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CONTACT: Patricia Porter, Resource Development, pporter@lvib.org or 727-815-0303
Babies who are visually impaired must learn to use all their senses and develop adapted skills in order to develop fully. Blind babies have very special needs, since they must learn to locate, reach and grasp objects, then crawl, stand, walk, and play—all while having a vision loss.
NEW PORT RICHEY, FL–January 30, 2024. The Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind (LVIB) has received a generous $10,000 grant from Suncoast Credit Union, Florida’s largest credit union, to help babies who are visually impaired learn the adapted skills needed to meet their unique developmental milestones.
“With this donation, we are not just giving funds; we are investing in a world where every child has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their visual abilities,” said Kourtney Berry, Executive Director, Suncoast Credit Union Foundation. “Supporting LVIB is a natural fit for Suncoast, as we share the similar goal of promoting the education, health, and wellbeing of the children in our communities.”
Since its inception in 1990, the Foundation has raised and donated over $40 million to help provide a better future for the children of our community. Each time a Suncoast member uses their debit or credit card, two cents are donated to the Foundation to support local initiates, like LVIB.
Suncoast Credit Union puts members first and enriches our local communities. The credit union offers lower rates on loans, higher earnings on deposits and more fee-free services so you can live your financial best life. Learn more and apply for membership at suncoastcreditunion.com.
Stefanie Pontlitz, Lighthouse CEO, is so grateful to the Suncoast Credit Union for providing this grant and for all the good work they do in community. She said, “The babies’ program is vital to ensuring these children reach their milestones. The work done in this program provides the confidence and reassurance for the parents and the families and creates the foundation for the child’s future.”
The “Little Lighthouse” Early Intervention Program at LVIB teaches babies, young children, and their parents, adapted skills and ways to use residual vision and other senses so that babies are able to meet their unique developmental milestones and be as prepared as possible to enter the school system. The program also assists parents and professionals with developing advocacy skills so they are able to obtain the equipment and other educational supports needed by the child in preschool and kindergarten. Learn more about the Lighthouse’s Early Intervention Program.
LVIB is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit which operates in Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus Counties. The mission of the LVIB is to educate, empower, and employ people who are visually impaired and blind. LVIB receives partial funding, therefore must fundraise to meet the demand for programs and services.
Suncoast Credit Union is the largest credit union in the state of Florida, the 8th largest in the United States based on membership, and the 11th largest in the United States based on its $17.5 billion in assets. Chartered in 1934 as Hillsborough County Teachers Credit Union, Suncoast Credit Union currently operates 78 full-service branches and serves more than one million members across Florida. As a community credit union, anyone who lives, works, attends school, or worships in Suncoast Credit Union’s service area is eligible for membership. In 2021, Suncoast Credit Union’s field of membership was expanded to include public K-12 teachers, college educators, and educational support staff from all of Florida’s 67 counties. Suncoast is passionate about community support. Since its founding in 1990, the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation has raised and donated more than $40 million to organizations and initiatives that support the health, education, and emotional well-being of children in the communities that the credit union serves. For more information, visit suncoastcreditunion.com or follow Suncoast Credit Union on social media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
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