Dear BALANCE clients and our wonderful community:
After careful consideration, I am writing to inform you of my decision to retire from my role as CEO of BALANCE, effective August 22, 2025. It has been an incredible privilege to serve as the leader of this remarkable organization for these exciting, challenging and meaningful years. During this time, I have seen firsthand the difference we make in the lives of those with sight loss, and I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together.
As an organization dedicated to trust, empathy, respect, inclusion, independence, and collaboration, it has been a true pleasure to have worked with so many of you to create positive change in the lives of people with sight loss, and see that change make a difference every single day. I am particularly proud of our strategic planning, focused on program innovation and expansion, ensuring that we continually evolve to meet the needs of our community, be impassioned advocates for equity and inclusion, and position our organization so that it can help more people in better and more innovative ways. I am also especially proud of how we were able to respond to the needs of our community during the pandemic, and the ways so many of you worked with us to be the first vision rehabilitation organization in North America to be available for innovative remote and virtual supports and services to people with sight loss. Thank you for your commitment, passion and willingness to be patient as we learned how to do this and do it well.
None of our work over these past 9 years would have been possible without the dedication and passion of our incredible staff team. I am so proud of the strong and vibrant team we have built, whose unwavering commitment to our mission has been instrumental in driving our success. I leave with the utmost confidence that the organization is in an excellent position for continued growth and impact in the years to come.
As I transition into my “third act”, I remain deeply grateful for the opportunity to work on behalf of and alongside you all and to be part of an organization that is truly following the adage attributed to Gandhi: “be the change you wish to see in the world”. The work we have done together has been a fulfilling and meaningful time in my career, and I leave with a sense of pride and optimism for the future, both for the organization and for myself. My learning in the position has been immense, and I can truly say I have grown as a person during almost a decade of service.
I will do everything in my power to ensure a smooth transition over the coming months and will remain available to support the organization and all members of our community. Thank you for your trust, support, and collaboration over these past years; thank you also for always being champions of BALANCE and spreading the word about our good work. It has been an honor to serve as CEO, and I look forward to seeing the continued success and positive impact of BALANCE in the years ahead.
I remain yours warmly,
Deborah Gold, Chief Executive Officer