The Little Rock Foundation, based in Philadelphia, PA and Voorhees, NJ, is proud to announce that their efforts to support families with children who are blind or visually impaired have just been enhanced with an expansion of services made possible by 4Sight, an organization that is dedicated to helping these families through educational resources, support groups, programming, Internet and more. Meghan Wismer of Drexel Hill, PA, president of 4Sight, selected The Little Rock Foundation for a merger because of their common goals, extensive programs and the opportunities to help families get much-needed resources.
  Wismer said, “The Little Rock Foundation is doing all the things I’ve wanted 4Sight to do. They are so well respected in the community, that I thought we could help our families more by working together. I’m honored that Little Rock has welcomed us.”
  Tina Fiorentino, executive director of The Little Rock Foundation, is equally delighted. She said, “We have so much respect for Meghan and her board that we are very appreciative they chose Little Rock. We have the same goals and they can help grow our vision as a team.” Wismer will provide social media support to Little Rock and expand the foundation by establishing family support groups. She has great organizational skills and will be a major asset as their new Family Support Outreach Coordinator.
  Wismer comes to this kind of work naturally as she came from a family of community activists. She was born with congenital cataracts in both eyes, developed glaucoma, and was one of the first babies in the United States to have cataract surgery. At that time her mother started a non-profit called Parents and Cataract Kids where former Philadelphia Eagles players Reggie White and Andre Waters were involved. Meghan’s daughter, Charlotte, 4, also has congenital cataracts. But while her vision was also complicated by glaucoma, Charlotte’s glaucoma was caught early and is currently under control.
  Very similar to Meghan’s history, The Little Rock Foundation (TLRF) was created to help parents in a similar situation as the founders, Tina and Rocco Fiorentino. In a quest for information, the Fiorentinos realized there were very few resources available to them when their baby boy, Rocco, was born in 1996. Considered a miracle by his doctors, Rocco, whose twin brother died at birth, was four months premature and weighed only 1 ½ lbs. He had less than a 5% chance of survival, and, after 10 surgeries, he left the hospital at six months of age with one lasting challenge -- blindness caused by Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). This couple was desperate for support and information and, after experiencing frustration at the lack of resources, they formed the foundation to help other parents with similar challenges.
  One year later, there was another birth – the formation of The Little Rock Foundation  which is dedicated to improving the lives of children who are blind or visually impaired from early childhood to adulthood. Completely run by volunteers, The Little Rock Foundation, is a 501(c)3 non-profit that offers a variety of programs that meet the needs of hundreds of families.
  TLRF has two Family Resource Centers established in Philadelphia. One is at Wills Eye Hospital and the other at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where resources for deaf and hearing-impaired are also available. In addition, there is The Little Rock Foundation Scholarship program, providing $7500 scholarships to deserving students; the very successful Camp Little Rock, the only free one-week day camp in the tri-state area for children who are blind or visually impaired; educational programs in schools and senior centers; community outreach events like the annual Holiday Party, and ongoing efforts to lobby governmental officials.
  Little Rocco, the Ambassador of The Little Rock Foundation, has been recognized with several national awards for his humanitarian efforts and he continues to serve as an inspiration to others. Since he was five years old, he has spoken out at the New Jersey State Assembly describing his life and the needs of other children like him to New Jersey state legislators. His speeches have resulted in $1.2 million being dedicated to Braille education and support services for blind and visually impaired children and the rescue of 50 jobs of employees of the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, which happened this year after Rocco protested at April Budget Hearings in the state capitol.