Here’s where you’ll find the latest company announcements, press releases, and media stories about Alphapointe.
Alphapointe Wins Gold Philly Award for Video
Alphapointe has won a Gold Philly Award from Nonprofit Connect. The honor celebrates excellence in nonprofit communications and recognizes Alphapointe’s moving video, “Thoughts of a Blind Man.” The video offers a unique and thought-provoking perspective, sharing how a blind man envisions the world—not as it is but as it should be. The work was made…
Through Our Eyes: My Life in Stereo
“I hear like you see.” Ray Charles One of the most common questions I receive from people is if my hearing is heightened due to the loss of my sight, and I always answer “No, it isn’t heightened, I just pay more attention to it because it matters more.” At exactly 4:30 on a Thursday…
Alphapointe Wins National Award for Videos
Alphapointe Wins National Award for Videos The Telly Awards, a national competition that honors excellence in video and television, announced that two Alphapointe videos received Silver Tellys for productions completed in 2023. The two videos, “Thoughts of a Blind Man” and “Can You See It,” are part of the brand refresh effort that Alphapointe is…
Alphapointe Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Merger with New York City Industries for the Blind
A decade of impact … On Wednesday, April 24, Alphapointe held a celebration to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the merger between Alphapointe and New York City Industries for the Blind (NYCIB). The event, which was held at the newly renovated Alphapointe facility in Richmond Hill, New York, included staff from both New York and…
Alphapointe Subsidiary Rightfully Sewn Announces Tyler Bennett As New President
Rightfully Sewn, an organization dedicated to supporting some of our community’s most marginalized populations through training and employment in the garment industry, announced Tyler Bennett as president. Bennett joins the Alphapointe subsidiary as it expands its manufacturing capability and capacity while also growing its workforce and well-known seamstress training program. “Tyler brings a vast amount…
Alphapointe Recognized as U.S. Best-in-Class Employer by Gallagher
Alphapointe participated in Gallagher’s 2022 U.S. Benefits Strategy & Benchmarking Survey and was identified as an organization that excelled in optimizing employee and organizational wellbeing. Alphapointe was recognized for its comprehensive framework for strategically investing in benefits, compensation and employee communication to support the health, financial security and career growth of its employees at a…
Alphapointe’s Gowin Promoted to Chief Development and Program Officer
Gina Gowin was recently promoted to Chief Development and Program Officer as announced by Alphapointe. Gowin’s career at Alphapointe spans more than a decade and includes a number of significant achievements, including the establishment of the Alphapointe Foundation in 2012. Gowin, who also serves as the Executive Director of the Alphapointe Foundation, is responsible for…
Alphapointe Passes ISO 9001:2015 Certification Audit
Alphapointe recently received notification that the organization passed its surveillance audit and is on track for ISO 9001:2015 re-certification in 2024. “We passed with flying colors,” said Alphapointe Director of Operations Amy McCaslin. Anyone affiliated with the manufacturing sector likely understands the significance of that certification. But, for those who aren’t familiar, what the heck…
Alphapointe Names Customer of the Year
At Alphapointe’s 2022 holiday party and awards event, the organization formally recognized LC Industries as its Customer of the Year. When selecting a customer of the year Alphapointe assesses two key components which directly impact business performance. Alphapointe evaluates a customer’s wiliness to grow with with the organization and that customer’s commitment to a partnership….
