HATS OFF TO VISTA CENTER
2020
A Most Unusual Year
On the occasion of the cancellation of the 2020 “in person” Hats Off To Vista Center event, please join us in spirit to honor the successes of the last five years of Hats Off To Vista Center events and to express hope and encouragement for its successful 2021 return by making a generous donation to
Vista Center on the occasion of this special one-time only fundraising drive.
They say, “There’s nothing like being there in person.” Well, maybe not in 2020. We all want to be as careful as possible this season so this is an excellent way to continue supporting the work of Vista Center without any worry about your health or that of your families and friends. For us as a Committee we also appreciate the opportunity to help Vista Center without any possibility of health risk.
We, the Hats Off Committee, would be very grateful and proud to have your support.
Sponsors
Claire Biancalana & Bill Kelsay
Annie Chapin & David Emanuel
George & Debra Couch
Craft Gallery
Doug & Colette Enemark
Nels & Maureen Enemark
Erik’s Deli & Café
David Farberow
Mike & Melanie Freitas
John & Polly Hormel
Rob & Kathy Knauff
Lee-Kahn Foundation
Patrice Maginnis & Eric Rice
Keith & Della McKenzie
Sue & Bill Miklos
Ann & John Nichol
Retinal Diagnostic Center
Santa Cruz County Bank
Scharf Investments
Spectrum Eye Physicians
Scott & Christy Tall
Tuesday Lunch Bunch
Wedeen Hammer Group at Morgan Stanley
Nels & Susan Westman
Joel & Gina Wilhelm
For the last five years Hats Off To Vista Center has raised almost $300,000 to support the important work of Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. BUT 2020 is a different story. It is A Most Unusual Year. Sadly, out of an abundance of caution we have decided to not have our traditional silent auction event in November. Yet the good work of Vista Center and the needs of our clients continue unabated. In fact, the limitations and technical challenges of providing remote services to blind and visually impaired clients actually increase our costs. The “perfect storm” of increased program costs and cancelled fundraisers has been very discouraging to us all.
So, we are undertaking this special Hats Off To Vista Center Fundraiser in the hope you will honor the five year history of the event and to express your optimism and support for its return in 2021. Whether your past support has been in the form of a sponsorship, attendance, enthusiastic bidding in the silent auction or a straight donation – if you let your past support be a benchmark for a donation this year, it will help us maintain our unblemished record of generating excellent financial support for Vista Center.
Traditionally we have Hats Off To Vista Center in November. However, this special fundraiser will be done during September.
Thank you for your past support, your understanding and your generous 2020 donation to Hats Off To Vista Center.
Vista Center is the premier service provider for individuals who are blind and visually impaired in Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties. The organization began in 1936 as the Palo Alto Society for the Blind, and first opened as a home for blind or visually impaired residents of Palo Alto. The organization incorporated in 1947, became Peninsula Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in 1970, then changed its name to Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in 2005. Vista Center formed a partnership with the Doran Center for the Blind in Santa Cruz (the Doran Center was established by Ray Westman in 1979) and began serving individuals in Santa Cruz County in 2003. In June 2007, the Doran Center merged completely with Vista Center to become Vista Center Santa Cruz. We celebrate our local founder by calling our Santa Cruz center the Ray Westman Branch. Today, Vista Center is a regional, one-stop resource providing a comprehensive range of services which help people who are blind or visually impaired learn new skills and strategies to overcome the emotional impact of sight loss and remain independent, employed and mobile.
In 2018, Vista Center acquired the Santa Clara Valley Blind Center on Bascom Avenue in San Jose. This acquisition improves our ability to conveniently provide services to clients in the South Bay area.
For more information on Vista Center, Visit Their Website