The Visually Impaired People organization received a major grant from the Selma Wal-Mart Supercenter Tuesday in recognition of the non-profit group’s efforts to provide assistance to local residents.

Wal-Mart associates presented V.I.P. founder William Bowman with a $1,000 check as part of the store’s Good.Works. community involvement program.

“This grant will allow me to continue giving out low vision information and referrals, do technology demonstrations, and host programs in schools and nutrition centers,” Bowman said.

According to a company press release, the Good.Works. program allows Wal-Mart stores to provide financial or volunteer support to charitable or educational organizations at the local level.

Last year, Wal-Mart associates nationwide raised and contributed $190 million to support communities and non-profit organizations.

“I’m very pleased to have Wal-Mart as one of our sponsors,” Bowman said. “They are allowing me to continue informing people about preventive measures that can keep them from going blind.”

Bowman said he applied for a Good.Works. grant after doing some research and discovering the Wal-Mart corporation often provides funds to local groups.

“I went to Wal-Mart and talked with the manager about my program,” Bowman said. “He seemed really impressed with what we do and offered to find a way to help.”

Bowman added that finding funding for his organization has been difficult over the past few years due to a seemingly endless round of budget cuts.

“Several of the agencies and companies that have donated to V.I.P. in the past have not been able to do so this year because of budget cuts,” Bowman said. “Every time I turn around, it seems like we need money for something. A lot of people don’t realize what it takes to keep non-profits afloat.”

Starting next month and continuing until April, Bowman will be traveling to schools across the city and county giving speeches and demonstrations on what it is like to be visually impaired and how to overcome obstacles.

Last year, Bowman said, he spoke with over 1,000 school children across the county.

He will also be visiting numerous nutrition and senior centers to provide information about eye diseases and how to find proper medical care.

“In between visiting schools, I also talk with about 200 people a month at the nutrition centers I visit on a regular basis,” Bowman said.

Along with the recognition from Wal-Mart, Bowman will also be featured on Alabama Public Television’s Alabama Works program this weekend.