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Pop artist raises money, awareness for babies, toddlers with blindness/low vision in Indiana

Who doesn’t love good music that supports an even better cause? On today’s Indy Style, Christina Swider, also known as Xtina Louise, uses her platform for the benefit of others!

Recent Butler University graduate, Christina Swider, better known as Xtina Louise in the music world, has just released a music video for her new single, “The View,” and she’s on a mission to make a difference with her music. Xtina Louise recently announced that she has chosen to partner with Visually Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS Indiana) to raise awareness for the nonprofit organization as well as critical funds. 

During her time at Butler University, Xtina Louise worked with children who are blind and visually impaired through Delta Gamma’s philanthropy, Service for Sight. She instantly connected with the children’s love for music and witnessed what a powerful agent it was in relating to them. Xtina Louise wanted to combine her passion for this cause with her love for music to create a larger impact. Her goal in music has always been to touch the lives of others, and her partnership with VIPS is allowing her to do just that. 

VIPS is a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency that provides vision-specific early intervention services to infants and toddlers, ages birth to three, who are blind or visually impaired, and comprehensive support services to their families. VIPS is engaged in an Envision the Future Capital & Operations Campaign to build a state of the art Family Resource Center for the children and families VIPS serves. The Family Resource Center is currently under construction by local developer, The Whitsett Group (TWG), and will be located on E. Washington Street, just east of downtown Indianapolis. The VIPS Center will include a sensory room, a lending and resource library for parents, a teletherapy room, an accessible Toddler Town, an outdoor sensory garden, and more. All designed for young children with visual impairments. 

“Raising money to fund the construction of a building in the midst of a pandemic has not been easy,” said Meredith Howell, regional director of VIPS Indiana and mom of a daughter who is legally blind. The nonprofit has had to adjust their approach and fundraise in a whole new way according to Howell. “We’ve had to get creative because VIPS is not a known nonprofit name in the state, although what we do is so critical for these kids, that’s what makes opportunities like the one Xtina Louise presented even more valuable.” 

Xtina Louise said she’ll be donating any profit she makes from her video “The View” back to VIPS to help them fund their Family Resource Center. “I am honored to be associated with an organization like VIPS, that truly has a heart for its mission,” said the aspiring pop artist. “Our vision is something that we often take for granted and it’s incredible the way that VIPS comes alongside these children and their families to provide them with the resources that they need while they face struggles that most of us can only imagine.”

Bose McKinney & Evans LLP is pleased to match donations made to VIPS in honor of the Xtina Louise campaign up to $2,500. 

“We are incredibly grateful to Xtina for getting the VIPS name out there and raising awareness about a population of children who are often overlooked,” said Howell. “These young kids, who are facing a lifetime of challenges, deserve to have a safe place that is fun, accessible and that truly meets their needs–Xtina Louise is paving the way for thousands of kids to get services for years to come.” 

Watch Xtina Louises’ video, “The View” here.

To make a donation to VIPS, please visit this website.

About Xtina Louise 

Xtina Louise is an aspiring pop artist from Indianapolis, IN. After many years of songwriting, producing, and performing locally, she recorded and released her first two singles, “I’ll Be Crazy” and “The View” in 2020. Her music is available for streaming on platforms, such as Spotify and Apple music. She plans to continue working on her first EP, which will be released sometime in 2021. 

About Visually Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS Indiana)

VIPS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency that provides specialized and ongoing early intervention to infants and toddlers, ages birth to three, who are blind or visually impaired and comprehensive support to their families. VIPS was founded in Louisville, Kentucky in 1985. In August 2011, VIPS expanded serving children with visual impairments in Indiana. The mission of VIPS is to empower families by providing educational excellence to young children with visual impairments in order to build a strong foundation for reaching their highest potential. 

For more information, visit vips.org

About Bose McKinney & Evans LLP

Bose McKinney & Evans provides a full-range of legal services to privately owned businesses, publicly traded companies, high-tech organizations and governmental entities. The firm’s offices are located in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Ind. and in Washington D.C. Learn more about the law firm at boselaw.com.