601 SW 8th Ave, Miami FL 33130 · 305.856.2288
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
601 SW 8th Ave, Miami FL 33130 · 305.856.2288 |
||
|
1st Annual Miami Lighthouse Dog-A-Thon Click here to download registration/pledge form
Miami Lighthouse Featured on National NBC Evening News Miami Lighthouse was featured on national NBC Evening News with Brian Williams on December 7 in the “Making a Difference” segment, with an inspiring video of our kids gaining confidence and ability through dance. Two dozen blind and visually-impaired teens had lessons in Argentine Tango beginning in June, thanks to a grant from the Children’s Trust and other community support. The classes were taught by Dianne Basha Castro and Carol Durbin, who formed an organization called The Shimmy Club. Click the following link for the story and video: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22147757/ Miami Lighthouse Acquires Children's Vision Program
Founded in 1992 by the Dade County Optometric Association, the Dr. Bruce Heiken Memorial Fund, Inc., d.b.a. the Heiken Children’s Vision Fund (Heiken), was established as a 501(c)(3) to provide free comprehensive eye health and vision examinations and eyeglasses to financially disadvantaged K-12 students enrolled in Miami-Dade County Public Schools who have been determined to have vision deficits. The Fund was named in honor Dr. Bruce Heiken, a past-president of the Dade County Optometric Association, who gave generously of his time to work pro bono with disadvantaged children. He died tragically at a young age in 1992. Co-founder Dr. Lenny Cherdack died in 2007 and his last wish was to ensure the future of this program to meet the needs of the children in his lifelong community. Heiken has been the only countywide charitable organization dedicated to providing free comprehensive eye examinations and eyeglasses to all children grades K-12 who lack the financial means, Medicaid, or other insurance to pay for them. The Fund targets thousands of children identified with vision deficits every year by state-mandated school vision screenings. Students who previously “fell through the cracks” in the healthcare system and rarely received eye care are now referred to Heiken for follow-up comprehensive examinations. More recently, in consideration of the organization’s struggle to sustain financial well-being and its need to duplicate an administrative infrastructure, many diverse stakeholders in the community encouraged an option of consolidation so that Heiken might continue its worthy mission uninterrupted. As a result, a deliberative process began which explored and evaluated the option but which also greatly respected the time-honored, heartfelt dedication of human building blocks who, to this day, have contributed to the accomplishment of that mission. This evolution bears fruit on July 1, 2007 in the acquisition of the Heiken assets and liabilities by Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc., which will broaden its organizational mission and structure to successfully execute the well-established Heiken mission. This document discusses the program’s needs and goals as well as the transition plans and benefits of consolidation.
The day began with breakfast sponsored by Dunkin Donuts, followed by more than 150 participants spilling out into the streets of Eighth Avenue for the start of the walk. State Representative Luis Garcia served as Grand Marshall, leading the way with Lighthouse President & CEO Virginia Jacko and her guide dog, Tracker. Commander Jose Alfonso of the Miami Police Department, and a group of his dedicated officers walked alongside the proud participants. Upon completion of the walk, guests gathered in the Lighthouse Gallery to hear speakers discuss legislative issues for the blind and disabled. Speakers included State Representative Luis Garcia; Eric Bridges, Director of Advocacy & Governmental Affairs, American Council of the Blind, Washington D.C.; and Heidi Johnson-Wright, Director of Miami-Dade County Office of ADA Coordination. A Certificate of Appreciation was also presented to Robert Williams of Miami-Dade Public Works for the recent implementation of auditory pedestrian signals at Eighth Avenue and Seventh Street, allowing the blind and visually impaired to safely cross the street. Following the speakers and presentations, board member Al Cabrera and Burger King generously provided hamburgers and lunch for all while guests enjoyed a raffle and musical performances by talented Lighthouse musicians. With the help of corporate sponsors Health Ease and Amerigroup, as well as the dedicated Lighthouse clients, both past and present, more than $10,000 was raised.
November is
Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month Approximately 29 million Americans have diabetes and almost one third are at risk of vision loss because they do not know they have the disease. If you're diagnosed with diabetes, be sure to schedule a complete dilated eye exam once a year or as often as your Eye M.D. suggests. For more information visit www.aao.org CEO Jacko is Woman of the Year
CEO Jacko also addressed the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce Women’s Business Network Luncheon July 17 at the Coral Gables Country Club, describing her vision for the future of the Miami Lighthouse.