Alphapointe Announces Supplier of the Year
At Alphapointe’s 2022 holiday party and awards event, the organization formally recognized Gerald Schwartz, Inc. as its Supplier of the Year. GSI has become one of the most trusted and reliable suppliers of components to the sewn products and soft goods industry and has proven to be strong strategic partner to Alphapointe’s mission for the…
Alphapointe Names Corporate Champion & Corporate Volunteer of the Year
At Alphapointe’s 2022 holiday party and awards event, the organization formally recognized the entire team at the Hampton Inn & Suites Country Club Plaza as the Corporate Champion of the Year as well as Jessica Mumma as the Corporate Champion Volunteer of the Year. Since 2018, the Hampton Inn & Suites has served as the…
Alphapointe & C&C Group Annual Donation Drive for Hope Faith Ministries
The holiday season is a time to give thanks for all that we have received and an opportunity to give back to our community. During November and December, Alphapointe and C&C Group teamed up, once again, to support Hope Faith. This was an opportunity for everyone to donate warm essentials for those finding themselves without…
Alphapointe Announces Volunteer of the Year
At Alphapointe’s 2022 holiday party and awards event, the organization formally recognized Michael Williams as the Alphapointe Volunteer of the Year! Michael has supported Alphapointe in many ways, including serving on Alphapointe’s Boards of Directors, volunteering for many youth-related camps and activities and working with clinical, rehabilitation and Foundation teams on numerous projects. Michael served…
Alphapointe Announces Employees of the Year
Alphapointe is pleased to honor its dedicated team members with our annual series of recognition awards. These individuals represent the collective spirit and determination as Alphapointe pursues its commitment toward achieving its mission of empowering people with vision loss to achieve their goals and aspirations. Since our founding in 1911, thousands of individuals have worked…
Adding a “D” for Disability to DEI Efforts
Organizations around the nation are making a new commitment to embrace the concept of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the workplace (often shortened to “DEI”). But, there’s one important element of DEI that frequently is not addressed: and that’s a “D” for Disability. Alphapointe Manager of Donor Development & Community Relations Cheryl Rayburn recently addressed…
Alphapointe Internship Helps Pre-Med Student Find Career Passion
Every year, Alphapointe invites students in high school and college to participate in the Career Enhancement Internship Experience program. Erin Walden participated in the program in the summer of 2022 and we caught up with her to ask about her experience. Q&A with Erin Tell us about you… I am from Wichita, Kansas. I grew…
Alphapointe Celebrates 20 Years at Innovative Life Skills Campus
“We’ve Come a Long Way, Baby” isn’t only one of the most famous songs from country music’s most decorated female singer, Loretta Lynn. The phrase aptly and succinctly describes the journey of Alphapointe. Today, Alphapointe marked the 20th anniversary of the organization’s completion of its Life Skills Campus at 75th St. and Prospect Ave. in…
Rightfully Sewn Hosts FUTURE FASHION Seminar on Nov. 30
Rightfully Sewn, a subsidiary of Alphapointe, is hosting the latest event in its FUTURE FASHION series on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at Little Theatre. Presented by The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, FUTURE FASHION is a night focused on the future of fashion in Kansas City. For this year’s event, Pamela Lucas, owner & fashion designer of…
Alphapointe Featured in Kansas City Edition of New Monopoly Game
The next time you play Monopoly, you might pass by Alphapointe a few dozen times. Top Trumps USA recently launched a Kansas City edition of the classic board game with Alphapointe featured prominently as a “Community Chest” space on the game board. Other Kansas City icons featured in the game include GEHA Field at Arrowhead…
Internship at Alphapointe a Rewarding Experience
Every year, Alphapointe invites students in high school and college to participate in the Career Enhancement Internship Experience program. Madeline Abrams participated in the program in the summer of 2022 and we caught up with her to ask about her experience. Q&A with Madeline Tell us about you… I am from Overland Park, Kan. Outside…
Alphapointe Announces Addition of Birns to Board
Alphapointe is pleased to announce the addition of Ann-Marie Birns to the organization’s Board of Directors. Birns is an Executive Director at Morgan Stanley within the Institutional Securities Technology and leads the Research Technology team globally, which is comprised of more than 200 employees and consultants. She is currently responsible for the technology strategy and…
Alphapointe Launches New Online Discussion Program Exploring Past, Present & Future of Vision Loss
