Melanie, a tall woman with long blonde hair and cat-eye glasses, and Diane, a woman with shoulder length wavy blonde hair, smile as they hold blind Barbie boxes. On behalf of the AFB Board of Trustees, we want to thank you for taking the time to read through our 2024 AFB Annual Report. In this report, you will find valuable information on the programs, operations, and financial standing of the nation’s leading research, advocacy, and convening organization committed to creating equal opportunity and expanding possibilities for blind and low-vision people living in the United States today.

When we took the helm of AFB’s Board of Trustees in October 2023, we sensed challenges and incredible opportunities. Working together, the Trustees and staff leadership conceptualized changes to secure AFB’s financial sustainability for future generations. Under the direction of our President and CEO, Eric Bridges, the staff led the implementation of the changes and updates we envisioned as a leadership team.

With so much on the table, the AFB Board of Trustees felt we would be best served by having joint leadership on deck to ensure we can effectively implement our new strategic plan. It has been an honor and privilege to support Eric and the AFB staff and see many of our hopes and plans come to fruition.

The past year has been quite exciting, and we have witnessed how quickly the AFB team gained traction on the core goals spelled out in the new strategic plan, and their work is having an impact across the country and beyond. We saw success from many angles, from wins in the regulatory space around accessibility to the launch of our newly revamped digital accessibility internship program. We also made great strides toward making the world more inclusive and accessible in the digital age. We celebrated changing the narrative on blindness following the release of our award-winning documentary film Possibilities and honoring global media titans for inclusion at our annual Helen Keller Achievement Awards in Los Angeles. Last but not least, we continued to make significant gains in establishing financial sustainability while empowering our employees through workforce improvements.

All of this work could not have been done without the leadership of our Trustees, the sweat equity of our staff, and the support of each and every individual who gave to AFB this past year. Through the time, talent, and resources we secured in FY2024, we laid the foundation that has already yielded strength and impact throughout our community. In light of this, we look forward to what the future holds and hope you will join us as we continue to build up opportunities for people who are blind or have low vision.

Diane Fazzi
Co-Chair, AFB Board of Trustees

Melanie Lockwood Herman
Co-Chair, AFB Board of Trustees

Download the 2024 Annual Report (PDF)

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