With 136 guests in attendance and contributions from over 100 businesses, institutions and individuals, the Talking Information Center’s (TIC) 24th Annual Wine Dinner Fundraiser held at The Barker Tavern in Scituate, was a tremendous success.
The non-profit reading service broadcasts from their Marshfield studio, 24-hours a day to thousands of visually impaired and otherwise print disabled listeners and relies on the generosity of donors, sponsors and volunteers to support their programming. The Annual Wine Dinner event, which is TIC’s major fundraiser, raised a net of $34K, a 48 percent increase over last year’s event.
“For over 38 years there have been thousands of blind and visually impaired individuals who have relied on TIC to keep them connected and informed on news and other critical information they need on a daily basis. Today, with the collaboration of five other State Reading Service studios and over 600 volunteers, we are delivering unique programs to a vast print impaired audience of all ages and disabilities,” said Jim Bunnell, Executive Director. “We are very grateful to all of our supporters, as the success of our Annual Wine Dinner is essential to the continuity and expansion of our programming.”
Dr. Oce Harrison, Ed.D, Project Director of the New England ADA Center at the Institute for Human Centered Design in Boston, Brian Switzer from Team with a Vision, State Representative Jim Cantwell, and Collin Ryder of Masciarelli Wine Company were the evening’s featured speakers. A silent auction, “Buy It Now” table and Ring Bling raffle was followed by a spirited live auction with auctioneer Paul Vercollone. Guests enjoyed a decadent four course meal, with a Filet Mignon main course, created specifically for this event by head chef George Jordan. Each course was perfectly paired with wine generously donated by Masciarelli Wine Company.
TIC would like to thank the following: The Emilson Family as title sponsor; Sheriff Joe McDonald, Emerson-Swan, Inc., VERC Enterprises, The Clifford Family, Rockland Trust, Gilcoine & Burke Insurance Agency, Commonwealth Cooperative Bank and Tiny & Sons Auto Glass as table sponsors; Mike and Darlene Kelly, Charles David Salons and South Shore Senior News as benefactor sponsors.
TIC also thanks special donors Fred Williams, Inc., The Whalen Company, The Barker Tavern, Masciarelli Wine Company, Bond Printing Company, WATD, Jeff and Linda Dirksen, Bellestar Jewelry and Carol McClintock, along with their network affiliates in Mashpee, Pittsfield, Lowell, Springfield and Worcester and their incredible Board members.
All proceeds from the Annual Wine Dinner directly benefit TIC, which serves the listening needs of thousands of visually impaired and otherwise print disabled listeners throughout Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire and Connecticut through its network affiliates in Mashpee, Pittsfield, Lowell, Springfield and Worcester.
“We received a lot of positive feedback and many in attendance had never attended a TIC event before or knew very little about our services and programming,” Bunnell continued. “Thank you to everyone who made TIC’s 24th Annual Wine Dinner Fundraiser a tremendous success! Guests, sponsors, donors, board members and volunteers – we simply couldn’t have done it without you.”
Reaching New Audiences
According to the National Federation of the Blind, 136,500 people of all ages in Massachusetts reported to have a visual disability in 2013. Two out of three aging Americans confront vision loss. Others who experience vision problems are living with AIDS, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, paralysis and other physical ailments that make it difficult to hold a publication or turn its pages. Approximately 10,000 people turn 65 every day in the U.S. and in Massachusetts, 34 percent of people with disabilities are 65 and older.
TIC has thousands of blind/visually impaired listeners statewide, yet there is a broader audience who can benefit. There are a growing number of seniors and veterans seeking informational, entertaining broadcasts that just aren’t available elsewhere, and that’s where TIC comes in.
The Hub of the Massachusetts Reading Network
TIC is a proud member of the International Association of Audible Information Services (IAAIS), and is the hub of the Massachusetts Reading Network, broadcasting to all of Massachusetts as well as southern New Hampshire and Connecticut. TIC operates with the help of more than 600 volunteers statewide, broadcasting newspapers, magazines, books, special consumer information, medical and stock market updates, jobs, sports, supermarket specials, voting guides, community newspapers, and television programs. TIC also offers cultural programming such as old-time radio drama, theater, and poetry. Two of TIC’s newest shows include Veterans Voice Radio and Veterans Voice Story Hour, which are specifically geared toward military veterans and their families.
TIC programming may be accessed several ways: via live audio stream at http://www.ticnetwork.org; by utilizing a specially tuned radio receiver; through AudioNow by calling 712-832-7025 from a home or cell phone; or by smartphone app. Listeners with smartphones may download the free TIC app by typing “Talking Information Center” in Apple or in the Google Play store for Android devices.
In 1977, Ed Perry, the founder of radio station WATD-FM in Marshfield, MA, donated his Subsidiary Carrier Authorization signal for use as the first radio reading service in New England. Operating similarly to other broadcast networks, TIC has affiliates throughout the state of Massachusetts that provide inserts of local news and information that is of interest to listeners in their area. The Executive Office of Elder Affairs and the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind oversee TIC, which is located at 130 Enterprise Drive, Marshfield, MA 02050. For more information visit www.ticnetwork.org or call (781) 834-4400.
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