“I came to the conclusion that when I was in public school, the less I bothered anyone, the more appreciated I would be.” Former New York Governor David Paterson shared those words when reflecting on his experiences in the public school system as a child – one of many jarring and insightful comments he offered…
Alphapointe’s Gina Gowin Named 2022 “Women Who Mean Business” Honoree
Alphapointe Foundation Executive Director and Alphapointe Vice President of Program Services and Development Gina Gowin was honored by the Kansas City Business Journal as a member of the 2022 class of “Women Who Mean Business” during a luncheon award ceremony Aug. 19. The Women Who Mean Business program honors those top-ranking women in Kansas City…
Alphapointe’s Rayburn Graduates From Blind Leaders Development Program
Alphapointe’s Cheryl Rayburn graduated from the Blind Leaders Development Program at the American Foundation for the Blind’s (AFB) special commencement ceremony held on Aug. 2, 2022. Launched in 2020, the Blind Leaders Development Program was created by AFB to increase upward mobility and create meaningful leadership experiences for individuals who are blind or low vision,…
Alphapointe’s Thornhill Named to New York City Mayor’s Industrial Working Group Committee
New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently announced the appointment of Alphapointe Director of Public Policy Scott Thornhill to the Industrial Working Group, a collection of leaders from across the city’s industrial and manufacturing sectors tasked with redefining needs and opportunities as the city recovers from the pandemic. The group was convened by Deputy Mayor…
Four Students Place at Braille Challenge National Competition
Four students who study with Alphapointe staff members placed among the top three students at the annual Braille Challenge national competition held on the campus of the University of Southern California and announced during an awards ceremony on Saturday, June 25. Salome Cummins, a former Kansas City area resident who now lives in St. Charles,…
Alphapointe Receives Distinguished Awards for Donations to Ukraine
The United States Exercise Tiger Foundation presented Alphapointe and several team members with awards in conjunction with the organization’s donation of nearly 5,000 medical supplies to Ukraine. The organization received the Distinguished Corporation Award, while several individuals involved with the donation project received individual honors. President and CEO Reinhard Mabry, New York Operations General Manager…
Alphapointe Announces Addition of Maze to Board Position
Alphapointe is pleased to announce the addition Jy Maze to the Alphapointe Foundation Board of Directors. Maze is the President & CEO of award-winning Maze Freight Solutions and a 2021 Forbes list honoree. She has worked in transportation and supply chain management for more than 10 years. Her sales success with large and small companies,…
Alphapointe Secures Patent for Life-Saving Device
Alphapointe received notice from the United States Patent and Trademark Office that the organization’s application for a patent for the Junctional Hemorrhage Control Plate has been formally approved. The patent approval is the latest in a series of developments for Alphapointe’s Tactical/Medical Division, which now has eight patents/patent-pending products designed to improve the well-being and…
Celebrating International Guide Dog Day
April 27 marks International Guide Dog Day! To celebrate, we wanted to highlight our team members and their companions. Service animals are incredibly important and they make people’s lives better every single day! Name: Hari Dhoundiyal Alphapointe Service: 1 year Been Paired with a Guide Dog Since: 2014 Guide Dog Name: Vital Guide Dog…
Alphapointe Secures Agreements to Manufacture Attire for Military Personnel
Alphapointe secured agreements to manufacture thousands of physical fitness pants for the U.S. Navy and dress uniform skirts to be worn by members of the U.S. Army. Both apparel items will be manufactured at Alphapointe’s facility in Richmond Hill, which features a workforce largely comprised of people who are blind. “We are thrilled to announce…
Alphapointe & Rightfully Sewn Receive Award from Nonprofit Connect
In conjunction with the 38th Annual Nonprofit Connect Awards Celebration, Alphapointe and Rightfully Sewn were named as the recipients of the “Stronger Together” Award for their collaboration efforts. The Nonprofit Connect Awards Celebration (formerly the Philanthropy Awards Luncheon) honors individuals and organizations for their outstanding commitment to positive impact in Kansas City. Now in its…
Alphapointe Donates Thousands of Life-Saving Tourniquets & Medical Supplies to Ukraine Relief Effort
Alphapointe is donating thousands of life-saving tourniquets and medical supplies to Ukraine. With more than 12 million people in need of assistance across Ukraine, Alphapointe was uniquely positioned to provide life-saving medical supplies to aid in the relief effort. “In the face of this humanitarian crisis, Alphapointe wanted to provide assistance to the people of…
Low Vision Awareness Month – What Is a Low Vision Exam Anyway?
