WICHITA, Kan.—Envision announced that thanks to numerous donors, they raised $3.1 million during their research institute capital campaign. The campaign supports the construction and development of the Envision Research Institute (ERI). They also now qualify for a $300,000 challenge grant from the Tulsa, Okla.-bases J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation.

The ERI is currently under construction at Envision's headquarters in Wichita and is scheduled to be completed this spring. Last February, Envision announced a capital campaign to convert the entire third floor comprised of 12,500 square feet of its headquarters into a state-of-the-art facility that would emphasize low-vision rehabilitation and establish the Midwest as a hub of vision-related research.

While there were many generous contributors, Envision received major donations from Mr. and Mrs. Carl and Gigi Allen, Mrs. Dee Rolph, Mr. Greg Lucier, and Dwane and Velma Wallace Foundation. The ERI will be known as the Carl and Gigi Allen Envision Research Institute in recognition of their contribution.

“We are grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Rolph, Mr. Lucier, the Dwane and Velma Wallace Foundation and all those who have embraced the importance of bringing the Envision Research Institute to life,” said Heather Hogan, senior vice president of Foundation & Missions Services at Envision. “Their support will pave the way for important advances in understanding and addressing the challenges of low vision and will help us make great strides toward our mission of improving the quality of life of those who are blind and visually impaired.”

The ERI will take an already impressive body of work and staff into its new facility. Laura Walker, Ph.D., has served as executive director of the ERI since its launch in 2014. The ERI’s first two postdoctoral research fellows, Tony Succar, Ph.D and Rezaul Karim, Ph.D. were awarded a second year for their projects. Two additional research fellows, Andrea Urqueta Alfaro, Ph.D. and Arun Kumar Krishnan, Ph.D. will start new projects in 2016.

Donations in support of the Envision Research Institute are still being accepted. To contribute, visit research.envisionus.com/donate.