The primary sponsor of the expedition is the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the leading organization in the United States comprised of blind members. The Federation is organized in every state and has local chapters in almost any community of any size in the United States. The NFB is the leading advocate for the blind, focusing on crucial issues facing blind people such as the 70% unemployment rate among working age blind, a decreasing literacy rate among blind children, and access to information and technology for blind people. The team is committed to assisting in the efforts of the NFB to improve the lives of blind people.