MABVI is thrilled to have been rewarded $250,000 from NextFifty Initiative, a foundation that supports efforts to improve the lives of older adults and their caregivers. This funding will allow MABVI to expand its services for older adults across Massachusetts who live with blindness and low vision and support innovations such as our Age-Friendly Initiative.
"MABVI is enormously proud to have been awarded a grant from NextFifty Initiative to support thousands of older adults in their journey through vision loss, said Sassy Outwater-Wright, Executive Director of MABVI. "This incredible generosity will ensure even greater impact. Our goal is to make sure that everyone has the tools and resources they need to live their lives with confidence and autonomy. This is central to all that we do at MABVI."
“Our goal is to transform the way our society views and experiences aging, and that influences the types of programs and projects we fund,” said Diana McFail, president and CEO of NextFifty Initiative. “MABVI’s work with older adults aligns with our efforts to improve and sustain the quality of life for people in their second 50 years.”
The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated already-present obstacles for older adults losing their eyesight. Social isolation has been extreme for this population, who remain among the highest risk for serious symptoms. Critical information available to the general public can be inaccessible for those with a vision-related disability. MABVI's programming and advocacy seeks to tackle these challenges. Through statewide Age-friendly efforts, MABVI is also working with key state elder service agencies and five gateway city partners to ensure that health equity and access to care is prioritized for every individual who is blind or low vision.
