Fall
2009
IN THIS ISSUE
PAGE 2
CLINIC RECEIVES NEWCOMB GRANT
PAGE 3
NOTES FROM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
PAGE 4
AND
5
WOOF TO WOOF
VINTAGE AFFAIRE
MENLO CHARITY HORSE SHOW
PAGE 6
AND
7
APPRECIATION AND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
PAGE 8
LEGACY SOCIETY ANNOUNCED
MARIA SZABO
IS
NO LONGER
In meeting Maria Szabo, one would
be surprised to learn that she has
been a prisoner twice. Born and
raised in Hungary, Maria labored in a
coal mine while in a Russian prison
camp in her 20s. Nearly 60 years
later and losing her sight, she was
imprisoned by her own perceived
inabilities.
“I lost my mother and then my
husband. My vision got worse and I
had to give up my driver’s license
and then move from my home,” she
said. “I got myself into a good
depression and just dug deeper. I
couldn’t read and I couldn’t drive. I
felt cut off from everything. It was
like I was locked in prison.”
That depression lasted nearly
two years. As she tried to adjust to
living in her new surroundings with
her age-related macular degeneration, Maria learned that someone
from Vista Center was coming to talk
and share agency information and
resources available to her and her
neighbors. “After hearing the talk, I
thought they might be able to help
me see better and not be so isolated,” she said. She described the presentation as someone extending her a
“lifeline.”
A
PRISONER
Maria Szabo in her beloved garden.
Maria, 85, took advantage of
several services from Vista Center,
including a low vision exam and a
support group. “There were many
people much younger than I that had
no vision. I decided it was time to get
my shoulders back and kick myself to
stand up straighter. It’s made a world
of difference.” A Vista Center low
vision optometrist suggested low
vision aids that make it much easier
for her to shop and read in her home.
Maria said having access to low vision
professionals and special equipment
so quickly kept her from going back
to her state of depression.
Maria is thrilled with the talking
magazines she receives that allow her
Continued on page 8
3
2
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Claire Biancalana
President
Susan Martin
President-Elect
Hilary Holmquest
Nels Westman
Patricia Wyrod
Vice Presidents
Meaux Costello
Treasurer
Walter Raineri
Secretary
Bruce Fielding
Past President
Pam Brandin, M.P.A.
Executive Director
Martha Edwards
Harvey Fishman, M.D., Ph.D.
Michael Freitas
Dana Griffin
David Krane
Deborah T. Kreuzer, Ph.D.
Steven Lovett, Ph.D.
Rosa Mussallem
Naomi Chavez Peters
Steven R. Sanislo, M.D.
Ron Schwartz
Ingrid Sywak
Suzanne Wilcox
Anna Zappettini
CLINIC RECEIVES NEWCOMB GRANT
Vista Center recently received a very
generous gift from the Bernard A.
Newcomb Foundation, a supporting
organization of Silicon Valley
Community Foundation.
The $50,000 gift was awarded
to supplement the optometrist services in the Palo Alto Low Vision Clinic
by offering an additional day of clinic
services per week.
“When a person is referred to
us, we want to see them as quickly
as possible," said Garlyn Serame,
director of clinic services, noting the
wait for an appointment has been
reduced from a few months to a cou-
CELEBRATING DECADES
Gerry Marshall and Bernie Newcomb
ple of weeks. “We are grateful to the
Bernard A. Newcomb Foundation for
helping us to be more responsive to
those seeking our help.”
OF
Ray Clegg Westman
Director Emerita
Vista Center for the Blind and
Visually Impaired
2470 El Camino Real
Suite 107
Palo Alto, CA 94306-1715
650.858.0202
fx 650.858.0214
413 Laurel Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060-4904
831.458.9766
fx 831.426.6233
www.vistacenter.org
Clarence Rinne, center, backed by his daughter
Susan, celebrates with veteran staff members (from
left) Pam Brandin, Sharon Hudson, and Paul Raskin.
A special birthday celebration took
place at Vista Center recently, spotlighting one of the organization’s most
loyal donors. Clarence Rinne met with
senior staff members to celebrate his
95th birthday.
Clarence has a 30-year-plus
relationship with Vista Center, beginning in 1971 via the Palo Alto Lions
Club. He went on to serve for 12
SUPPORT
years on the board of directors,
including a term as president.
Over the years, Clarence’s
enthusiasm for the agency has
rubbed off on his family as well. His
daughter, Susan Rinne Miklos, and
son-in-law, Bill, are also Vista Center
supporters. Susan said she learned
from her father “what a great organization it is and how it benefits the
community.” She and her husband
are happy to continue the family
tradition.
