WICHITA—Envision has received a $300,000 gift from The Sunderland Foundation, a group that supports construction projects undertaken by nonprofits in Kansas City and other Midwest markets. The gift is earmarked for the construction of the William L. Hudson BVI Workforce Innovation Center, a facility making its home on the fifth floor of Envision’s Wichita, Kan., headquarters that will be dedicated to training people who are blind or visually impaired, placing them into skilled positions and providing accessibility inclusion expertise to businesses around the U.S.

In announcing the launch of the BVI Workforce Innovation Center in February, Envision simultaneously kicked off an effort to raise $1.5 million by December 1 to receive a $750,000 challenge grant from the Tulsa, Okla.-based J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation. The Sunderland Foundation contribution and major gifts from LCI Foundation of Durham, N.C., and Carl and Gigi Allen of Allen Exploration, are helping Envision close in on that goal as fundraising continues.

“We are honored and extremely grateful to The Sunderland Foundation for their very generous gift in support of our program,” said Heather Hogan, senior vice president of Foundation & Mission Services for Envision. “This donation, combined with others we have received and others we hope to generate, will make it possible for us to create a permanent home for the BVI Workforce Innovation Center, a space where industrious, ambitious individuals with vision issues can tap into a host of resources designed to help them secure jobs and advance their careers.”

The capital campaign for the BVI Workforce Innovation Center is being conducted through the Envision Foundation. To make a gift or inquire for more information, contact Hogan at heather.hogan@envisionus.com or call (316) 440-1517. Donations may also be made online at envisionus.com/donate.