Share The Vision
Miami Lighthouse held its sixth annual Share the Vision luncheon at La
Gorce Country Club on October 6. At this year's 2010 Share the Vision
luncheon, the Educational Empowerment Challenge was
announced, a $500,000 matching incentive to expand educational
opportunities for our visually impaired students, our professional staff
and for internships. This match will also be used to expand our year-round
programming for children focusing on Braille and technology literacy and
pre-Braille literacy training for our blind babies and their caregivers.
Owen S. Freed, Esq., Chairman of the Board, and Virginia Jacko, Miami
Lighthouse President and CEO, presented a beautiful crystal lighthouse to
Louis Nostro, Esq., Miami Lighthouse Board Director, and Joseph D. Bolton,
Managing Partner, Shutts & Bowen, to honor the law firm for 80 years of
dedication and pro bono service to Miami Lighthouse. In 1935, Colonel
Shutts of the Miami Herald asked his young lawyer associate Preston
Prevatt to provide pro bono service to incorporate Miami Lighthouse, a
newly formed private agency serving the blind of Miami. Since then, Shutts
& Bowen has supported Miami Lighthouse through legal services and generous
donations.
Guests were treated to the musical talents of students who participate in
our nationally recognized music inclusion program as they entered the
venue. Miami Lighthouse summer camp children Jayden Ferrell and Silvio
Plata, delighted the crowd with “Wheels on the Bus” and “Itsy Bitsy
Spider,” while Joseph Chica gave a moving invocation.
More than 200 of South Florida’s philanthropists and community leaders
attended this extraordinary luncheon, generously underwritten by Bessemer
Trust. Guests enjoyed wine provided by Gulf Wine Merchants and beautiful
hand-made ceramic centerpieces created by Miami Lighthouse blind and
visually impaired adults in the Social Group Activities program.
Miami Lighthouse Board Director Ramón Casas challenged attendees to
imagine what vision impairment is like, and spoke about the importance of
the matching grant challenge. He praised the Educational
Empowerment Challenge as an example of true philanthropy and pointed out
the power of a matching gift, encouraging guests to participate in the
challenge.
Miami Lighthouse has received its third consecutive 4-star rating, the
highest rating possible, from Charity Navigator in recognition of its
ability to efficiently manage and grow its finances.
The notification letter states: “Only 13% of the charities rated by
Charity Navigator have received at least 3 consecutive 4-star evaluations,
indicating that Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, and
outperforms most other charities in America."
To view the full press release and the award letter from Charity Navigator
click
here.
2009 MLB Receives One Million
Dollar Matching Gift Challenge, Made in Memory of Sash A. Spencer
Miami Lighthouse is
pleased to announce a way for new and existing donors to double the impact
of their charitable giving: the One Million Dollar Challenge in Memory
of Sash A. Spencer. Through this challenge all new donations or gifts
of an increased amount from existing donors between $100 and $150,000 will
be generously matched by Mary Spencer.
2008 Miami Lighthouse Hosts 4th
Annual “Share the Vision” Luncheon
Over 250 of South
Florida’s most generous philanthropists and community leaders were on hand
to watch Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired accept the
first $250,000 installment of the “One Million Dollar Challenge in
Memory of Sash A. Spencer,” an incentive matching gift from
philanthropist Mary M. Spencer at the 4th Annual “Share the Vision”
fundraising luncheon November 12 at La Gorce Country Club. Thanks to the
generosity of Mrs. Spencer, all new donations or gifts of an increased
amount from current or past donors between $100 and $150,000 will be
matched in the memory of her beloved husband, Sash A. Spencer.
This year’s
luncheon, generously underwritten by Bessemer Trust, raised $350,000 for
programs and services offered to blind and visually impaired children and
adults. Guests enjoyed wine from The River Wines and beautiful table
centerpieces designed by Epicure Events which incorporated hand-made
ceramic pieces created by Miami Lighthouse blind and visually impaired
children and adults.
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