2020 Honorable Mention Recipient

Human Services and Employment Capacity Building

Organization

Keystone Independence Management

Hermitage, PA

Program

Human Services and Employment Capacity Building

Partners

Keystone Blind Association

Keystone Vocational Services

Beaver County Association for the Blind

Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Montgomery County Association for the Blind

2020 Honorable Mention Recipient

Human Services and Employment Capacity Building

Organization

Keystone Independence Management

Hermitage, PA

Program

Human Services and Employment Capacity Building

Partners

Keystone Blind Association

Keystone Vocational Services

Beaver County Association for the Blind

Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Montgomery County Association for the Blind

Human Services and Employment Capacity BuildingLaurie Staph,
President and CEO

Keystone Independence Management

3056 E. State Street
Hermitage, PA 16148

724.347.5501
Email

Since 1947, Keystone Blind Association (KBA) has been offering specialized services and support to help blind and visually impaired individuals build a brighter future. In 2000, after recognizing that other nonprofits serving this community struggle to fund their operations, KBA created Keystone Independence Management (KIM) to provide them crucial management and back-office services. By utilizing KIM services, outside agencies are able to downsize their costs and redirect their resources to programs that support their mission. At the same time, this forward-thinking business model provides KIM a source of additional revenue to grow its reach.

In 2002, KIM collaborated with Keystone Vocational Services and its partners to secure employment opportunities exclusively for individuals with vision loss or other disabilities through its Human Services and Employment Capacity Building program. This unique partnership-driven program seeks out federal and state contracts and other work that can be performed by individuals with disabilities. Employees earn market wages and benefits, and work in an environment that is competitive and fully integrated. The program also provides access to services to help KIM employees build a more independent and opportunity-filled future.

“Our group of agencies has learned how to effectively collaborate with each other and with community partners, leveraging our respective strengths to serve the greater good. Today, we are one of the largest combined employers of visually impaired and blind individuals in Pennsylvania,” said Laurie Staph, President and CEO of Keystone Blind Association. “We are proud of how our entrepreneurial approach has enabled us to further social change in a financially sustainable way.”

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