White Cane Day

2011 Miami Lighthouse For The Blind Celebrates Nationally-Recognized
"White Cane Day"

Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired celebrated White Cane Day in Miami on Friday, Oct. 14, 2011. Almost 200 people walked from Miami Lighthouse across 8th Street and down to 7th Avenue, raising awareness about the White Cane Laws. White Cane Day commemorates the independence of the blind and visually impaired community. “White Cane Day is important for Miami-Dade County residents because it makes people more aware of the tools used by individuals who are blind or visually impaired that allow them to lead independent, productive lives,” said Virginia A. Jacko, President & CEO of Miami Lighthouse. “White Cane Day is even more special for us this year, as Miami Lighthouse celebrates its 80 years of service along with the abilities and achievements of people with blindness or visual impairments.”

This year’s event included a ceremony honoring outgoing Florida Division of Blind Services District Administrator Gail Sterner which was presented by Paul Edwards, Chair of Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind, and Virginia A. Jacko. The White Cane Day Grand Marshals were Florida State Representative Luis Garcia and City of Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez, and the keynote speaker was David New, Founder of Ability Explosion.

We thank Amerigroup Community Care the signature sponsor of the event and our other event sponsors: Noven Pharmaceuticals, breakfast sponsored by Miami Guatemala Lions Club, Starbucks and Arahis Bakery, lunch provided through the generosity of Burger King and Lions for the Blind.

Florida State Representative Luis Garcia, City of Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez, Virginia A. Jacko and walkers celebrate White Cane Day
Florida State Representative Luis Garcia and City of Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez present President and CEO Virginia Jacko with Proclamations commemorating October 14th 2011 as White Cane Day
Division of Blind Services District Administrator Gail Sterner accepting her award presented by Paul Edwards, President of the Florida Council of the Blind and CEO Virginia Jacko		White Cane Day participants listen to keynote speaker David New, Founder of Ability Explosion
Kathryn Martinez and Socrates Aguayo representing Amerigroup Community Care, White Cane Day Signature Sponsor, with CEO Virginia Jacko
CEO Virginia Jacko with the Miami Guatemala Lions Club		Myra Diaz-Meneses representing event sponsor Noven Pharmaceuticals with CEO Virginia Jacko
CEO Virginia Jacko with Luz Marina Rosenfeld, Top Pledge Winner		CEO Virginia Jacko with Hugo Meneses, Pledge Winner runner-up

2010 Miami Lighthouse Celebrated White Cane Day on October 15th

	District 35N Vice Governor Lion Diana Castillo, Amerigroup representative Stephen Roca, Miami-Dade County Mayor’s Office Suzanne Salichs, President and CEO Virginia Jacko, District 35N Governor Lion Alec Hernandez, District 35N Vice Governor Lion Juan Tejada, and Standard Chartered Bank and Board Director John Harriman
	President and CEO Virginia Jacko and Standard Chartered Bank and Board Director John Harriman

Friday, Oct. 15th was White Cane Day in Miami and across the nation. The blind and visually impaired community of Miami-Dade County assembled at Miami Lighthouse to commemorate this historic day celebrating the independence of the blind and visually impaired community.

More than 150 participants of all ages walked from the Miami Lighthouse, across 8th Street and down to 7th Avenue and then continued the celebration with food and music. The keynote speaker for this year was Sandra Hix, President of the Local Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind. The event was sponsored by Standard Chartered Private Bank and Amerigroup Community Care. According to board director John Harriman, Senior Director of Standard Chartered and Grand Marshall of the White Cane Day walk, “It is fitting that our bank sponsored this important event as our motto is ‘Seeing is Believing’ and today our bank is celebrating World Sight Day.” Steven Roca from Amerigroup Community Care accepted a plaque honoring Amerigroup’s continued dedication to supporting White Cane Day over the years.

The walk included program participants from the Miami Lighthouse, many representatives from the community, especially members from the local Coral Way Colombian Lions Club who provided the breakfast, American Legion Honor Guard and other community leaders. Lunch was provided through the generosity of Burger King Store 12778. Standard Chartered provided the White Cane Day tee shirts for all participants.

