About Hearts for Sight

Alexis grew up in Silicon Valley and holds an Economics B.A. from University of California, Berkeley. During his time there, he was diagnosed as having Stargardt’s Syndrome. Known also as Juvenile-/Early-Onset Macular Degeneration, the rare genetic condition gradually destroys central vision, leaving peripheral vision relatively intact. Alexis has been actively involved with low-vision/blindness and disability issues since 2002 and has made a life-long study of somatics and wellness. He is trained as a Peer Support Specialist and promotes mindfulness, radical acceptance, and individual empowerment. Alexis is Certified in Personal Training (CPT) and Functional Nutrition (FNS) from the National Association of Sports Medicine. In his spare time Alexis volunteers as a docent at the lovely and restorative Gardens of the World.

Firoza is a trilingual teacher with a BA from Pomona College along with credentials in English and Special Education and a Masters in Education.
After her 37-year teaching career in India and in Los Angeles, she transitioned to working with community nonprofits, such as Hearts For Sight, South Asian Network and The Sierra Club. Firoza has been a Sierra Club leader since 2007 and, starting in 2019, helped to expand the HFS outings program through establishing a partnership with Angeles Sierra Club Inspiring Connections Outdoors. Firoza is part of the grant writing team at the Sierra Club Inspiring Connections Outdoors as well as at HFS. She is honored to be part of the HFS community.

Robert Stigile is a dedicated member of the Hearts For Sight Board, living with blindness from Retinitis Pigmentosa and hearing loss due to Bardet-Biedl Syndrome. His active involvement in the National Federation of the Blind includes roles as the Second Vice-president in California, President of the San Fernando Valley Chapter, Treasurer of the California Association of Guide Dog Users, and First Vice-president of the National Deaf Blind Division. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation and has been a part of Northridge Recreation Center for 17 years. A lover of the outdoors, Stigile regularly participates in fishing, camping, and attends Turner’s Outdoors meetings.
At Hearts for Sight, Stigile has contributed significantly over several years, particularly to the Fundraising committee. He is committed to expanding outdoor activities such as hiking and camping, aiming to increase participation and enrich the experiences of the community.
Robert is also a loving husband and the proud guide-dog handler of Winnie.

Will McWhinney has a B.A from Pitzer College with concentrations in Fine Arts and Business, and worked in various computer-related sectors. He has been a Sierra Club leader since 1998, having earned three separate leadership ratings, including for mountaineering. He has been a volunteer staff leader for the Wilderness Travel Course for 25 years. Within the Sierra Club, he has been elected to several posts, volunteered for many committees, served twice as the Angeles Chapter Outings Committee Chair, and received a few awards. He has led or assisted hundreds of hikes ranging from mountain explorations to 2nd graders at Griffith Park, for Sierra Club entities including Gay and Lesbian Sierrans, Sierra Peaks Section, Central Group, and Inspiring Connections Outdoors. Together with Firoza Jhabvala and Joan Schipper, Will helped to create the partnership between the Sierra Club and HFS. He has led over 50 official “White Cane Hikes” plus camping trips, and has unofficially hiked or walked with VIPs hundreds of times. HFS named Will as its 2024 All-Star Sight Hero.