Miami Lighthouse Acquires Heiken Children's Vision Program MIAMI -June 27, 2007 – In a move heralded as a new way of doing business in the not-for-profit community, Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired has acquired the Heiken Children’s Vision Program, a community health outreach established in 1992 by the Dade County Optometric Association in memory of Dr. Bruce Heiken. “Miami Lighthouse will continue and expand the life-changing services the Heiken Children’s Vision Program has provided to Miami-Dade County students over the years,” said Miami Lighthouse CEO Virginia A. Jacko. “Early detection is key in treating and preventing a range of vision disorders. The acquisition is a perfect fit, and will allow these valuable services to schoolchildren to be maintained and multiplied. “We are especially pleased to have the Instant Vision Program, which is a fully-equipped optometric office on wheels that travels to schools in low-income areas. My hope is that we will eventually have a whole fleet of these,” CEO Jacko said. The Dade County Optometric Association created the Children’s Vision Program because thousands of public school students failed routine vision screenings every year, then never received follow-up eye exams and corrective lenses. CEO Jacko said that it is important to recognize the Health Foundation of South Florida as the catalyst that brought the leadership of the two organizations together to consider the idea of merging Heiken into Miami Lighthouse for the Blind. The merging of nonprofits to make better use of resources is an emerging trend, according to Dr. Steven Marcus, President of the Health Foundation of South Florida. “Many small non-profits are one dimensional in providing a significant major program but have all the expenses of administrative staffing, office overhead and accounting and legal compliance,” Dr. Marcus said. “By consolidating the Heiken Fund with the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, a larger agency with similar interests, all of the resources for overhead can go directly to servicing the children benefiting from the vision van eyeglass program.” The Heiken fund had been the only county-wide charitable organization providing free comprehensive eye care to all needy K-12 schoolchildren. “By acquiring the Heiken Program, Miami Lighthouse broadens its organizational mission to include eye wellness, as well as vision rehabilitation,” CEO Jacko said. Since 1931 Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired has provided an impressive array of rehabilitation services and training to give blind and visually-impaired people of all ages hope, confidence and independence. Gloria Martin
3rd Floor Wing Nine years later on May 30, 2007, we celebrated the capstone of that dream with the completion and the build-out of the Third Floor, which houses the Blind Babies Program, the Summer Camp for kids, as well as the music and fitness programs. Substantial gifts from Gloria Martin, Reverend Marta S. Weeks, the Rotary Club of Miami, and Agustin Arellano, along with others, have made this day possible.
Miami Lighthouse For The Blind Volunteer Of The Year Is A Beacon Of Hope For Our Community MIAMI – April 11, 2007 – Ed Blumenthal’s world is full of hope and good fortune. On April 11, 2007, Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired recognized Blumenthal for his faithful support to the organization by awarding him its Volunteer of the Year Award. Miami Lighthouse clients presented Ed with a hand-made ceramic lighthouse they made as a token of their appreciation for his devotion to the organization. Ed was one of several nominees for the award, which recognizes excellence in volunteerism. Blumenthal was given a standing ovation from more than 100 attendees that included clients, staff and close friends. While Ed is extremely humble and tends to shy away from the attention he has received it remains a fact that Ed’s dedication and commitment to the Lighthouse is unwavering. “It isn't just the things he does around the agency that warrant recognition, it is the spirit in which he does it,” says Virginia A. Jacko, President and CEO of Miami Lighthouse. “We are extremely grateful for Ed’s support and experience in the retail industry it has allowed us to improve our customer service and expand our product offerings to clients,” CEO Jacko added. Ed was first
introduced to Miami Lighthouse in 2005, by long-time Lighthouse supporter
Dr. Rolly Kohen and his wife Hellen. Since then, Ed volunteers weekly,
mainly assisting Solutions Store manager, Roberto Acosta with
merchandizing, inventory and order requests. Having a granddaughter who is
deaf and in need of special assistance, Ed is excited about branching out
into other areas at the Lighthouse as well. He is looking forward to
getting involved in the summer programs that help children learn how to
live more independently and build confidence. A native of New York, Ed moved to Miami in 1930 with his parents. His father owned Blumenthal Inc., a children’s wear business and took the helm of the company when his father retired. In 2000, Ed stepped down and passed the business to his son who is now the third generation of Blumenthal’s to run the family business. When Ed is not volunteering at the Lighthouse you can find him biking across the bridge to Key Biscayne, playing tennis or attending class at the University of Miami’s Osher Lifetime Learning Institute (OLLI). The McCrea Volunteer Luncheon is held each year to recognize and thank the many volunteers who assist at the Lighthouse. The McCrea Family began its legacy of volunteerism in the early days of Miami Lighthouse when Helen Sloan McCrea (1899-1978) devoted herself to the Lighthouse mission. Her son, W. Sloan McCrea, often accompanied her when she visited the Lighthouse back in the 1930’s. Sloan served on the Lighthouse Board for nearly 30 years and today, Helen’s grandson, David McCrea, continues the volunteer spirit as a contemporary board member. A Miami Beach High and University of Miami graduate, Ed and his wife Jackie reside in Grove Isle. Between them they have seven children, three stepchildren, and 12 grandchildren.
