Sights for Hope Welcomes Deirdre Federico Snyder as Director of Advancement
Sights for Hope announced today that Deirdre Federico Snyder, CFRE has become its Director of Advancement.
Federico Snyder served as Director of Development for the Lehigh County Humane Society from 2019 to 2021 and earned her international Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential in 2021. During her tenure with the humane society, Federico Snyder established a fundraising infrastructure, donor stewardship program, legacy giving society, and a $4 million capital campaign. Her work supported the opening of a new community veterinary clinic facility; financial assistance for pet owners; and the rescue, adoption, and return of more than 3,000 animals.
Federico Snyder also worked as Development and Special Events Coordinator of the Allentown Rescue Mission from 2015-2018. While there, she created the organization’s first gala fundraiser, developed its volunteer program; managed its annual WAEB Spaghetti Dinner hosted by Bobby Gunther Walsh; and directed its annual Thanks for Giving food and supply drive, which utilized 350 volunteers over 10 days. Her work supported the sheltering of more than 2,500 men, the serving of more than 100,000 meals, and the placement of more than 100 men in the mission’s Christian living program and Clean Team Workforce.
Federico Snyder holds a degree in English and Psychology from the University of Massachusetts and is a member of the Association for Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Eastern Pennsylvania chapter.
“I am honored to become Sights for Hope’s Director of Advancement. The organization’s dedication to transforming the lives of people with visual impairments inspires me. By offering much needed services, including basic things most people take for granted, such as transportation,” Federico Snyder said. “The joy in this work for me is to ensure that all people, from childhood through their senior years, have access to care for their sight. From providing eye exams to state-of-the-art vision enhancement devices, Sights for Hope is evolving purposefully. I embrace the challenge to drive support for its mission.”
Federico Snyder’s primary responsibility will be to drive growth in private donations to Sights for Hope – which include gifts made by individuals, groups, community and corporate partners, and Lions clubs and districts; grants; and bequests and estate gifts.
“Deirdre will bring to Sights for Hope a mature, detailed, and impact-focused approach to stimulate critical increases in private support,” said Dennis Zehner, the organization’s Executive Director and CEO. “We will benefit immensely by Deirdre’s ability to excel against challenges, exceed expectations, and appreciate advancement’s integrated role in a dynamic and successful organization.”
Federico Snyder can be reached by phone at 610.433.6018, Ext, 244, and by email at deirdre@sightsforhope.org.
Sights for Hope blends a service tradition inspired by Helen Keller nearly a century ago with contemporary practices to remove the barriers to independence and success caused by visual impairments. Sights for Hope transforms the lives of people with visual impairments in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley and Monroe County through life skills education, specialized technologies, individualized support services, free vision screenings for children, and community education programs. Sights for Hope services impact more than 10,000 people in a typical year and are provided at little or no cost. A total of 85% of Sights for Hope clients with visual impairments are from low-income households. Sights for Hope, known formerly as Center for Vision Loss, is an independent member of the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind (PAB) and is affiliated with the VisionServe Alliance, a network of North American agencies that serve people with visual impairments.
Image: Deirdre Federico Snyder, CFRE