John E. Blair Fund

John E. Blair Fund is sponsored by Greater Hartford Gives Foundation. This fund supports a variety of projects that serve individuals with visual impairments in the Greater Hartford area.

Recent grants have been awarded to organizations expanding and strengthening group workouts and races for people with disabilities.

Greater Hartford Gives Foundation Awards Nearly $250,000 in Grants to Assist Individuals with Visual Impairments - Greater Hartford Gives Foundation Greater Hartford Gives Foundation Awards Nearly $250,000 in Grants to Assist Individuals with Visual Impairments Fifteen nonprofits awarded grants from the Foundation’s John E. Blair Fund According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) , approximately 82,900 or 2.

2 percent of Connecticut residents live with visual impairments, including those who are legally blind or have serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses. Visual impairment is one of the leading causes of loss of independence for people aged 65 and older. Achilles International is a free adaptive running, walking, and cycling organization serving people with any kind of disability.

Achilles welcomes children ages 3 and up, adults, seniors, and veterans to their program which makes exercise and racing inclusive by holding workouts in accessible locations, pairing trained volunteer guides with athletes with visual impairments or blindness. Thanks to a $24,720 grant from the John E.

Blair Fund at the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation , Achilles will expand and strengthen group workouts and races in Greater Hartford and increase the frequency of existing workouts in Glastonbury and West Hartford to a weekly cadence. In addition, two new workout locations will be offered within the 29-town region based on member feedback. Grant funds will support increased staff capacity for the position of a part-time event manager.

“ Since receiving the recent grant from the John E. Blair Fund, we have been able to expand our programming into Simsbury,” said Achilles International-Connecticut Director Erin Spaulding. “We held our first group workout on the rail trail and had a small group of local athletes and their guides competed in the UCONN Health Half Marathon, 10K & 5K on June 6th.

We are grateful for the support from the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation to continue to grow our staff and community. ” Achilles International is one of 15 agencies to receive grant awards totaling $249,300 over one year to support a variety of projects that serve individuals with visual impairments throughout the region. The Foundation has a long history of providing organizations with grants through the Blair Fund.

The grants include 11 that are focused on program expansion or enhancement, which will strengthen and grow existing programs. Three grants cover operating support and capacity building support for organizations whose missions and primary programming are to assist individuals with visual impairments.

Additionally, one grant was provided to purchase adaptive equipment and technology that increase accessibility, safety, and independence for individuals with visual impairments, and strengthen the organization’s ability to deliver high-quality services. “Through the John E.

Blair Fund, the Foundation continues to support innovative and responsive approaches that expand access and opportunity for individuals with visual impairments,” said Greater Hartford Gives Community Impact Officer Bria Muwanguzi. “This year’s investments strengthen both programs and the capacity of trusted partners to meet diverse and evolving community needs. ’ Other 2026 John E.

Blair Fund Grant Recipients include: Greater Hartford Gives Foundation is a community foundation, a hub for community-driven change. We fuel impact throughout Greater Hartford and beyond by making connections, providing funding, and sharing knowledge. Our goal is to create an inclusive region where everyone prospers.

Together, with a powerful network of changemakers, we identify our neighbors’ most pressing needs and invest resources in initiatives that dismantle racial and economic barriers and improve quality of life. In our 100-year history, we have invested more than $1 billion throughout the region. Join us in building a Greater Hartford full of opportunity.

Learn more at greaterhartfordgives. org.