Dr. John Metzger is one of Kansas City’s leading optometrists with more than 40 years of experience. Dr. Metzger works in the special areas of developmental optometry, vision therapy, low vision rehabilitation and neuro-optometry. He assists people of all ages whose vision restricts reading, learning, work tasks, hobbies, driving and enjoying daily life. We asked…
Alphapointe Announces Additions of Butler, Owen, Parman & Randolph to Board Positions
Alphapointe is pleased to announce the additions of Chip Owen, Jr., and Lynn Parman as new members of the Alphapointe Board of Directors and Hilary Butler and Daryl Randolph, Sr., as members of the Alphapointe Foundation Board of Directors. Owen is the President of D&M Plastics, LLC, which is based in Burlington, Ill. For more…
Alphapointe Announces Customers of the Year
Due to the pandemic, Alphapointe was unable to host its annual awards/recognition events in 2020, so we’re making up for lost ground! At our 2021 holiday party and awards event, Alphapointe was able to formally recognize and honor both our 2020 and 2021 Customers of the Year! 2020 Customer of the Year – The Lighthouse…
IMA Financial Group Named 2021 Alphapointe Volunteer Organization of the Year
At the 2021 holiday party and awards event, Alphapointe named IMA Financial Group as its 2021 Volunteer Organization of the Year! Alphapointe has partnered with IMA Financial Group since 2006 as the organization utilizes IMA for both employee benefits as well as property and casualty insurance. The IMA team is responsible for implementing Alphapointe’s current…
Alphapointe Announces Suppliers of the Year
Due to the pandemic, Alphapointe was unable to host its annual awards/recognition events in 2020, so we’re making up for lost ground! At our 2021 holiday party and awards event, Alphapointe was able to formally recognize and honor both our 2020 and 2021 Suppliers of the Year! 2020 Supplier of the Year – C.H. Robinson…
Alphapointe Announces Volunteers of the Year
Due to the pandemic, Alphapointe was unable to host its annual awards/recognition events in 2020, so we’re making up for lost ground! At our 2021 holiday party and awards event, Alphapointe was able to formally recognize and honor the 2020 Volunteers of the Year! Collette Wright Collette is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the…
Alphapointe Announces Employees of the Year
Alphapointe is pleased to honor its dedicated team members with our annual series of recognition awards. These individuals represent the collective spirit and determination as Alphapointe pursues its commitment toward achieving its mission of empowering people with vision loss to achieve their goals and aspirations. Since our founding in 1911, thousands of individuals have worked…
Alphapointe’s Cornell Williams Named NYSPSP Employee of the Year
The Empire State Employment Resources for the Blind Board, on behalf of the New York State Preferred Source Program for New Yorkers who are Blind (NYSPSP), announced that Alphapointe team member Cornell Williams is the 2021 NYSPSP Employee of the Year. Williams joined Alphapointe in 2015 and initially served as a machine operator and mail…
Alphapointe Announces Launch of 508 Accessibility Compliance Division
Alphapointe announced the launch of a new 508 Accessibility Compliance Division designed to assist organizations in ensuring website accessibility. 508 Compliance refers to Section 508 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which requires any electronic communication products used by, made by or sold to the federal government to be accessible to anyone with physical,…
6 Holiday Meal Tips for People with Low Vision
By Becky Dumsky, Alphapointe Activities of Daily Living Instructor Low vision can make ordinary routine tasks much harder to complete during any time of the year, but it can be especially more difficult during the holiday season. Here are six tips that might be helpful to reduce the amount of stress a person with low…
Richard Heimer Celebrates 45 Years at Alphapointe
If you worked at the same organization for decades, you might start to think about how much time you’ve spent doing the same thing. Not Richard Heimer. But, there is one thing he’s able to easily quantify. Nov. 17, 2021 marked the 45th anniversary of when he started working at Alphapointe. Heimer’s first job in…
From “I Will Never Use a Cane” to Orientation & Mobility Instructor
As Katy Olsen observed her surroundings in a massive conference room in a massive conference hotel, halfway around the country from her hometown, a single dominating thought occupied her mind. “I will never use a cane in my life.” That was in 2015 at the National Federation of the Blind’s National Convention in Orlando. A…
Alphapointe Signs Multi-Year Agreement with Express Scripts Pharmacy® to Produce Prescription Bottles
Alphapointe announced the organization has signed a new four-year agreement with Express Scripts Pharmacy®, doubling pre-existing production of plastic prescription bottles and also creating additional jobs for people who are blind. The agreement increases the production of FDA-approved plastic resin bottles by Alphapointe for Express Scripts Pharmacy’s mail prescription service. “We are thrilled that Express…
Tom England Named Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Alphapointe, one of the nation’s largest providers of rehabilitation services and employment for people who are blind, announced Tom England will assume the role of Vice President of Sales and Marketing. England joins Alphapointe after previously serving as the Regional Market Sales Manager for Cintas. In that position, England increased productivity by 40 percent and…
Kumma-Reeves & Ravin Join Alphapointe Board of Directors
Alphapointe is pleased to announce the additions of Amanda Kumma-Reeves and Jeron Ravin as new members of the Alphapointe Board of Directors. A certified public accountant, Kumma-Reeves is as Manager at MarksNelson. Kumma-Reeves works with mid-market companies nationwide to help them meet various reporting needs and improve operational efficiencies. She has been a manager with…