For the Miami-Dade and Monroe County individuals who are blind or have significant vision impairment, White Cane Day is considered to be “Independence Day,” symbolized by the white cane and dog guide that assist many people for safe travel and mobility. The long white cane and guide dog also represent the ability to live independently and contribute to the community.
 

2010 White Cane Day Pre-Event Celebration at My Destiny Banquet Hall
Sponsored by City National Bank and
Union de Ciegos Hispanos en Estados Unidos, Inc.

Miami Lighthouse President and CEO Virginia Jacko, Peter Lacau and Eduardo Santamaria of City National Bank

Over 175 Miami Lighthouse clients, staff members and guests attended the Miami Lighthouse White Cane Day Pre-Event Celebration on Friday, September 24 at My Destiny Banquet Hall. Guests enjoyed a night of music, delicious food and dancing, as well as numerous prizes raffled off to guests. Raffle prizes included a 60-Minute Swedish Massage Session donated by Magda Bibiana Peralta L.M.T, an Avon basket donated by Lourdes Rodriguez, an O’Mara’s Irish Cream gift set and Sony CD AM/FM Cassette Recorder donated by Hugo Meneses, a Goya gift basket donated by Goya Foods of Florida, Inc., a still life painted and donated by Zara Mekertin and a Fitness Evaluation and Personal Training session donated by The Personal Touch Fitness.

Special thanks to pre-event sponsors: City National Bank and Union de Ciegos Hispanos en Estados Unidos Inc., as well as those that attended. All White Cane Day event proceeds will benefit the Social Group Activities (SGA) Program. SGA offers leisure activities for adults at the Miami Lighthouse that aid in perfecting dexterity necessary for Braille. Field trips to local parks, museums and other areas of interest, group discussions and language classes are also available.

White Cane Day festivities will take place on October 15 at the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind beginning at 8:30 am. All are encouraged to attend and take part in the walk for White Cane Safety. For more information click on the Upcoming Events, White Cane Day at the top left section of this web page.
 

2009 White Cane Day Celebration

More than 150 clients and guests gathered at Miami Lighthouse on October 15th to celebrate National White Cane Day. Attendees participated in a walk around Little Havana accompanied by City of Miami Police Commander David Sanchez and fellow officers. Following the walk, keynote speaker Paul Edwards, Director of Access Services at Miami-Dade College North Campus, and Dan Howe of the Miami-Dade Office of ADA Coordination addressed the crowd about the importance of the White Cane Laws and the rights of blind and visually impaired pedestrians. Special thanks to event sponsor, AMERIGROUP Community Care, the Coral Way Colombian Lions Club for providing breakfast, and Burger King & Lions for the Blind, Inc. for providing lunch.
 

2008 White Cane Safety Day

Miami Lighthouse Board Member John Harriman, President & CEO Virginia A. Jacko and John Clapp led the White Cane Safety Day Walk-a-Thon October 15. White Cane Safety Day, a national observance, educates the public on blindness issues and the White Cane Law, which protects blind and visually impaired pedestrians. This year’s keynote speaker was Danelle D'Aquanni Umstead, a visually impaired female athlete currently training to compete as an alpine ski racer in the 2010 Paralympics.

Miami Lighthouse first sought and received NAC accreditation in 1978 and has consistently achieved NAC accreditation to the present time having received seven commendations with its five year accreditation renewal.

Miami Lighthouse ranks among the elite 4% of U.S. nonprofits having earned a 4-Start rating for five consecutive years from Charity Navigator, the nation’s premier independent nonprofit evaluator. Receiving such a distinction reflects our sound fiscal management, responsible use of donor dollars, and financial strength.

Miami Lighthouse received the prestigious South Florida Business Journal 2011 Excellence in Health Care Award in the Community Outreach category.

Miami Lighthouse honored by being named the recipient of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce 2010 Non-Profit Business Diamond Award.

Miami Lighthouse received the prestigious 2008 Concern Award from Health Foundation of South Florida.