On July 11, Sandy’s own Hull Foundation and Learning Center joined the likes of Microsoft and JPMorgan Chase as a recipient of the American Council of the Blind’s James R. Olsen Distinguished Service Award.
This award is one of national recognition that periodically honors “individuals who have made important contributions, which have advanced opportunities for the blind community.”
Hull Foundation Executive Director Monica Butler traveled to Jacksonville, Florida, to receive the award.
“I was overwhelmed,” Butler said of her reaction to the award. “I was honored. It’s such a huge thing from ACB. Honestly, for such a small foundation, it means so much to me.”
The nonprofit organization, located at 43233 S.E. Oral Hull Road, Sandy, has served those with low to no vision from all over the country (and some from Canada) for 62 years.
Staff and volunteers at the 32-acre retreat center offer several programs to help those new to sight loss learn how to navigate everyday experiences and also learn that they can still do activities they loved before, even “high adventure” excursions like rock climbing and rafting.
The center also offers spaces for anyone to rent, including a heated indoor pool, dormitories, outdoor event spaces, indoor event spaces and more.
“The biggest (reason I love working here) is seeing how we affect our guests lives,” Butler explained. “We help them feel like just a normal part of our community.”
Most programs Hull Foundation offers, excluding those like their moderate to high adventure retreats, come at no cost to participants.
The foundation was nominated by a member of the Florida Council of the Blind because of their many programs, both accessible in person and virtually to anyone, anywhere.
These programs include both educational and social opportunities that help people with vision loss relearn life skills, meet new people, work out and more. There are also programs offering support to sighted friends and family.
“As you can see, this organization has provided much education and a safe place for our members in different areas, and has certainly shown that they care about persons who are blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind,” the nominator wrote.
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