ASHEVILLE – IFB Solutions, the country’s largest employer of people who are blind or visually impaired, is gearing up for its annual golf tournament fundraiser on Thursday, June 22 at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville. Proceeds from the tournament support the nonprofit’s job training programs for people who are blind or visually impaired, as well as the organization’s Community Low Vision Centers, which help people throughout the area adjust to daily life with low vision. 

A welcome reception for tournament players and supporters, attended by CEO Dan Kelly and others from the company’s leadership team, will be held on Wednesday, June 21 at Hi-Wire Brewing in Biltmore Village.

The annual captain’s choice tournament is one of the largest fundraising events held by the nonprofit, whose mission is to help people who are blind or visually impaired through expanded employment opportunities, job training and low vision assistance in the communities it serves, which includes Asheville, Buncombe County and the surrounding area.

“Not only does the tournament raise money to help people in our community who have low vision, but it also allows me to get on the links and enjoy the game of golf,” said Grant Weathers, low vision services and outreach coordinator at the Asheville Community Low Vision Center. “When I lost my vision, I stopped playing golf for several years. I am so glad to be able to enjoy the sport again and help a great cause at the same time.”

Dan Kelly — who, earlier this year, became the organization’s first CEO who is blind — will attend the player’s reception to meet with guests and supporters one day prior to the tournament. An athlete himself, Kelly began swimming competitively at age 12, going on to win 17 medals for the U.S. Paralympic Swim Team.

“IFB Solutions is recognized across the country for its work creating jobs and building independence for people who are blind or visually impaired,” Kelly said. “This tournament allows us to continue our mission of growing sustainable employment opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired.” 

In addition to its headquarters in Winston-Salem, IFB Solutions operates a 73,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Asheville, at 240 Sardis Road, which employs more than 100 people, about half of whom are blind or visually impaired. 

Registration is currently closed for the tournament.

About IFB Solutions® :

IFB Solutions is a nonprofit corporation founded in 1936 as Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind. Today, IFB strives to be America’s leader in building life-changing opportunities for people who are blind through its mission of creating employment opportunities for this critically underemployed population. IFB’s guiding principles focus on creating upwardly mobile career paths, building on its existing textile operations to develop integrated and technical employment opportunities, and maintaining a strong foundation of packaging and assembly operations as workforce entry points. IFB’s operational footprint includes large-scale manufacturing, Base Supply Center retail and online stores, Workforce Services staffing division, and its Pinnacle Mercantile Amazon storefront. IFB Solutions also provides essential job training for employees and community outreach through its Community Low Vision Centers and programming for children who are blind. Learn more at IFBSolutions.org.

Source: IFB Solutions