[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 83 (Friday, May 15, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E455]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE BLIND 
                               IN GREECE

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. CHRIS PAPPAS

                            of new hampshire

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 15, 2026

  Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the American 
Friends of the Blind in Greece, an organization based in Portsmouth, 
New Hampshire, that is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.
  Sharing a deep concern for the poor living conditions experienced by 
the blind in Greece, a group of Greek-Americans in New England founded 
the AFBG in 1946. The organization began by initiating smaller 
projects, including procuring funding for five Greek students to train 
in the United States. They aimed to expand opportunities for the blind 
and to prepare them with the necessary skills to earn a living despite 
their impairment.
  Their mission grew over the years. Throughout the twentieth century, 
the American Friends of the Blind in Greece helped to fund and design 
numerous programs to teach essential skills, including weaving, sewing, 
and reading braille, while also funding projects to teach agricultural 
and manufacturing trades. Their work culminated in the opening of the 
Lighthouse for the Blind in 1975, a centralized location for employing 
blind people in skilled manufacturing jobs. The AFBG also funded the 
opening of a metals workshop and a Tactual Museum to expand access to 
museum-quality art to the sightless.
  Like all organizations, the American Friends of the Blind in Greece 
has faced setbacks. The 1999 Athens earthquake caused costly damages to 
the Lighthouse for the Blind and the Tactual Museum. The diligent 
fundraising of organization members and the generous contributions of 
Americans across the country helped to rebuild and repair the damaged 
buildings to ensure the continued support of the blind community.
  Even in an era of greater awareness in the twenty-first century, the 
work of the American Friends of the Blind in Greece remains critical. 
Both the Greek Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic threatened 
the stability .and prospects for countless blind people in Greece. 
Confronting public and private funding cuts, job losses, and reduced 
services, the AFBG again answered the call, raising historic funds to 
preserve support for sightless communities.
  Today, on behalf of New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District, I am 
honored to congratulate the American Friends of the Blind in Greece for 
80 years of exceptional service. I commend its members for their 
compassion and thank them for their caring, diligent work. It is 
inspiring to see a local organization make a global impact, and I 
encourage all of us to learn from its history. From small towns in New 
Hampshire to big cities across the globe, there is so much we can 
achieve by serving others. I thank the American Friends of the Blind in 
Greece for showing us the impact we can make when we stand up for our 
values, and I wish them all the best in the years to come.

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