Direct Donations (money or equipment) 
United Way Donor Choice
EScrip
Acme Receipts
Volunteer

Please look at the details after BSO's Overview for details...

 

BSO OVERVIEW

Q. Who is BSO?
A. BSO is Blind Sports Organization, a 501(c)(3), non-profit, community-service organization.  It has been in existence since 1974 and was known as Pennsylvania Association for Blind Athletes (PABA).

Q.  What is BSO’s mission?
A.  BSO will provide, promote, and advocate for sports, recreation, and fitness opportunities for blind and visually impaired.

Q.  Why should I invest in BSO?
A.  BSO cares about the blind and visually impaired.  Your contributions will benefit blind and visually impaired in your community and the surrounding area.

Q.  Why are sports, recreation, and fitness important?
A.  Most people take participation in such activities for granted.  They seem like fun.  However, these activities are very important.  They build skills that are important for life including: health, body awareness, team work, dedication, leadership, followership, independence, self-esteem, etc.  Blind and visually impaired who have participated in sports have a drastically higher rate of employment than those who have not.

Q.  What are BSO’s plans for now?
A.  Throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, BSO will continue and expand programs, educate the public, increase communication, develop a staff, and obtain office space.

Q.  What are BSO’s plans for the future?
A.  BSO will expand programs, conduct a feasibility study, and develop a world-class facility that will meet the sports and recreation needs of people with sensory and physical disabilities.  

Q.  Why is BSO changing their business structure?
A.  As an all-volunteer organization, PABA was successful.  However, we know there is much more that can be done and needs to be done.  Sports for people with physical disabilities are about 25 years behind Special Olympics (which provides programs for the mentally impaired) and a century behind sports for women and minorities.  To accomplish our goals, we need a strong financial base and full-time commitment from a staff.  Volunteers have limited time and resources.  BSO needs to hire people to direct: development (fundraising), programming, public relations, and more.

Q. Why are blind sports so far behind?
A.  Sports for people with physical disabilities are very splintered and each disability group has their own organization.   Visual impairment is a very low incidence disability.  There are over 200,000 in PA alone, but there may be only 1-2 people in any one community.  Also, there is the public perception that blind people cannot participate in sports and the general public has very low expectations of the capabilities of blind. 

  Q.  How can blind people participate in sports?
A.  There are simple modifications for most activities.   There are even sports that have been developed specifically for blind players.

NEW FUNDRAISERS

WWW.GOODSEARCH.COM

Do you search the internet? A new easy way you can support BSO is to do your searches using www.goodsearch.com . This search engine is powered by Yahoo! It is used by 41,000 non-profits and it does not cost you anything. Every time you conduct a search using this site, a donation is made by the advertisers to the charity of your choice. All you need to do is enter your search information and then enter Blind Sports Organization on the line where you select your favorite charity. If 500 people conducted 2 searches per day per year, BSO would make $3500. Please spread the word and happy searching!

BSO DINNER & ART AUCTION

This spring, we will host a fun night of dining, socializing, and beautiful art (including framed art, sculptures & glass, estate jewelry, and sports memorabilia provided by Ross Galleries).

Businesses will be able to purchase advertising space in the auction program. Please consider advertising or contacting a business which might be interested in advertising.

Please tell your friends and start planning now to attend this great event. All proceeds will benefit BSO.

FUNDRAISING



“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single minute before starting to improve the world.” - Anne Frank

Many THANKS for your SUPPORT -

BSO programs have always been supported by members, families, friends, civic clubs, businesses, & foundations - through FUNDRAISING, DONATIONS, GRANTS, & SPONSORSHIPS. All are essential for BSO to keep offering fitness & self-esteem building programs and involve more youth & adults.

Every little bit helps.

Special THANKS for collecting ACME tapes:

- Milton Williams of Citizens Bank

- the staff at E.F Cut’n & Co.

- the staff at Tim’s Racket



www.eScrip.com  

This program has no cost and several ways to help. Please sign-up today.

Note: Those who have signed up their Genuardi’s or Safeway store card with eScrip.com need to renew each Aug/Sept. (on line or at the store).

CHECK THIS - West Chester High Tennis team raised $15,191 by asking everyone they know to use eScrip.com at Genuardi’s market and many other retail and online stores. IF THEY CAN DO IT, SO CAN BSO FAMILIES & FRIENDS. It’s easy, just go to eScrip.com or a Genuardi’s customer service desk and register using BSO’s ID# 2298370.



ACME

Those who live near an Acme store can help by collecting ACME cash register tapes.

We get 1% for every $ spent. Check blindsports.org for participating stores.



Matching Gift Programs

Hundreds of companies will match employee’s donations to non-profit organizations. Maybe you can help through your company.



In-Kind Donations

Frequent flyer miles can be donated for team or athlete travel. New or gently used sports equipment, uniforms, protective gear, office supplies, and office equipment are welcome.

Special Events

BSO holds special events such as the Night at the Blue Rocks, Cruise of the Spirit of Philadelphia, Gift Wrapping at Amazon.com, and the new Dinner & Art Auction. Your participation in and your spreading the word about these events is very helpful.

Chapter Fundraisers

Each chapter and team tries to raise their own expense money.

*collect (clean) aluminum cans or tab tops

*could you organize a fund raiser (i.e. car wash, etc)



United Way Donor Choice

Many employers participate in the United Way campaign each fall. BSO’s Donor Choice number is 9786 in Southeastern PA or write our full name & address on the form.



Direct Donations & Sponsorships

This is the easiest and best. You can direct your donation for use for a specific purpose (i.e. sport, chapter, team, athlete, etc.). Please make checks payable to BSO and send contributions to: BSO, 465 Maplewood Road, Springfield, PA 19064.

If your business would like to sponsor and athlete, equipment, or an event, please let us know.

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All support is greatly appreciated, but recently it hasn’t been enough to keep all beneficial programs going. We need more people helping, especially those who have benefitted from BSO (or PABA) in the past.

Membership

          Everyone is invited to join – individuals, organizations, sighted, visually impaired, participants, friends, families, business associates.  Members receive our quarterly newsletter and other information about upcoming activities.   

eScrip.com

          Register your credit, debit, and/or store card(s); sign up for the eScrip credit card; shop at the eScrip.com on-line mall; or donate a car, truck, or boat.  It doesn’t cost you anything, but a percentage of your purchases at participating stores will be donated to BSO.  All Genuardi’s & Safeway stores will donate 1% of your purchase if their store cards are registered at the customer service desk or with eScrip.com.   Use ID#2298370.

ACME Market Receipts
 

          We get 1% donated by ACME if we collect and turn in receipts. We need only 50+ families collecting to make this worthwhile.  Not all stores participate, check enclosed list. Please turn in at BSO events or send to BSO at 465 Maplewood Rd. Springfield, PA 19064.

  United Way Donor Choice

          In southeastern PA use ID#9786. Anywhere else in the country, write in Blind Sports Organization, 465 Maplewood Rd., Springfield, PA 19064.

iGive.com

          This is an on-line shopping mall that donates a percentage of every purchase to BSO. The savings offers are great.

Aluminum Recycling

          We collect clean aluminum cans or tab tops and take them to a recycling center to earn cash.  Bring them to any BSO activity.

Special Events

Special Activities

          Do you have any fundraising ideas?  Do you know a group that will help raise needed program, equipment, or scholarship funds?  Will your Girl Scout Troop donate a portion of their cookie sales?  Will your Boy Scout Troop collect coins from area fountains and clean them?