Miami Lighthouse Board of Directors Approves New Mission Statement
The Miami Lighthouse Board of Directors voted unanimously at its December
12th meeting to adopt a new mission statement as recommended by the Board
Planning and Program Development Committee. Director Dr. Charles Pappas
presented to the Board the following mission statement:
Mission Statement
To provide vision rehabilitation
and eye health services
that promote confidence and independence, as well as to
educate professionals,
and conduct research in related fields.
“Our new mission statement reflects our broadening mission,” said Board
Chairman William Roy, Ph.D. “Promoting eye wellness should lead to fewer people
affected by vision impairment. Ensuring a steady supply of highly trained
professionals and encouraging new ways to provide vision rehabilitation will
improve the vision rehabilitation experience for present and future clients.
This is exactly what our founders had in mind.”
Miami Lighthouse Receives 2008 Healthy Vision Award
From The National Eye Institute
Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired is one of fifty
institutions in the U.S. to receive the 2008 Healthy Vision Community
Award from the National Eye Institute (NEI). The award recognizes the
achievements of Miami Lighthouse in the field of providing essential
vision care to school-age children, and includes a check for $10,000 that
will support ongoing efforts to ensure that children in Miami-Dade County
receive complete vision care. NEI, part of the U.S. National Institutes of
Health, is a government agency established by Congress in 1968 to protect
and prolong the vision of the American people.
The award, which will support the efforts of the Heiken Children’s
Vision Program at Miami Lighthouse, is earmarked for research and public
outreach that helps prevent and treat visual impairment in children. Miami
Lighthouse will make presentations to Miami-Dade County School staff,
parents, parent-teacher associations (PTA) and community referral agencies
to raise awareness of the Children’s Vision Program. New program
literature in English, Spanish and Creole will inform teachers and parents
about the importance of early vision care to education, and encourage
participation in the Children’s Vision Program.
“We are delighted to be working with NEI,” said Miami Lighthouse CEO
Virginia A. Jacko. “The aims of the Healthy Vision initiative are a
perfect fit with the goals of Miami Lighthouse and its Children’s Vision
Program, as we expand our mission to include eye health and education.”
Miami Lighthouse acquired the Heiken Children’s Vision Program in July
2007. Through a cooperative agreement with Miami-Dade County Schools, the
mobile optometric unit has provided free vision care and eyeglasses to
thousands of economically disadvantaged schoolchildren who failed
state-mandated vision screenings. According to CEO Virginia Jacko, a
second optometric unit is being mobilized to expand free eye care service
to more financially disadvantaged children in both Dade and Monroe
Counties.
The Heiken Advisory Committee was established by the Miami Lighthouse
President and CEO to maintain relationships with community groups such as
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Health Connect Teams, foundations that
have supported the Heiken Program, the optometric community and pediatric
ophthalmologists. These stakeholders have provided expertise and support
to ensure its continuing success.
The Dade County Optometric Association established the Heiken
Children’s Vision Fund in 1992. “The merging of nonprofits to make better
use of resources is an emerging trend,” said Dr. Steven Marcus, President
of the Health Foundation of South Florida. “By consolidating Heiken with
Miami Lighthouse, a larger agency with similar interests, all of the
resources for overhead can go directly to client service.”
The Miami Lighthouse Children’s Vision Program is funded by The
Children’s Trust, The Batchelor Foundation, Health Foundation of South
Florida, Public Health Trust, Florida Optometric Association Charities,
Blank Family Foundation, Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation, Peacock
Foundation, Junior League of Miami, Shepard Broad Foundation, Anthony R.
Abraham Foundation, Dade Community Foundation, Kennedy Family Foundation,
Geiger Charity Foundation, D. Richard Mead Charitable Foundation, and
others. The eyeglasses, free to the students, are provided by Florida’s
Vision Quest, Inc.
Miami Lighthouse Hosts Third Annual “Share the Vision” Event
Friends of Miami Lighthouse for the Blind gathered November 13th at LaGorce
Country Club for a “Share the Vision” luncheon, raising nearly $500,000. Donors
and friends enthusiastically greeted the Board of Directors’ vision for a Center
of Excellence in Low Vision and Vision Rehabilitation. Clients also shared
heartwarming, touching testimonials. Entertainment was provided by Lighthouse
musicians, including Heidys Hernandez, blind from birth, who sang a selection
from their latest album, “A Better Chance.” CDs are available at (305) 856-9100.
The event was underwritten by Bessemer Trust and Health Ease.
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