact.

Disability is really no laughing matter, however like anything else in the world humor can be found in many situations a person  with disabilities  may encounter.   Personally, I tend to find many things in my daily life related  to  vision and hearing challenges to be either ridiculously corny or just downright funny.  It’s all how a person understands and perceives the context and what the joke is about.  Of course it’s not funny to everyone and sensitivity must play a  vital role when sharing your humor.

Lets lighten up the world with laughter.  Have some fun,  jump start your funny bones and get everyones laughing genes mobilized! 

Respectfully submitted by

Mitch Shapiro

New Year Message

As the year comes to a close, I am reflecting back on the many new and exciting  developments the year has brought and the very special people who continue to be part of this amazingly exciting adventure.  I am truly grateful for all. It’s a privilege for me to share with you where life’s journey continues to lead me.

Professionally, I continue to make major changes in my life and personal mission, reinforcing the commitment as a dedicated and full-time volunteer for charity, in particular The Foundation For Sight & Sound.    I feel fortunate to be joined in this mission by a growing and committed Board of Directors and a strong core of talented and hard-working volunteers.  Together, we’ve increased our network of generous supporters who help us help the many men, women & children with vision and/or hearing challenges.

Each board member and volunteer plays a crucial role in the future of Foundation For Sight & Sound. Everyone brings something to the organization.  It is a pleasure to have each one of you as part of the growth and success we all work hard to achieve.

Behind the scenes our staff is working hard to find new resources of revenue and sponsorships for our variety of events.  You may be unaware of the many other daily components of the daily grind.  There are many phone calls, coming and going, research, updating of our website and social media, letters to prospects, database upkeep and the list goes on and on; yes it’s like any other business!

Our volunteer base is slowly growing again.  Volunteers assist in an array of tasks.  This includes but is not limited to design of marketing materials, public relations/awareness, helping with mailings, data entry, writing grants to obtain funds, joining event committees and spreading the word of the good work the Foundation For Sight & Sound does.  Volunteers are an important part of the organization.

Listed below are some Foundation For Sight & Sound highlights and milestones worthy of being proud of!

Help America Hear continues to grow by leaps and bounds.  There are many oganizations & agencies that have recognized us as a reputable source for people who lack financial resources and are seeking help in obtaining hearing aids. Help America Hear
since it’s inception on January 2009, has fitted over 220 people with hearing aids.

The Foundation did 4 Day of Giving Hearing Aid Missions.  One each in Denver & Pueblo Colorado and the Bronx & Riverhead NY.  A total of 58 men, women & children received the gift of two hearing aids each.

The Middle Country Library in Centereach, New York received an Inductive Loop System for their conference room.  This will enable hearing and cochlear users to participate in seminars and other activities with more direct hearing capabilities.

The Library Program outfitted five Long Island Libraries with assistive technologies for their visually impaired patrons.  Since 2004 at least 30 libraries have benefitted from our donations.

A formidable partnership was formed with GN ReSound, a manufacturer of high quality hearing aids.  Through this partnership the Help America Hear Program is able to provide the Gift of Sound through special arrangements.

Help America Hear launched Tier II for people with a gross household income of
$35,000 or less.  This fills a gap of people who are ‘caught in the middle’ and still have financial difficulties.

The Foundation has some wonderful fundraising events;  two golf outings in Denver & Long Island.  We had our Art of Giving event, Friends & Family Summer Bash, Baseball Card Show Raffle and of course the Denver Wine/Beer Festival and Culinary Competition.
We have a host of new events to take place in 2012!

The Foundation For Sight & Sound’s website traffic and ratings have prospered through
the generosity of a donation by Google Ad Words Campaign. We have also revamped
the site to make it easier to navigate. We are listed on GuideStar where anyone can validate our credibility.  This site is used by grant givers.

Our new video showcases our 3^rd Hearing Aid Mission at Montefiore in the Bronx.  This video truly captures the essence of our Help America Hear Program and how it impacts the lives we change.

All in all, despite the slow economy, I believe the Foundation For Sight & Sound is fairing OK and holding its own.  Of course, to expand our programs, more donations must be raised. We are positioned perfectly to make a n even bigger difference in the community.

On the personal/professional side of things, I plan to spend some time working on developing and expanding my Public Speaking career.   It has always been my heart’s desire to inspire and empower people to take action in reaching their full personal
potential and hitting their goals for the future. I know I am capable of enabling participants to better confront the challenges that life inevitably brings to our doorsteps.  I look forward to sharing this experience with many audiences in 2012.

Briefly, I’d like to discuss “Giving”. It comes in all shapes and sizes, but mostly it comes from the heart. It isn’t always about financial commitment; it is about offering your time, expertise, resources and energy to help make the world a better place.

For me, the satisfaction of knowing I’ve made some kind of dent in this crazy world we all live in is extremely fulfilling.  If you aren’t already passionately involved in a charitable endeavor of your choice, I urge you to do that! It’s worth it to find the time.

Remember, what you give of yourself comes back in many forms.  My dad always taught me it’s great when you are a giver, it is then you can receive.  Time has proven again and again that things come back.  How great it feels to have the ability to keep ‘Paying it forward’ to yet another person who needs that lift!

It’s a great time of the year to take inventory of your life.  It’s time to reflect on where you
have been and where you choose to be. It’s also a good time to ask yourself if you are truly committed to giving 125% of yourself to everything you do.  Are you passionate about the things you are involved in?  Is your life fulfilling?

I guess …in a nutshell…life continues to be a wonderful experience!  On a personal level, this includes the love and support of a wonderful family, network of friends and of
course the many people I come in contact with every day.

I have spent many a moment reflecting on how, for me, life in the fast lane is no longer appealing and I’ve started to rediscover many of the everyday things so often overlooked. Truly, a good balance of work, combined with a healthy lifestyle, mixed with family and friends along with a wonderful relationship are what is most important.  Another important element is taking some time out to have FUN!   A short list of activities
included obtaining a tandem bike and doing a few ‘marathon’ bike rides…..42 & 100 miles.  Of course I used this as a vehicle to raise money for the Foundation. Not to forget the fun rappelling down a 12 story building!  What’s next? I hope you are taking advantage and giving yourself permission to spend a little Fun Time in your life as well.

I have also come to realize how important it is to be myself, as a person, despite the challenges faced with a world without sight or sound.  I am committed to continuing to stay “out there,” enjoying my life as much as anyone else(and probably more than
many!).  I lead life each day forgetting the fact my vision is disappearing and the sounds I hear have diminished.  I know there’s much I am missing, but truthfully, am I? (Chuckle)

With all this being said, as we start the New Year 2012, remember this:
Enjoy each day for what it is, take it moment by moment.  Appreciate what you have in your life, what you don’t have doesn’t exist and is irrelevant at the moment.  Be generous in spreading good positive influence to everyone and anyone you come in contact with, it adds sunshine and smiles.  It costs nothing and makes a difference all around.

Last but not least…Each and every day is a new and exciting experience, make
every moment count!

Thank you again for being a part of the bigger picture of all good things to come.

Wishing you a healthy prosperous, productive, abundant, exhilarating, wonderful, exciting & loving Happy New Year!!

Mitch