Working in Manhattan after college, Carol Burgio marveled at people with vision loss who confidently navigated the midtown streets. “They seemed fearless,” Burgio said. She began volunteering for a nonprofit in the neighborhood that helped people with severe visual impairment. After she and her husband relocated to Denville in 2002, Burgio discovered the town was home to New Jersey Foundation for the Blind. Unfortunately, her long days commuting to New
York for work in finance prevented her from volunteering regularly.
Fast-forward to May 2019: Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey advertised for volunteers for its ‘Beyond Sight’ picnic on the first Saturday in June. Burgio jumped on the opportunity — not realizing VLANJ was the former New Jersey Foundation for the Blind. At the picnic, she met Carl Augusto, a VLANJ trustee (now board chair). Then she volunteered at Dining in the Dark in October. At Augusto’s urging, Burgio joined the board of trustees in November. “I have so much respect for people who are visually impaired. They inspire me,” Burgio said. Burgio, who has more than 20 years of experience working in the futures industry, intends to use that expertise to help VLANJ remain financially sound. Burgio is a senior product specialist with the Global Markets division of Santander Bank. She works in the Exchange Traded Derivatives department assisting Latin American clients.
“I’m so impressed by the range of programs and services Vision Loss Alliance offers, and by the camaraderie and fun the participants share,” she said. When VLANJ had to close its locations because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the nonprofit moved quickly to get key programs online. That included a newly created Tech Talks, which delves into technologies that can make participants’ lives easier. “It’s so important to have a good command of technology,” she said. She’s also a fan of the meditation and mindfulness offerings, which “help ease anxiety caused by COVID-19 and provide a sense of connectedness.” Burgio lives with her husband, Jake Ray, a special education teacher.