Thousands of Students Later, Fettgather Prepares to Retire
How long have you had the same email address? A year? A few years? Maybe even close to a decade? No matter how long, you’re behind Alphapointe Adaptive Technology Instructor Jim Fettgather. And, it’s probably not even close. Fettgather started working at Alphapointe in 1995. Shortly thereafter, he received an email address. Nearly 30 years…
Alphapointe’s Cameron Black Makes History with First Pitch
Two years ago, Cameron Black decided that he wanted to learn how to throw a baseball. Most would assume that a person who is blind wouldn’t be able to throw a baseball. Those people were proven wrong. On Friday, Aug. 27, Cameron because the first person who is blind to throw out the first pitch…
Alphapointe Secures Patent for Ground-Breaking Splint
Alphapointe received notice from the United States Patent and Trademark Office that the application for a patent on the RISE Splint has been formally approved. The patent approval is the latest in a series of developments for Alphapointe’s Tactical/Medical Division, which now has eight patents/patent-pending statuses for devices designed to improve the well-being and safety…
Ryan Williams Named Alphapointe COO
Alphapointe announced Ryan Williams will assume a newly created role of Chief Operating Officer. Previously the Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Williams will manage the functions of business development, information technology, operations, sales and marketing. Since Williams began with Alphapointe in the spring of 2016 – and as of October of 2023 when this…
Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month: More Than Just Glasses
From Dr. John Metzger, OD The first thing that comes to mind about kids’ eyes is normally, “Do they need glasses for school?” or, “Should they be wearing sports glasses for protection?” Yes… very important. As we think about August being Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, here are…
Kansas City Area Students Named Braille Challenge National Champion & 3rd Place Finisher
Kansas City area student Brooke Petro was named a 2021 Braille Challenge National Champion for the sixth time, while Emrie Wisner finished in third place. Students learned of the results by watching a live online awards ceremony on Friday, July 30. Petro, a resident of Leawood, Kan., became a national champion for the sixth time…
Alphapointe’s Jeff McHenry Named CFO of the Year
Alphapointe Chief Financial Officer Jeff McHenry was honored by the Kansas City Business Journal through its “CFO of the Year” program during a luncheon award ceremony today. As one of 16 recipients in the for-profit and non-profit sectors, McHenry was recognized for his outstanding work at Alphapointe throughout the pandemic. Not only did the organization…
Why Alphapointe’s Technology Camp Matters
This article was written by Lyra, a longtime Alphapointe Technology Camp participant who will begin her sophomore year of high school in the fall. Alphapointe is a non-profit based in Kansas City, Mo., that has many services and opportunities for both youth and adults with visual impairments. They give visually impaired and blind adults job…
Two-For-One Hire Turns Out to Be Big Deal
Article courtesy of Securus Technologies. A two- for-one deal is hard to beat. When Danny Jones was hired to work at Alphapointe, the organization figuratively, and, in many ways, literally, gained two new associates. Jones started at Alphapointe’s contact center on August 21, 2017, as a Tier 1 Investigator, which is equivalent to a Communications…
Win Amazing Items Through C&C Group Alphapointe Pro-Am Auction
You can support Alphapointe by bidding (and winning!) amazing items through the C&C Group Alphapointe Pro-Am Presented by Bank Midwest online auction. The auction features dozens of incredible items available – from all-inclusive vacation packages to destinations around the world to jerseys/photos signed by professional athletes (including Patrick Mahomes!) to exclusive, behind-the-scenes experiences – there…
Honig & Nichols-Kelloff Join Alphapointe Boards
Alphapointe is pleased to announce the addition of Barry S. Honig as a new member of the Alphapointe Board of Directors and Beth Nichols-Kelloff as a member of the Alphapointe Foundation Board of Directors. Honig is the President of Honig International and the President and CEO of TruckPay. Honig International is a well-known management consulting…
Healthy Vision Month – “To See or Not To See”
From Dr. John Metzger, OD This will not quite be a Shakespearean treatise, but I wanted to use a title that was ‘eye catching’ for the subject at hand, which is eating to enhance your vision in conjunction with the annual Healthy Vision Month in May. While the troops (optometrists and ophthalmologists) are on the…
Missouri Governor Mike Parson Recognizes Alphapointe Employees for Essential Service During Pandemic
Alphapointe, one of the nation’s largest providers of rehabilitation services and employment for people who are blind, was recognized by Missouri Governor Mike Parson for its service during the pandemic on Thursday. Deemed essential at the outbreak of the pandemic, Alphapointe team members manufactured more than 160 million products in the past year, including facemasks…
Celebrating International Guide Dog Day
April 25 marks International Guide Dog Day! To celebrate, we wanted to highlight our team members and their companions. Service animals are incredibly important and they make people’s lives better every single day! Name: Hari Dhoundiyal Alphapointe Service: 2 weeks Been Paired with a Guide Dog Since: 2014 Guide Dog Name: Vital Guide Dog…
Alphapointe Subsidiary Rightfully Sewn Expands with New Contracts, Hires, Space and Equipment
Rightfully Sewn, Kansas City’s leading non-profit seamstress training and apparel manufacturer, has signed leases on second and third spaces and is expanding its staff to increase its educational and production capabilities on the heels of securing two new large contracts. Rightfully Sewn was acquired by non-profit Alphapointe in October 2020 and operates as a subsidiary….