After more than three decades
of involvement, what advice does
Clarence have for Vista Center so that
it can thrive now and in the future?
“The blind are the most forgotten,” he said. “Some people are all
alone. One-on-one services from
Vista Center are very important. You
can’t ask for anything more than to
make that kind of difference.”
NOTES
FROM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Thank you for your continued support
of Vista Center and our services, and
for helping us to change the lives of
more than 2,200 individuals this past
year. This summer’s Woof to Woof,
Vintage Affaire, and the Menlo Charity
Horse Show were each so successful
and added welcome resources for us
to empower people like Maria Szabo
to engage in life to the fullest. A special “thank you” from all of us to the
many, many volunteers who make
these three extraordinary events
“happen”!
Vista Center is coming through
the recession in relatively good
shape, with our outstanding staff
working with more efficiency and
dedication than ever. The strategic
program cuts that we made in the
first half of the year, our postponement of a capital campaign study for
the new building that we will need by
2013, and the salary reductions that
every member of the staff took
beginning January 1st, have made it
possible for us to continue providing
exceptional services to everyone who
needs them.
We look forward to returning to
a position where we can again grow
our capacity for serving more of the
many thousands of individuals in our
service area who could benefit from
Vista Center’s programs. In the
meantime, we are using the opportunity to do some new classes, one just
underway in diabetes management,
and another to come in medical management. These will enable small
groups of clients to learn safe meth-
TO RECEIVE OUR
NEWSLETTER
ELECTRONICALLY,
SEND YOUR NAME AND
EMAIL ADDRESS TO
[email protected]
Pam Brandin
ods of managing diabetes and other
medical conditions that are generally
based on vision-dependent management tools. Our staff is also working
on the curriculum for a much-needed
summer camp for school-age clients
that would build on living skills training that they receive during the
school year.
In June, we said regretful goodbyes and thank yous to departing
board members Ivan Brockman,
John Glass, Susan Gregory,
Bridget Madigan, Steve
Nakagawa, and Barb Williams;
and at our August board meeting we
welcomed new board members Dana
Griffin, Ron Schwartz, Ingrid
Sywak, and Anna Zappettini. Vista
Center is so fortunate to have a long
history of wonderful board
members!
5
4
WOOF
MENLO CHARITY HORSE SHOW
1
TO
WOOF
11
IF YOU HAVE BEEN
2
DIAGNOSED WITH
10
AN EYE CONDITION
THAT IS MAKING
REGULAR ACTIVITIES
DIFFICULT, MAKE AN
Fundraising
13
VISTA CENTER’S
LOW VISION
CLINIC
Fast Fact: Jon Provost, best
known for his performance as
Timmy on the Lassie series, lent
some star power as he judged
the Collie contest at Woof to
Woof.
4
3
Fast Fact: Eight
Olympians
competed at this
year’s Menlo
Charity Horse
Show.
APPOINTMENT AT
CALL:
650.858.0202
IN PALO ALTO OR
831.458.9766
IN SANTA CRUZ
12
10. Jon Provost and Vista Center
Executive Director Pam Brandin
11. Woof to Woof committee member
Annie Chapin (center) and young friends
12. Four-legged friends
13. Captivating Collie
1. Equestrian elegance 2. Young competitor 3. Valued volunteers
4. Olympian Will Simpson
6
8
VINTAGE AFFAIRE
9
5
5. Wine tasting 6. Four Seasons Executive Chef Alessandro Cartumini and
colleague Kelly Nelson 7. Tempting hors d’oeuvres 8. Vista Center board
members Walt Raineri and Claire Biancalana 9. Active bidding
Photos 5-9 courtesy of Sam Fontejon
Fast Fact: Vintage Affaire attendees
raised $28,000 for Vista Center’s
Fund-A-Need, a new record!
7
7
6
APPRECIATION
VISTA CENTER
WISHES TO
RECOGNIZE
GRANT AWARDS
FROM
CISCO FOUNDATION
BERNARD A.
NEWCOMB
FOUNDATION
SAND HILL
FOUNDATION
WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL
FOR THIS SUPPORT OF
OUR PROGRAMS.
It is our pleasure to recognize
the dedicated committee members and most generous supporters of our three special
fundraising events. Countless
hours of planning and preparations are required to orches-
trate these highly regarded and
successful festivities. The
unbridled compassion and
devotion of these individuals
allow us to continue our mission to improve the lives of
those living with vision loss.
Due to space limitations we
are unable to recognize by
name all the people who contribute to our fundraisers.
Donors, attendees, and all
sponsors – please accept our
humble thanks for your contributions. Your investment in
Vista Center will be felt by the
thousands of people we serve
each year.