Visionary
license plate now available in Florida
This project was spearheaded by the Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind (FAASB). Virginia A. Jacko, president and CEO of the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind & Visually Impaired, commented that “These license plates will raise critically-needed money to help thousands of Floridians who live with limited vision or blindness everyday. I’m proud and thankful that the Florida Legislature had the vision to create this new license plate.” The revenue generated by the sale of the new plate will be distributed to the FAASB to provide direct support for local services to Florida’s growing visually impaired population. Many Lighthouse supporters signed the necessary petitions to create the plate. “This was the very first project of the Florida Legislature’s new Vision Caucus; and it will help thousands of Floridians with vision loss. The Miami Lighthouse supporters were extremely enthusiastic about it,” said William R. Roy, Ph.D., newly installed president of the Board of Directors of the Lighthouse. “I will be asking every member of our board and supporting organizations, such as the Lion and Rotary Clubs, to buy one of these beautiful license plates. Our goal is to help the blind; and this is another great way to do it.” The new A State of Vision license plate is now available at tag agencies throughout Florida. For more information on their availability, contact your local auto tag agency or County Tax Collector’s office. Businesswoman Gloria Martin Donates $1,104,200.60 To Miami Lighthouse For The Blind And Visually Impaired Gift Honors Vision Rehabilitation Client and Music Legend Henry Stone
The matching incentive gift is the largest donation ever received at the Miami Lighthouse by a living individual donor, according to President and CEO Virginia Jacko. An initial portion of $100,000 will be allocated for scholarships for blind musicians to equip the new third floor blind babies facility as well as a new sound studio and an exercise room that are part of the Lighthouse’s current expansion. “This is an extraordinarily generous and important gift for Miami Lighthouse and establishes the Gloria Martin Endowment. Creation of this endowment provides a matching incentive for prospective donors so that the Lighthouse can expand its services to mothers of blind babies as well as blind and visually impaired children, teens and adults. Because of Gloria’s incentive matching gift, I refer to her as the Genius of Generosity since this gift will be the catalyst for new and increased donations,” said Mrs. Jacko. Henry Stone, a legendary music producer whose talents are heard in recordings by Ray Charles, KC & the Sunshine Band, James Brown and many more top artists, first became a Lighthouse client after becoming blind following surgery gone awry. Subsequently, he began producing the music of other Lighthouse clients. Highlights of these recordings are featured in two albums for commercial release. The first of these, Instrumental Magic, is currently being distributed to retail outlets and a second collection of songs, Vocal Magic, will be available in mid October. (click here to purchase your copy) Gloria Martin, a long time Miami resident and good friend of Mr. and Mrs. Stone, referred them to Miami Lighthouse for the Blind. According to Gloria Martin, Mr. Stone’s vision rehabilitation at Miami Lighthouse enabled him, once again, to produce music. “Henry’s transformation was apparent and encouraging. After recommending the Lighthouse to him, I decided to tour it myself. Seeing the happy clients in the cafeteria and in the music studio taking steps to lead joyful and independent lives motivated me to help,” said Gloria Martin at the Lighthouse reception, hosted by Mellon, where the gift was announced. “I knew my gift would help many people just like Henry, and the Lighthouse’s expansion is most worthy of support.” For matching gift information, contact Sheldon L. Roy, Deputy Director and Chief Development Officer at 305-856-2288, extension 242. |
On Monday, October 15th, the blind and visually impaired community of
Miami-Dade assembled at Miami Lighthouse for the third straight year to
celebrate White Cane Safety Day. Several activities, including a
Walk-A-Thon, took place throughout the day in order to raise awareness for
this often overlooked issue.
Miami Lighthouse
President and CEO Virginia Jacko received the 2007 Business Woman of the
Year award in the Non-Profit Leader Category from the South Florida
Business Journal at the publication’s sixth annual Business Woman of the
Year Awards luncheon July 13. More than 650 local business leaders
attended the luncheon and award presentation, which recognizes achievement
in leadership. “This is a tremendous honor and I am very grateful to the
South Florida Business Journal,” CEO Jacko said. “Most of all I welcome
the opportunity to share my enthusiasm for the mission of the Miami
Lighthouse with so many leaders in our community.”
On November 14, 1998, Miami Lighthouse dedicated its new three-story
expansion and a substantial renovation of existing facilities so that it
could better fulfill its time-honored mission. Under the leadership of
then President Susan P. Kelley, and board members Barbara Weintraub, Karl
Bishopric, Bill Morrison, and others, the project was launched and
completed with the exception of the third floor, which was left
unfinished. Health Foundation of South Florida, at the urging of the
Lighthouse “silent angel” Barbara Weintraub, became the principal source
of funding for the project with a gift of $1.5 Million. Northern Trust
Bank was the generous sponsor of the elaborate dedication ceremonies. The
event program proclaimed, “Our Long-Held Dream…Has Become a Reality.”
Miami, Florida – 9/13/2006 After seeing firsthand how Miami
Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired transforms people’s lives,
Miami businesswoman Gloria Martin decided to donate One Million, One
Hundred Four Thousand, Two Hundred Dollars and Sixty Cents ($1,104,200.60)
to the agency in honor of her good friends, Henry and Inez Stone. The
amount commemorates the date (11/04/2006) of the upcoming November 4th
Diamond Jubilee Gala celebrating the Lighthouse’s founding 75 years ago.