Rumsey Rancheria

Daily Democrat

Wintun Tribe donates to new facility for Society for the Blind

Article Created: 10/13/2007

Sacramento's Society for the Blind announced its plans to open a new and improved facility in downtown Sacramento thanks to donations from local groups and individuals, including the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians.

Kicking off the Capital Campaign with a target of $5 million, the Society for the Blind announced that $2.7 million has already been raised including significant donations by Thomas Raley Foundation and Joyce Raley Teel ($1 million) and the Rumsey Community Fund ($300,000).

The Society for the Blind has been serving the blind and low-vision residents of the Northern California for more than 50 years. The Society was established in 1954 to empower individuals who are blind or have low vision to live productively and independently by building confidence through training, tools and mentorship. Serving over 3,500 people in 2006 in the surrounding 26 counties, the current facility cannot accommodate all the demand for its service.

"This improvement to the facility was vital to accommodating the influx of people using the center," said Rumsey Tribal Chairman Marshall McKay. "We appreciate the opportunity to give to this fine organization as well as celebrate its expansion."

When completed in the summer of 2008, the new space will enable the Society to triple the number of clients it currently serves; enhance the educational and vocational services for the visually impaired; and introduce new cutting-edge support programs for young children and their families.

With the launch of the Capital Campaign, supporters of the Society for the Blind are now seeking contributions from local individuals, businesses and foundations to reach its goal of $5 million to complete the project.

Said Kevin Duggan, executive director of the Society for the Blind: "Thanks to the efforts of many, our Capital Campaign is off to a great start but we still have a lot of money to raise. We hope to reach our $5 million goal as quickly as possible so we can provide our clients with much-needed expanded services to meet the growing needs of the region."

The Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians owns and operates Cache Creek Casino Resort in Brooks.

The Rumsey Community Fund, established in October 2000, is the philanthropic branch of the tribal government. The fund provides more than $1 million annually to non-profit organizations to strengthen regional programs and services in Yolo County and surrounding areas with focus on education, community health, arts and humanities, environment, community development, and social services.