Alphapointe’s Reinhard Mabry Named One of “50 Kansans You Should Know”
Alphapointe President and CEO Reinhard Mabry was honored in the March issue of Kansas City-based Ingram’s magazine as one of “50 Kansans You Should Know.” Celebrating 10 years, the series recognizes influential leaders from across the state each year. The cumulative list of honorees includes business executives, college presidents, non-profit leaders, athletes, authors, film makers…
Alphapointe Expands its Low Vision Service with Kansas City Vision Performance Center
Alphapointe, one of the nation’s largest providers of rehabilitation services and employment for people who are blind, announced its newly forged alliance with Overland Park-based Kansas City Vision Performance Center, an independent practice in Kansas. This alliance allows the parties to combine efforts to offer low vision rehabilitation and therapeutic services in the Kansas City…
Help Alphapointe on KMBC & KCWE Community Day
KMBC 9/KCWE 29 recently announced that on the 9th and 29th of each month this year, they will highlight an organization doing amazing work in the Kansas City region as part of a “Community Days” series. We are thrilled to share that Alphapointe will be the celebrated organization on Tuesday, March 9! You can help…
Alphapointe’s Helen Hahn Named “Icon of Education”
“Literacy is my passion” is a phrase Alphapointe Braille Instructor Helen Hahn uses repeatedly. Given that she’s personally mentored more than 5,000 children and more than 1,500 adults and instilled that same passion in many of her students, her usage of that phrase seems particularly fitting. On the heels of a 30-plus year career, Hahn…
CCTV Donation Makes “100 Percent” Difference
Antonio Arbelo was just a toddler when his desktop closed-circuit television (CCTV) was made. That was more than 50 years ago. A U.S. Navy veteran, Arbelo served from 1985 until he was medically discharged in 1992 after he lost sight in one eye during a mission. After a lengthy career managing a crew of 15…
Low Vision Awareness Month – Answering the Most Frequent Questions
In February, we drawn attention to Low Vision Awareness Month – an effort started by the National Eye Institute, which is part of the National Institutes of Health. Low vision affects millions of Americans, including many older adults. Low vision can make it hard to do things like reading, shopping, cooking, or writing. And it…
Deutsche Bank’s Anthony Valvo Joins Alphapointe Board
Alphapointe is pleased to announce the addition of Anthony Valvo as a new member of the Board of Directors. Valvo is a Managing Director and Head of the New York and Southeast Regions for Deutsche Bank’s Wealth Management Private Banking office. He is also a member of the Deutsche Bank Wealth Management Americas Executive Council….
Alphapointe Secures Multi-Million Dollar Contract to Produce Ground-Breaking Splints
Alphapointe announced a three-year, multi-million-dollar agreement with Tactical Medical Solutions to manufacture more than 150,000 ground-breaking splints to be distributed around the world. Alphapointe developed the “RISE” (Rigid Immobilization System for Extremities) in conjunction with the United States Army, while Tactical Medical Solutions of Anderson, S.C., will serve as a distributor for the splint to…
What We Did in 2020… Thanks to Your Help
It’s now in the rearview mirror, but 2020 was a long, tough year for all of us. Despite all the challenges everyone faced, there were some positives. Thanks to your incredible support, we’re proud to share this list of achievements. We want each of you to understand that none of this is possible without your…
Alphapointe Announces Employees of the Year
Alphapointe is pleased to honor its dedicated team members with our annual series of recognition awards. These individuals represent the collective spirit and determination as Alphapointe pursues its commitment toward achieving its mission of empowering people with vision loss to achieve their goals and aspirations. Since our founding in 1911, thousands of individuals have worked…
Alphapointe & Youth Services Participants Giving Back to the Community
Alphapointe’s Youth Services participants planned their community service project to give back to others in appreciation of all they have received this year. During the month of December, participants baked cookies and put together goody bags with the donated items. They also practiced holiday songs with the adult caroling group the Stone Soup Singers. Additionally,…
Alphapointe Completes Renovation of Adaptive Training Apartment
Alphapointe, one of the nation’s largest providers of rehabilitation services and employment for people who are blind, announced the completion of extensive renovations to the organization’s Adaptive Training Apartment. Alphapointe provides comprehensive rehabilitation services to thousands of people of all ages every year and the renovated Adaptive Training Apartment is a space for people with…
