About Us

Our
Mission

Our mission is to inspire blind/legally blind students to continue their educational pursuits through higher learning institutions.

The core value of the Healthy Eyes Foundation for the Blind of South Carolina is its commitment to invest in the financial sustainability of blind students’ desire to attend a university/college or technical institution.

History

The Healthy Eyes Foundation for the Blind of South Carolina was incorporated by the SC Secretary of State July 7, 2011 by founder and CEO Reverend Fred M. Armfield with the vision to provide financial assistance for educating and training blind students who are graduates from an accredited high school. The foundation was chartered under the law of the State of South Carolina by the Secretary of State on July, 11 2011. The foundation received its letter of tax-exemption status (501C-3) under the internal revenue code on August 29, 2012. The foundation is in compliance with the registration requirements of the South Carolina Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act.

Board Members

Rev. Fred Armfield

Founder and CEO

Reverend Armfield is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Healthy Eyes Foundation for the Blind of South Carolina Inc. He is a retired clergy of the A.M.E. church where he served for the past 33 years. He is the founder and present pastor of Moore Community Church, Inc. and the CEO of Moore Empowerment Foundation, Edgefield, S.C. He is a 1971 graduate of S.C. School for the Deaf and Blind in Spartanburg, S.C. He is a native of Woodruff, S.C. and the seventh son of ten children of the late Frank and Minnie Armfield. He received a B.S. and M.A. degree from South Carolina State University in 1975/77 respectively. He also graduated from Eskrine Theological Seminary, Due West, S.C. His hobbies are watching local and national news, sports (football, basketball & stock car racing) and tossing horse shoes. Rev. Armfield is married

to Deborah (Stackhouse) Armfield and they have (3) children Phaedra, Xavier and Medea.

Dr. Rodell Lawrence

President

Dr. Lawrence attended South Carolina State University where he majored in Electrical Engineering/minored in Mathematics. He graduated in 1970, and received an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree from SC State in 1992. He received (3) patents at North American Rockwell Missile Systems Division. He spent 22 years at Xerox Corp. where he received 14 promotions. One of his greatest accomplishments at Xerox was being chosen in 1990 as one of the twenty best minds in the company and was placed in a Corporate Think Tank for (3) years. Dr. Lawrence’s philanthropic endeavors have helped many organizations throughout the country. His fundraising experiences are in the areas of Corporate Giving, Alumni Giving, Foundation Giving, Annual Giving, Organization and Individual Giving. He is married to Cedar (Evans) Lawrence and they have 5 children.

Xavier Armfield, MHA

Consultant

Xavier is a board of directors member of Healthy Eyes Foundation for the Blind of SC, Inc. With a professional background in corporate relationship building & career development training. Xavier began working extensively with nonprofit organizations starting in 2002. He’s held roles as a Career Services Advisor at the collegiate level designing and directing professional development programs. Spearheading student ambassador initiatives, and implementing management systems to maximize students job placement success. Over the course of his 15 + years in the nonprofit space, Xavier has put action to advice, serving on the board of directors of Healthy Eyes Foundation for the Blind of SC, Inc. and other charitable organizations in South Carolina & North Carolina.

A traveler, avid real estate investor, and outdoor guy, he lives in beautiful Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife, Erin, and twin daughters, Savannah & River.

Education: Graduate of Anderson University with a Bachelors in Health Science. Graduate of Pfeiffer University with a Master’s degree in Health Administration.

Dr. Faye Hargrove

Consultant

Faye Hargrove is a performance coach and the founder/CEO of The Better Choices Group LLC. Her unique coaching philosophy is neuroscience and trauma informed and rooted in the belief that significant personal and professional growth must begin at one’s core. She earned the PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Georgia and has served as a faculty member in the School of Business at Georgia

College and State University, as the Head of the School of Business Administration and Economics at the University of South Carolina Aiken, as Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina and as Vice President for Student Development at Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, North Carolina. Dr. Hargrove has been featured in Georgia Trend, Skirt and the University of Georgia Alumni Magazines. Her honors include the 26 Women to Watch inaugural group, Girls Scouts of the CSRA Women of Distinction Award and the Perry Broadcasting Community Volunteer of the Year Award. She enjoys dancing, golfing, traveling, and painting.

James C. Vincent

Consultant

James C. Vincent attended Fort Valley State University, received a Bachelor of Science Degree and later received a Master of Science Degree from Central Michigan University. He spent 22 years in the US Army serving as a pilot. Since retiring he has held key positions at Department of Treasury, Department of Transportation, and Homeland Security. He has a solid background in managing and developing high quality professional development programs. His hobbies include restoring automobile and outdoor sports. James is married to the former Jocelyn Simpson and they have two sons, Ian and Tristan.