We are proud to announce the latest grant recipients of Reader’s Digest Partners for Sight (RDPFS), supporting four exceptional organizations dedicated to improving opportunity, independence, and quality of life for people who are blind or visually impaired.
These grants fund critical programs that address employment, leadership development, social connection, and overall well-being—helping individuals overcome systemic barriers and build confidence, skills, and community. Through these investments, RDPFS continues its commitment to expanding access and creating meaningful, lasting impact.
The Carroll Center for the Blind
RDPFS has awarded a $75,000 grant to The Carroll Center for the Blind in support of its comprehensive Workforce Development Program. The program addresses the persistently high unemployment and underemployment rates experienced by blind and visually impaired adults, who often face systemic barriers such as limited access to assistive technology, insufficient pre-employment and job-readiness training, and a lack of job-retention support. These challenges can lead to reduced confidence when navigating the employment process.
To meet these needs, the program offers a comprehensive, multi-component approach that helps participants build foundational assistive technology skills, develop workplace competencies, and prepare for job searches and career advancement. In 2026, approximately 70 adults will benefit from customized, assistive-technology-enabled laptops, along with Job Readiness, Workplace Computing, Workplace Readiness, and Job Market Preparation training.
The Chicago Lighthouse
The Chicago Lighthouse’s Leadership Development Program helps blind and visually impaired adults—including both Employment Services clients and Lighthouse staff—build the competencies, skills, confidence, and professional networks needed to advance into leadership roles within their chosen fields.
In Illinois, working-age adults with vision loss experience disproportionately low employment rates, limited access to education and mentorship, and systemic barriers to career advancement. A $75,000 RDPFS grant will support 32 participants through individualized career plans, leadership and skill-building training, and full Employment Services support, including job placement. The program promotes upward career mobility while laying the groundwork for future growth that can benefit hundreds more across the Lighthouse community.
Hadley
Hadley’s Peer-to-Peer Program addresses the significant social isolation many blind and visually impaired individuals experience by creating structured opportunities for members to connect directly with one another for mutual support. A $75,000 RDPFS grant will support Hadley in pairing 480 members as peers.
The program utilizes Hadley specialists—primarily social workers—along with AI-assisted matching to create successful peer connections based on shared vision challenges and additional compatibility data points. Through these relationships, participants gain emotional support, engage in shared problem-solving, and build confidence as they navigate life with vision loss. Eighty percent of Peer-to-Peer Program participants also engage in additional Hadley activities, including workshops, discussion groups, and support groups, leading to richer, more fulfilling lives.
VISIONS
VISIONS’ Traditional Healthy Living Week is a free, residential wellness program for blind and visually impaired adults who often experience higher rates of chronic health conditions, social isolation, and limited access to accessible fitness and nutrition resources. Hosted at the VISIONS Center on Blindness (VCB), the program provides adaptive physical activity, nutrition education, recreational opportunities, and peer support in a fully accessible environment.
Typically 40% of participants are newly adjusting to vision loss, and the program offers a supportive space to build confidence, improve overall well-being, and strengthen independence. With $75,000 in RDPFS support, VISIONS plans to serve up to 150 individuals, including 90–100 blind or visually impaired adults and approximately 50 caregivers, who also benefit from respite and support.