Alphapointe Announces Establishment of New York Advisory Committee
Alphapointe, one of the nation’s largest providers of rehabilitation services and employment for people who are blind, announced the establishment of its New York Advisory Committee. The new committee includes Laura Allen (Senior Accessibility Program Manager at Google), Mark Farrell (Media Personality & Motivational Speaker), Jef Gross (Manager of Committee Development at the Queens Chamber…
Alphapointe Is Proud to Support Veterans & Military Personnel
In any given year, Alphapointe produces tens of millions of items that directly serve veterans and our men and women currently serving in the United States military. From prescription bottles used by the Department of Veterans Affairs to apparel worn by our men and women in service to highly sophisticated pens – Alphapointe is proud…
KCATA & Alphapointe Partner on New Transit App for Visually Impaired
The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA), in partnership with Alphapointe and Sensible Innovation, has developed a wayfinding app to help blind and visually impaired transit customers use transit more safely and accurately. It is the first application of its kind to be applied to an entire transit corridor in the United States. The RideKC…
Alphapointe Team Members Celebrate Spirit Week
Every year, Alphapointe celebrates its amazing staff with a fun-filled Spirit Week featuring themed-days, loads of amazing food and drawings for terrific prizes. Celebrated Oct. 19-23, the 2020 edition of Spirit Week included several exiting themes: Superhero Day, Sports Team Day, Crazy Hat/Sock Day, Throwback Thursday and a special day for every team member to…
Alphapointe’s Cornell Williams Featured on Dr. Oz Show
Cornell Williams, Lead Porter at Alphapointe’s facility in Richmond Hill, N.Y., was featured in a segment on the Dr. Oz Show that aired nationally on Thursday, Oct. 22. Williams, who contracted COVID-19 earlier in the spring through his volunteering activities to bring people food and medication who couldn’t leave their homes, was interviewed by Dr….
Alphapointe and Rightfully Sewn Partner to Advance Manufacturing in Kansas City
Alphapointe, one of the nation’s largest providers of rehabilitation services and employment for people who are blind, and Rightfully Sewn, which provides specialized seamstress training and products, announced a partnership today to amplify the efforts of both non-profit organizations. Rightfully Sewn was founded in 2015 by current President Jennifer Lapka with a mission to provide…
New Display Showcases History of Serving New Yorkers
Alphapointe recently unveiled a striking new display in its Richmond Hill, N.Y., facility highlighting portions of the history of serving New Yorkers with vision impairment. The story of programs to employ people who are blind in New York City began with an organization called the New York Association for the Blind (later called The Lighthouse),…
Alphapointe Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and Alphapointe, one of the nation’s largest providers of rehabilitation services and employment for people with vision loss, is joining the campaign to raise awareness of the workforce capabilities for people who are blind. Alphapointe employs more than 400 people across the United States, more than half…
Essential Worker Battles COVID & Comes Back Stronger Than Ever
They say love is blind – that’s certainly true for Cornell Williams. Born blind, Black and albino, life was never easy. But, every day, Cornell travels from the Bronx to Richmond Hill in Queens, N.Y. (2 hours round trip) to work at Alphapointe. After his labor-intense shifts at a 138,000-square foot manufacturing complex largely comprised…
Beep Kickball Returns for Fall Season
Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired and Alphapointe are teaming up for the Beep Kickball league to provide children with vision impairments an opportunity to build social skills, increase proprioception, strengthen muscle movement and have fun! Beep Kickball is played with a special ball and special bases that emit sound to allow for children with…
President Trump Signs Legislation Protecting Jobs for People with Disabilities
United States President Donald Trump signed legislation today protecting the jobs of more than 2,000 people with disabilities across the nation, many of whom are veterans, including dozens who work at Alphapointe, the largest employer of blind/visually impaired people in both the Kansas City and the New York City metropolitan areas. President Trump signed H.R….
