Thanks to the many

generous supporters of the Minnesota

State Academy for the Blind Foundation,

students at the Academy are able to experience

opportunities not available through state funding, such as theater productions.

In January 2018, MSABF funded a field trip for students to attend The Wiz at the Children’s

Theater in Minneapolis. Field trips, in general, offer the students a chance to practice orienta-

tion, mobility and social skills, as well as theater etiquette, while they experience the arts in a

quality venue.

The Wiz gave students the ability to learn about the timeless story of The Wizard of Oz, exhib-

ited in the genre of rock/soul music, and experience diversity through the CTC’s collaboration

with Penumbra Theater, Minnesota’s only professional African American theater. Because

music was interwoven throughout the story line, it was especially engaging for students with

multiple challenges and ensured an unforgettable experience for all.

See page 3 for additional 2018 grant projects.

We’re

off to

The

Wiz!

2

As the incoming president, I would like to personally thank all who supported the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind Foundation during 2018. Together, we provided the students of the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind opportunities to become confident and productive citizens. I’m grateful and proud of the contributions made to student lives and my hope is you share those sentiments.

The Foundation made grants totaling $106,638 to the Academy, a significant increase from the past few years. We were excited to partner with the Academy to improve the independent skills learning environ-ment with a $100,000 donation to refurbish the Family and Consumer Science (FACS) room. The Foundation donation and state funds will create a beautiful and practical learning space for the students to expand cooking, cleaning and other skills needed to live independently.

The Foundation continued to support artistic programming at the Academy with grants for tickets to the Children’s Theater, African drumming residency and updates for the digital piano. We are so grateful for your support to ensure the students have artistic opportunities that develop social skills and increase self-awareness and confidence.

The impact to students’ lives is only possible with your generosity. A special thank you to the following donors:

UMOGD-Sight Preservation Foundation The Stephen Colbert Americone Dream Fund of the Coastal

Community Foundation Mathiowetz Construction The Jaye F. Dyer and Betty F. Dyer Foundation Medtronic

We are excited to partner with you in 2019 to continue the work in the lives of the students at the Academy. The FACS room will be completed by the end of 2019 and we will share pictures on our website, msabfoundation.org. Please reach out if you would like to learn more about the activities of the Foundation, the Academy or if you are interested in volunteering your time. You can contact us at info@msabfoundation.org. Once again, thank you!

Kim Samrock President, MSAB Foundation

Notes from the Board President 2018 BOARD OF

DIRECTORS

Ezra Kazee, President

Charles (Chuck) Farlow, Vice President *

Jessica Olson, Secretary

Michael McGlone, Co-Treasurer

Kim Samrock, Co-Treasurer

Ross Dunbar

Craig Giles

Patty Hooey

Beth Moline

Jeff Thompson

Christie Traczyk

Jessie Wang

EX-OFFICIO

John Davis, MSAB Director

Terry Wilding, Superintendent, State Academies

* Retired in 2018

“The Board of Directors shall be composed of not less than seven nor more than 13 members. At least a majority of the members must be blind or visually impaired or be professional educators of the blind.”

MSABF Articles of Incorporation

OUR MISSION

To establish cooperative relationships and to raise funds for the Minnesota State Acad-emy for the Blind unavailable through government sources. These funds will be used to

enhance and develop programs at the Academy, providing the visually impaired students of

Minnesota the maximum opportunity to become confident

and productive citizens.

Thank you, Ezra Kazee, for your

inspirational leadership as MSABF

Board President from May 2017 to May

2019. Ezra, an MSAB alumnus, will

continue to serve on our Board of

Directors.

Kim Samrock

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2018 grant projects (continued from page 1)

RENOVATED FACS ROOM

A core part of the programming at MSAB is instruction in inde-pendent living skills, including cleaning, cooking, household chores, etc. Students with vision loss do not pick up these skills through observation as their sighted peers do. The Family and Consumer Science (FACS) room provides the ability for students to learn critical daily skills, which are vital to their success after they leave the Academy.

The current FACS room, constructed 20 years ago, no longer meets the needs of students in today’s environment. The MSAB Foundation funded $15,000 for the design of the new FACS room in 2017. In 2018, the Foundation provided $100,000 of the room’s construction and equipment costs; the remain-der of the $350,000 cost was funded through state funds. Renovation will be completed in late 2019.

DRUMMING ART RESIDENCY

In the summer of 2018, funding from MSABF supported a short arts residency that exposed students to various musical genres through specific drumming techniques. Taught by David Schmalenberger, DMA, an adjunct faculty member at Minnesota State University – Mankato and accomplished performance artist, the three-day program explored African drumming, world music and singing; rock music, with an emphasis on the drum set; and African music’s influence on jazz. The classes involved all students enrolled in the Academy’s summer program.

DIGITAL PIANO UPDATES

The Academy has owned a Clavinova digital piano for more than 20 years. Due to its constant use and its outdated components (it took floppy disks!), the Clavi-nova needed replacement. The Foundation funded the purchase of an updated Clavinova, including a “digi-dolly” for greater portability. The grant also supported the purchase of a portable keyboard that will accompany the student choir in settings that do not have a piano. This package included a stand, bench, sustain pedal and rolling bag.

4

2018 Financials

Balance Sheet Total $

Checking 11,781

Deposits in Transit 64,028

Savings 117,564

Prepaid Expenses 54

Total Current Assets 193,427

Minnesota Community Foundation 123,288

Total Assets 316,715

Total Liabilities 19

Unrestricted Net Assets 360,007

Change in Net Assets (43,312)

Total Net Assets 316,695

Total Liabilities and Net Assets 316,715

Activities Total $

Income

Foundation Grants and Public Support 72,577

Investment Income and Other Revenue (5,345)

Total Income 67,232

Expenses

2018 Project Grants to MSAB

FACS Classroom Update 100,000

Digital Piano Updates 4,433

African Drumming Summer Residency 1,500

“The Wiz” Children’s Theater Field Trip 705

Total 2018 Project Grants 106,638

Management and General Expenses 3,197

Fundraising Expenses 710

Total Expenses 110,545

Excess or Deficit (43,313)

501(c)(3) Non-Profit EIN: 41-1739069 © 2019 Minnesota State Academy for the Blind Foundation

Minnesota State Academy for the Blind Foundation P.O. Box 580338, Minneapolis, MN 55485

Access MSAB Foundation at: msabfoundation.org | Givemn.org |

MSAB Foundation meets all accountability standards of the Charities Review Council.

The MSAB Foundation expresses its sincere gratitude to the UMOGD-Sight Preserva-tion Foundation for their tremendous support over the years. Their 28th annual Upper Midwest Optical Golf Day was held on August 13, 2018, at Southview Country Club in West St Paul, Minn. This event brought together corporate sponsors, donors, and individual participants. As a result of their efforts, the UMOGD-Sight Preservation Foundation presented MSABF with a generous check for $57.000.

2018 Upper Midwest Optical Golf Day

The UMOGD-Sight Preservation Foundation would like to recognize the generous Partner Sponsors of the 2018 Upper Midwest Optical Golf Day:

PREMIER PARTNER

The Walman Optical Company

ONYX PARTNERS

Essilor IDD, Helene Houle

PLATINUM PARTNER Haag-Streit USA/Reliance

GOLD PARTNERS ArmouRx Inc., Hoya Vision,

Quantum Innovations, Satisloh North America, Shamir, Unity Progressive Lenses,

Younger Optics