OUR TOWN: Ormond Beach locals take leadership of area nonprofits

Ormond Beach Observer
Neighbors

The Center for the Visually Impaired and the Volusia-Flagler Family YMCA now have new presidents -- and they're both from Ormond Beach.

BY EMILY BLACKWOOD | STAFF WRITER

Ronee Silverman, Ormond Beacher and president and CEO of the Center for the Visually Impaired, has been elected president of the Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind, an organization made up of 16 private agencies that serve the blind or visually impaired.

In a press release, Siverman stated that during her time as president she plans to "focus on increasing the number of Floridians served through rehabilitation services, including outreach to under-served communities and populations, increasing the pool of qualified vision rehabilitation professionals in the state (and) increase community awareness of the implications of vision loss and services available and provide and encourage advocacy."

Silverman, who began her career as a teacher for the Center for the Visually Impaired, grew the center's staff from five to 24 under her leadership. Currently, the center teaches more than 400 visually impaired children, teens, adults and seniors in Volusia, Flagler, Putnam and Brevard counties.

Andraea Stowers has been named Director of Financial Development for the Volusia Flagler Family YMCA. She will be focusing on donor development, endowment growth and partnerships with private foundations for the seven Family Centers of the organization in her new role.