State officials visit employees with disabilities
(This article and an attached video originally appeared in Spanish on October 8, 2019 bySPECTRUM NOTICIAS NY1. To view original article click here.) State officials visited a factory in Queens that hires people with disabilities. The Lieutenant Governor [of New York] , Kathy Hochul, and the Assemblyman David Weprin, toured the Alphapointe facilities. The non-profit…
National Winners Study Braille at Alphapointe
On June 22, four students from the Kansas Braille Regionals earned top honors at the National Braille Challenge, which was held on the campus of the University of Southern California. The competition, sponsored by the Braille Institute of America, invited the top fifty students, who read and write braille, to compete in five divisions–ten contestants…
Alphapointe Receives Patent and Military Approval on Pneumatic Tourniquet, Getting Greenlight on Second Life-Saving Device in a Week
Designed to Fit Around Most Human Limbs and in the Maximum Range of Field Kits and Settings, Newly Approved Model Will Vastly Expand Applicability and Production Demand, Allowing Agency to Create More Jobs for those who are Blind or Visually Impaired May 10, 2019, Kansas City, MO ~ For the second time in a week,…
Alphapointe Receives Approval from Department of Defense for its Tactical Mechanical Tourniquet (TMT)
The Tactical Mechanical Tourniquet Will Save Lives of our Nation’s Fighting Men and Women May 6, 2019, Kansas City, MO ~ Alphapointe, the non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals who are legally blind secure gainful employment, announced today that it has received notice that after years of testing and evaluation, the Tactical Mechanical Tourniquet (TMT)…
Fast Forward: 2018 Alphapointe Annual Report
Our 2018 Annual Report – Fast Forward is available here. This report is full of stories, facts and appreciation to those who made 2018 a tremendous success! It’s a way for us to “rewind” the year and show you how your support moved us forward. Together we made an impact in the lives of people…
Queens Nonprofit Gives The Blind A Place To Work
(Originally published by Patch Media authored by Maya Kaufman. View original article here) Alphapointe helps hundreds of people with vision impairments join the workforce. By Maya Kaufman, Patch Staff | Mar 13, 2019 6:23 pm ET | Updated Mar 14, 2019 9:44 am ET RICHMOND HILL, QUEENS — In a sprawling industrial complex in Richmond Hill, Joshua Romero is learning how…
Understanding How Different People Experience the World
(Originally published on January 8, 2019 by Chris Battel here.) A couple of weeks ago the Chiefs released a touching video that detailed Cameron Black’s story. Cameron, a blind man who works for Alphapointe, one of our partners demonstrated the strength in resilience by detailing the way that he hears in order to see. This type…
NFL 360 : Seeing Sound
On Christmas Night, NFL 360 aired a special featuring Alphapointe’s Cameron Black and his passion for Chiefs’ football. Read and subscribe to his blog: The Blind Quarterback. Watch the video here. The special also featured CEO Reinhard Mabry; Office Products employees, Maurice Atkins and Tiffany Eddins; and Low Vision Intake Coordinator, Cheryl Rayburn talking about…
Alphapointe incorporates technology in its new Richmond Hill residence
(Originally published by Carlotta Mohamed on Thursday, December 27, 2018 on QNS.com) Alphapointe — with 100+ blind and visually impaired employees– focuses on hiring of the disabled providing training services, employment opportunities, and placing clients in the community for jobs. It does light and industrial manufacturing. The company occupies a 100-year-old building that was formerly an archive site for…
Announcing the NFL Network TV premiere
NFL Network 360 TV program will feature Alphapointe and Cameron Black, the Blind Quarterback, airing on December 25, 2018 at 7pmCT/8pmET on the NFL Network. It will re-air that night at 10pmCT/11pmET and Saturday, December 29. Alphapointe associates like Cameron Black, Tiffany Eddins, Maurice Atkins, Cheryl Rayburn and more will be featured. You don’t want…
Alphapointe NY puts down new roots in Queens
(Originally published in This is Queensborough Business News from the Queens Chamber of Commerce on November 14, 2018) BY ANTHONY LUISI It was a massive and ambitious goal: uprooting a complex operation, relocating gargantuan machines, restoring a severely dilapidated property, and acclimating a workforce largely comprised of legally blind employees to new surroundings. Success would…
Blue KC Chiefs Kingdom Champion, Cameron Black
Originally published here by the Kansas City Chiefs. Sunday, Oct 21, 2018 07:45 PM For the Chiefs October 21, 2018, game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) and the Chiefs selected Cameron Black, a project lead at Alphapointe and author of “The Blind Quarterback” blog, as the…
He Operates Molding Machines. But He Can’t See Them.
(Originally published in the New York Times by Patricia R. Olsen on 9/28/2018) Jay Browder, 43, is a machine operator at Alphapointe in Kansas City, Mo. When did you become blind? I lost my sight at 19 when I got shot in the face in a gun accident. I had left high school early to go…