WOOF TO WOOF
PREMIER SPONSORS
Ray Westman
Julie Rawles Financial
Lee-Kahn Foundation
Moore & Miller Insurance
Claire Biancalana
WOOF TO WOOF
COMMITTEE
Claire Biancalana
Pam Brandin
Annie Chapin
David Farberow
Mike Freitas
Carin Hanna
Nels Westman
VINTAGE AFFAIRE
UNDERWRITERS
Anonymous
Borel Private Bank & Trust
Company
Mr. & Mrs. Henry Bullock
Callan Associates, Inc.
Colliers International
AND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
DPR Construction, Inc.
Tim Haley
Kavish + Kavish
Patterson & Sheridan, LLP
Stephen S. Smith &
Paula K. Smith
Union Bank of California
Foundation
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich &
Rosati Foundation
VINTAGE AFFAIRE
COMMITTEE
Eugenie Atherton
Martha Barry
Rochelle Bochner
Pam Brandin
Lani Dorff
Carrie Drake
Doug Dull
Pat Dunbar
Debbie Eastburn
Martha Edwards
Bruce Fielding
Karen Fryling
Grant Giske
Susan Gregory
Dana Griffin
Dave Heppberger
Steve Hicks
Hilary Holmquest
Martha Kambe
Suzanne Legallet
Bridget Madigan
Michele Mandell
Ryan Manero
Jamie Marks
Susan Martin
Loretta Mingram
Elizabeth Minno
Trish Moxon
Hedy Nochimson
Naomi Chavez Peters
Glenn Procter
Candy Provines
Vanessa Roach
Lindy Sherwood
Annette Smith
Clay Tingley
Britt von Thaden
Stephanie von Thaden
Jan Woolsey
MENLO CHARITY HORSE
SHOW PREMIER SPONSORS
ABC7 - KGO
Allied Waste Services
Allon Fine Equestrian
Tack & Clothing
Sabrina & Brion Applegate
Asset Management Company
Atherton Lane Advisers, LLC
Audi of America & Rector
Audi Burlingame
Ann Fay Barry/Summerhouse
Farm
Bay Ridge Farm/Holani
Farm/Sea Horse Riding Club
Bay Rose, LLC
Beaumont Farms &
Chestnut Hill
Susie & Riley Bechtel
Bertram Capital
Bloomingdale's
Brandon Hills
Branscomb Farms
Bridgeport Farms - John Bragg
Paula & Bandel Carano
Charlebois Farm
China Blue Farm
City National Bank
Lyn Jason Cobb &
Herschel Cobb
The Couch Family
Gloria & Caitlin Darke
The Dollinger Family
Noel Dybdal & Karen Lines
Elvenstar & Frontier Farms
Equestrianlife.com
Ermenegildo Zegna
First Republic Bank
Four Seasons Hotel
Keith & Pamela Fox
Family Foundation
Emma & Fred Goltz
Graniterock
Robert Half International Inc.
Hermès
IPPOS
Iron Gate Restaurant
Jacque & John Jarve
Kristin Kendall – Wells Fargo
Advisors
Kiehl’s
Michael Kors
Anne and Ken Lawler
Leather CPR
Leone Equestrian, Inc.
Tom & Ann Livermore
The Long Family
Merrill Lynch – David Bell
MBT
Monarch International
Neiman Marcus – Stanford
Shopping Center
The Nohra Family
Northern Trust
Pat Hitchcock O'Connell
Oppenheimer & Co.
Signe Ostby & Scott Cook
Outwoods Farm
Pegasus Show Stable, Inc.
PhelpsSports.com
Barbara & Stu Phillips
Ralph Lauren
Rhys Vineyards
Roberts Foundation
Robert Rogers Equestrian
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Round Meadow Farm
Royal Riders/Blue Ribbon
Custom Blankets
The Shanahan Family
Shaw’s Saddlery
Lori, Jacqueline &
Nicolette Sherry
ShowBiz Magazine
Tom & Stacey Siebel
Shreve & Co.
Sonoma Valley Stables
Squire, Sanders, Dempsey,
LLP
Steiny Family
Laura A. Strasburg
Tiffany & Co.
UCSF Medical Center
USbank Private Client Reserve
Waldenbrook Farm
The Wasserman Foundation
Wells Fargo
Willow Brook Stables
Windy Hill in memory of
Larry Mayfield
MENLO CHARITY HORSE
SHOW COMMITTEE
Linda Andrews
Sonya Arriaga
Marsha Arutunian
Janice Ashford
Susan Baiata
Lisa Bailey
Tim Ballengee
Nacole Barth-Ellis
Joel Bartlett
Nancy Bates
Judi Beisler
Teresa Bergin
Gretchen Bering
Robert Bradford, Jr.
