Empowering Folsom State Prison Inmates and Visually Impaired
Our Mission
At the Folsom Project for the Visually Impaired (FPVI), we are dedicated to providing essential services to those with visual impairments. Established in 1989, our mission is to enhance the quality of life for Folsom State Prison inmates and visually impaired individuals through recycling eyeglasses and providing Braille transcription services to the blind community.
Our Founders
PDG Don Ring, reigning district governor in 1989, was at the inception of FPVI and has been the president since the beginning, and he assisted us along the way for 36 years.
Lion Richard Merz, Chief Financial Officer from
1989-2006, and past president of Northern California Lions Sight Association.
Our History
History of FPVI
The Folsom Project for the Visually (FPVI) was established as a community service program in 1989 by the Folsom City Host Lions as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization located within the granite walls of Folsom State Prison. The program is operated by Folsom Prison staff and inmates.
Initially founded with the modest goal of providing books on tape for individuals and students throughout the blind community of California, FPVI has grown over the past 36 years and now offers a wide array of services.
To further aid the sight-saving work of Lions International, donated eyeglasses are cleaned, gauged for prescription, and packaged for shipment anywhere in the world.
Helping others while learning job skills.
Recycled Eyeglasses
Folsom State Prison inmates clean, and gauge donated eyeglasses for prescription and then package them for shipment around the world.
FPVI Supplies Eyeglasses To:
- Doctors for Orphans
- Lions in Sight
- Flying Doctors
- Veteran's Stand Down
- VSP
- Church Missions
- Doctors Without Borders
- Lions Medical Missions
- Flying Samaritans
- Sacramento State Mission
Eyeglasses Delivered To:
- Africa
- Albania
- Argentina
- Chile
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Honduras
- India
- Iraq
- Liberia
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Peru
- Philippines
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Thailand
- Uganda
- United States
- Viet Nam
Braille Embosser
We acquired a new embosser, which now allows us to be total independent and able to put Braille books together from start to finish. FPVI is proud to be a member of the California Transcribers and Educators for the Visually Handicapped (CTEVH).
Braille Books & Maps
Books and maps to converted to Braille by the Folsom State Prison inmates are utilized by the California Department of Education, Clearinghouse to Technology, as well as other agencies.
Giving inmates a purpose and job skills.
CALPIA Braille Program
Incarcerated individuals who participate in CALPIA's program must complete certification through the Library of Congress and the National Braille Association. Close to 100 graduates have left the Braille program and only one has come back to prison.
FPVI's Fellowship Program
You are invited to contribute to FPVI's Fellowship Program. This is a way to recognize all of the generous people and organizations that make us the success we are today. Receive a plaque for a donation of:
- $500 Kay K. Fukushima plaque
- $300 PDG Don Ring plaque
- $150 Richard Merz plaque
PIP Kay K. Fukushima Fellowship Plaque
Past President of the International Association of Lions Clubs, Kay K. Fukushima held many positions within the association including club president of the Senator Lions Club, zone chairman, deputy district governor, district governor in 1978-1979 and vice chairman of MD-4.
PDG Don Ring Fellowship Plaque
