INVESTED IN OUR COMMUNITIES – AND COUNTING.
Whether you’re a Visions member or just a part of one of the communities we serve, we always take time out to show that Visions Cares so we can have a larger impact.
One way we do that is with acts of kindness, a movement we started as part of our 50th anniversary in 2016 and kept going due to overwhelmingly positive response. Whether it’s an umbrella on a rainy day, a cup of coffee or a free family night at the movies, we love putting a smile on someone’s face while reminding them to pay it forward.
Recent Impact
The Arctic League
Employees from our Elmira office volunteered with The Arctic League to pack over 80 Christmas gifts for families in the community. For over 100 years, The Arctic League has provided gifts on Christmas morning to families in need in Chemung County, NY.
Giving Tree
We love spreading joy throughout the holiday season, and our Binghamton East, NY office couldn’t wait to make an impact. They set up a Giving Tree and purchased toys, gift cards, hats, gloves, and fuzzy socks with corresponding gift tags as decoration. Families in need could take a gift tag and “redeem” the matching gift.
Child Hunger Outreach Partners
In an effort to spread kindness and provide warmth during the cold winter months, Visions employees of our Wysox, PA office collected winter clothing donations for CHOP – Child Hunger Outreach Partners.
Golden Opportunity Book Donations
Visions partnered with Golden Opportunity to provide 108 children's books that center and reflect children of color in grades 3 through 8. Golden Opportunity (GO) is a small Tompkins County, NY-based nonprofit that provides free one-on-one tutoring and mentorship to students who are marginalized due to family income level and who need access to academic and emotional support. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they have mailed or dropped off learning materials and books to students’ homes. This allows tutors to teach and read along with their students over the phone more easily.
Ramsey Drive-In
Finding ways of spreading kindness during a global pandemic has been nothing short of challenging. However, it has not stopped our New Jersey team from producing remarkably creative ways to support our communities. One way in particular involved employees handing out free tickets to local businesses and school staff members for the Ramsey Theatre Drive-In in New Jersey. Custom made goodie bags were passed out before the movie to show our appreciation for our members.
Leonia High School Culinary Class
In New Jersey, our team kindly donated 75 custom aprons to Leonia High School’s Academy of Hospitality and the Culinary Arts Program. The aprons were provided to students enrolled in the school’s on-site culinary class, where they are offered the opportunity to learn about the industry and develop their skills in preparation for use post-high school.
Spencer Van Etten Food Cupboard
Piles of boxes and food to sort? Bring it on. Our Spencer, NY office volunteered at the Spencer Van Etten Food Cupboard and helped pack and distribute food to families in need. We also gave away some gift cards to Spencer Shurfine, a local grocery store.
Visions Loves Educators Campaign
Our educators deserve respect, love, and recognition. We’re here to help show them that they matter. As part of a Visions Loves Educators initiative, Visions gifted educators at various schools in the Morris County, NJ school district items and grants to show our appreciation. These items and grants went to directly support educators and their classrooms.
Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital
Toys and lollipops and kindness, oh my! Visions employees ventured to Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital in Syracuse, NY to deliver gifts. Numerous patients joyfully received stuffed animals and lollipops during our visit.
4 on the 4th Road Race
We started the 4 on the 4th Road Race in 2018 as a way to give back to our community and create a fun event based on healthy activities. The 4 on the 4th Road Race brings participants on a 4-mile road course through our HQ’s home town of Endwell, NY. The course goes through neighborhoods, a beautiful park, and past some of our businesses, delivering participants to a rockin’ post-race party at our newly renovated headquarters. This race has drawn over 400 runners each year and has resulted in over $5,000 donated to our charity partner, The John Mack Foundation.
Visions Family Day
Visions Family Day has grown into a much-anticipated summer event. This fun and free event draws over a thousand attendees to our headquarters in Endwell, NY each year! Families look forward to games, crafts, live music, and more each year. A new addition in 2019 was a pet adoption pop-up with the Animal Care Sanctuary!
LakeView Amphitheatre
We’re proud to be the box office sponsor of the Lakeview Amphitheatre in Syracuse, NY. Our volunteers give out fun swag, play games, and love interacting with the fans!
Free Ice Cream Truck
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! We love offering acts of kindness in all the communities we serve. Here we are in Norwich, NY, giving out free ice cream from a local food truck!