Pam Brandin
Pam Brown
Sydney Brush
Nicole Buttitta
Selina Burgoon
Leslie Call
Paula Carano
Catherine “Cat” Carlton
Judy Castaillac
Nan Chapman
Susan Coan
Lyn Cobb
Rheta Cole
Lara Collier
Nancy Collins
Lori Corley
Drew Corradini
Alden Corrigan
Liz Crowell
Caitie Darke
Lisa Davis
Don DeFranco
Mary Fischer Diffie
Dottie Dutton
Noel Dybdal
Martha Edwards
Pam Ehikian
Kris Forbes
Shirley Forbes
Melissa Freeman
Rosie Garlock
Sepi Ghiasvand
Betsy & Tom Glikbarg
Steve Goldenberg
Gary Hanes, DVM
Wendy Harries
Catherine Harvey
Nancy Hassen
Connie Hawkins
Scott Hayes
Lynne & Dave Heppberger
Nancy Hey
Mary Hiller
Joann Holder
Matthew Holder
Melissa Hollatz
Hilary Holmquest
Brenda W. Holston
Suzanne Jain
Jamey Jonathan
Mary Johnson
Kristin Kendall
Susan Kokores
Ali Kolozsi
Catherine Larsen
Mary Lean
Judy Levin
Sandy Levison
Debra Leylegian
Tom Livermore
Bridget Madigan
Grayson Martin
Susan Martin
Sue Matthews
Jenifer McDonald
Jolyn Montgomery
Gail Morey
Cindy Morrell
Michelle Mosman
Penelope Murray
Nicole Neal
Elaine Nelson
Polly Neumann
Marilyn Newell
Lisa Newton
Polly Hey Panos
Nancy & Bill Parker
Dorian Parkinson
Pam Perez
Anne Peterson
Barbara Phillips
Nancy Popa
Nancy Price
Jeanne Quinlan
Tom Rattigan
Amira Rida
Suzanne Rischman
Nancy & Caerry Robinson
Stephanie Ross
David Rummler
Bev Ryman
Linda & Mark Salvador
Nancy Sammann
Jim Sansoterra
Dianne Schilling
Susan Schneider
Robyn Shanahan
Chris Shaw
Lori Sherry
Lindy Sherwood
Mike Simonson
Marilyn Sokol
Peri Soyugenc
Marilyn Spiegl
Deborah Stacey
Nora Stent
Ingrid Sywak
Juno Szalay
Bente Tellefsen
Sally Tennyson
Agneta Turner
Gina VanDeVelde
Eric Wasman
Moriah White
Nancy Williford
Rosa Winkelman
Rose Ann Woolpert
Patricia Wyrod
Jane Yates
Martha Edwards and John Orcutt
were inadvertently omitted from
the donor listing in our Annual
Report last spring. We greatly
appreciate their support at the
$4,000 level.
2470 El Camino Real, Suite 107
Palo Alto, CA 94306-1715
650.858.0202
650.858.0214
800.660.2009
800.639.6081
Phone Number
Fax Number
From 408 Area Code
From 831 Area Code
www.vistacenter.org
NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
US POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT #77
PALO ALTO, CA
ADDRESS SERVICES REQUESTED
8
VISTA CENTER ANNOUNCES LEGACY SOCIETY
We enable
clients to
achieve their
highest potential
through
programs that
promote
independence
and improve
quality of life.
Staff and board members used an
October 18th donor event to
announce Vista Center’s much-anticipated Legacy Society. The Legacy
Society will recognize individuals who
have named Vista Center as a beneficiary in their Will, as well as in their
other estate plans.
Vista Center Director of
Development Susan Kokores said this
addition is much needed, as the
organization is facing an increasing
demand for services. “We’re pursuing
all means to ensure our legacy and to
be here for generations to come,” she
said.
Continued from page 1
to stay up-to-date on current developments. She hopes to brush up on
her German again and also start
using a computer. She acknowledges
that she’ll need to learn to type first,
Oftentimes an organization is
made aware of such a legacy gift only
after a person has passed away and
the estate has been settled. “We’d
very much like to have an opportunity
to say ‘thank you’ to those who have
included Vista Center in their estate
plans, and we are making plans to
celebrate the Vista Center Legacy
Society members of whom we are
aware,” Susan said.
If you have included Vista
Center in your Will or have questions
about how to do so, please contact
Susan Kokores at 650.858.0202, ext.
124 or [email protected].
but is undaunted.
“If you don’t have plans and you
don’t have anything to look forward
to, you give up on living,” she said.
“Today is better than tomorrow.”