Conklin Davis Center receives $500,000 in state appropriations for the visually impaired

This is the second year in a row CDCVI, a nonprofit that serves visually impaired people, has been successful in obtaining state appropriations.

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Florida Sen. Tom Wright presented the Conklin Davis Center for the Visually Impaired with a $500,000 check from the state to help fund the nonprofit's Vision Beyond Limits program on Tuesday, Aug. 12.

This is the second year in a row CDCVI, a nonprofit that serves visually impaired people, has been successful in obtaining state appropriations. Last year, the nonprofit received $1 million, half of which was slated to upgrade the residential center's HVAC system.

The Vision Beyond Limits program helps provide training for vocationally oriented blind people to help them prepare for, find and maintain employment, according to the appropriations request filed by Rep. Chase Tramont. 

CDCVI celebrated the state funds during a small ceremony held at its campus at 405 White St. in Daytona Beach, alongside its residents, staff, board members and members of local Lions Club, including Ormond Beach, Ormond-by-the-Sea and Ponce Inlet.

"Sen. Wright and Chase Tramont worked tirelessly during the year to help us to get that money that we desperately needed to keep this program going," said CDCVI President and CEO Ronee David. "Unfortunately, we don't have enough in the budget for the Division of Blind Services so the Legislature is helping us each year to have the funds that we need for this program and we're so appreciative of them."

Wright said the Legislature enjoys helping out the CDCVI. 

"It's important to the community — important to the state, and it gives me great joy to be able to bring this money to you," he said.

The Vision Beyond Limits program, Wright shared, already has 75 graduates living independently in the community. Each year, 35-50 students will have the opportunity to follow in their footsteps.

"This is what a smart investment by the state looks like, giving people the tools to live independently, contribute to their community and thrive as individuals," Wright said.

The CDCVI also took the opportunity to recognize David during the ceremony for her 33rd anniversary with the organization. (In 2021, the CDCVI was born as a result of a merger between the Conklin Center and the Center for the Visually Impaired, which was founded in Ormond Beach in 1988.) 

When David started with the Center for the Visually Impaired, they worked out a building that was about the size of a normal home, said Christopher Dixon, assistant director for CDCVI. 

Now, the center has grown to employ 68 people and has over 28,000 square feet. Their budget has increased too, going from $252,000 33 years ago to $4.5 million.

"I've worked alongside her for the last 18 years and I can tell you Ronnie is the hardest working person here," Dixon said.

Board Chair Nancy Epps agreed.

"There's not a day that goes by that she's not working on something that has to do with the Conklin Davis Center," she said. "She works six days a week and sometimes late into the night and she has been so dedicated to this place for a long time."

David said she and Epps worked hard to reestablish the center, and while they received a contract with the Division of Blind Services, the annual funds awarded were based on figures from 2014. 

"So this is why we need the Legislature to put this additional $500,000 into the contract because as, you know, everything has gone up since that time," David said, adding that they are hoping to get additional funds put into their contract for next year.

 

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