For Email Marketing you can trust

Rochester, NY (April 6) –The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI)-Goodwill Industries of Greater Rochester, Inc. will honor James Kutsch, Jr., Ph.D., President of The Seeing Eye in Morristown, New Jersey, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the National Industries for the Blind (NIB), and designer of the first talking computer for people who are blind, with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the agency’s Annual Celebration on July 15, 2010.

Kutsch was selected to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award because his contributions to people who are blind or visually impaired throughout his lifetime—from his doctoral dissertation work designing and implementing a talking computer terminal for blind programmers, to his status as a nationally recognized lecturer on disability awareness, adaptive technology, and advocacy—have exemplified a spirit of independence and unparalleled achievement.

“Dr. Kutsch’s personal and professional accomplishments with The Seeing Eye, his volunteer contributions to the National Industries for the Blind, and the tens of thousands of lives that are changed each year through that work, are truly distinguished,” said Gidget Hopf, ABVI-Goodwill president and CEO.

As president of The Seeing Eye, Kutsch is responsible for providing professional leadership and strategic direction to the organization whose mission is to enhance the independence, dignity, and confidence of people who are blind through the use of Seeing Eye dogs. Prior to assuming the role as president, Kutsch served 10 years on The Seeing Eye Board of Trustees.

Kutsch also previously served as vice president of strategic technology for Convergys Corporation’s Convergys Labs. Earlier in his career, Kutsch served as vice president of AT&T Universal Card Services.

Kutsch holds a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Illinois, where he focused his doctoral dissertation on developing and then producing a functioning, talking computer for use by people who are blind. This work also garnered Kutsch an honorary doctorate from Rowan University.

Other awards that will also be presented at ABVI-Goodwill’s Annual Celebration include the President and Chairman’s Award recognizing 3M Company for its longtime partnership with the agency; the Visionary Award recognizing Rochester resident Shirley Preston for her longstanding support of ABVI-Goodwill’s mission; and Community Partner Awards recognizing Camp Smile and the Webster Lions Club, Empire Vision Centers, and WROC-TV 8/Fox Rochester for their generous contributions to the agency and the people it serves.

The 2010 ABVI-Goodwill Annual Celebration will take place on Thursday, July 15 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Rochester, 125 East Main Street. The evening is made possible in part by the sponsorships of J.C. Pilato, Inc. General Contractors, JPMorgan Chase, Bausch + Lomb, Inc., and WROC-TV 8/Fox Rochester.

# # #

The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI)-Goodwill Industries of Greater Rochester, Inc., founded in 1911, has a mission to prepare and empower people who are blind or visually impaired to be self-sufficient and contribute to their families and communities.  Through a variety of entrepreneurial business initiatives, including manufacturing, call center, food service and Goodwill retail operations, the agency is able to support this mission and provide programs, services, career training, and employment opportunities to people who are blind or visually impaired or have other barriers to employment or independence.