Christmas in July fundraiser supports AIDB students Saturday

VINCENT, Ala. ( WIAT ) – Pier 59 is hosting a fundraiser Saturday for the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind. It is meant to raise money to help buy Christmas presents for the students who attend the school.

Mike Royer has been involved with the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind about a decade and is now part of the AIDB Foundation Board. He joined the CBS 42 Morning News on Saturday to talk about the event.

“The folks at Pier 59 on Logan Martin Lake have this event to buy Christmas presents for the children at AIDB from kindergarten age through age 12 and it’s one way, and in some cases, the only way some of these children get Christmas presents,” Royer said.

Royer said Pier 59 started the event 15 years ago.

“They got hooked on what AIDB does, they wanted to do something, and they’ve raised over $100,000 several times and they’re just great friends of AIDB, everyone who works there and especially all the children and young adults,” Royer said.

Royer said hearing and vision challenges don’t stop these students from doing what they want to.

“The opportunities for these people, though challenged in different ways, their opportunities are unlimited,” Royer said. “This money and the other money that we raise throughout the year from generous donors makes it possible to give them opportunities that they are fully capable of taking advantage of.”

Activities for kids start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 20. The event is expected to run all day long.

Pier 59 is located at Pier 59 Dr. in Vincent.

If you cannot attend and are interested in contributing, you can donate here .

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