Thursday evening, August 31st, Dr. Eduardo Alfonso, Professor and Chairman at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, and our CEO Virginia Jacko welcomed Bascom Palmer faculty, fellows, and residents to our annual Miami Lighthouse collaborative dinner, which reinforces the longstanding, strong relationship between the two institutions.
Guests enjoyed a buffet dinner sponsored by Doce Provisions and a video presentation of Miami Lighthouse programs. Oseas De Leon, Senior Technology Specialist and former client of Miami Lighthouse spoke about his experiences growing up as a blind child. Mr. De Leon explained how the skills he gained at Miami Lighthouse gave him the confidence to pursue being a player on the USA Paralympic Soccer team and to bring blind soccer to Miami Lighthouse, endeavors he hopes to accomplish.
As early as 1943, Dr. Bascom Palmer, University of Miami Trustee and President of Miami Lighthouse's Board of Directors from 1947 to 1952, discussed the establishment of an eye clinic to serve the local community. Dr. Bascom Palmer made it his life's work to raise funds and support for the eye hospital in cooperation with Miami Lighthouse. Six years later, Miami Lighthouse contributed substantial funds toward the building of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. A strong collaboration between the two institutions continues to this day, as both entities transform lives through vision-related services and research.
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Miami Lighthouse Board Director Stacey Jones, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Chairman Dr. Eduardo Alfonso, Miami Lighthouse President and CEO Virginia Jacko and Board Director George Foyo. |
Dr. Delia DeBuc, Dr. Carolina Mercado, Dr. Chris Alabiad, Dr. Maura Abraham, and Dr. Konica Sigla of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. |
On August 15, more than 60 faculty, fellows and residents from Bascom Palmer Eye Institute gathered for an informative evening at Miami Lighthouse. Dr. Eduardo Alfonso, Chair of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, was in attendance and welcomed guests. Guests toured the Miami Lighthouse facility, learning about the variety of vision rehabilitation programs we offer, assistive devices and services available in our Low Vision Center. Miami Lighthouse Board Director Harry W. Flynn Jr. spoke about the long history of both organization.
Virginia Jacko, President and CEO of Miami Lighthouse spoke about the importance of referring patients to Miami Lighthouse and about continuing the dream of Dr. Bascom Palmer through collaboration. CEO Jacko presented a tribute plaque to Dr. Eduardo Alfonso of a photo taken at the groundbreaking ceremony of the original Bascom Palmer Eye Institute building. To conclude the evening Miami Lighthouse Board Director Thomas E. Johnson, M.D., gave a presentation about patients with prosthetic eyes and their rehabilitation at Miami Lighthouse. We thank Bascom Palmer Eye Institute for their continued collaboration with Miami Lighthouse.
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Miami Lighthouse Board Directors Dr. Thomas Johnson, Donna Abood, Alfred Karram, Angela Whitman, Board Chair Louis Nostro, President and CEO Virginia Jacko and Dr. Harry Flynn present tribute of original photo of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute building groundbreaking to BPEI Chair Dr. Eduardo Alfonso. |
On August 31, more than 50 faculty, residents and fellows from Bascom Palmer Eye Institute gathered for an informative evening at Miami Lighthouse. Dr. Eduardo C. Alfonso, Chair of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, was in attendance. Guests toured the Miami Lighthouse facility, learning about the variety of vision rehabilitation programs we offer, assistive devices and services available in our Low Vision Center.
A welcome presentation was given by Miami Lighthouse Board Director Sander R. Dubovy, M.D., Victor T. Curtin Professor of Ophthalmology, on "Continuing the Dream of Dr. Bascom Palmer through Collaboration." Afterwards, Virginia A. Jacko, President & CEO of Miami Lighthouse talked to the participants about how Miami Lighthouse has provided hope, confidence and independence to the blind and visually impaired community for 85 years. To conclude the evening Miami Lighthouse Board Director Thomas E. Johnson, M.D., Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology, gave a presentation about his patients with prosthetic eyes and their rehabilitation at Miami Lighthouse. We thank Bascom Palmer Eye Institute for their continued collaboration with Miami Lighthouse.
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Dr. Eduardo C. Alfonso, Chair of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Board Director Thomas E. Johnson, M.D., Virginia A. Jacko, President & CEO, and Board Director Sander R. Dubovy, M.D.. |
On August 26th, more than 50 faculty, residents and fellows from Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (BPEI) along with Miami Lighthouse Board Directors gathered for an informative evening at Miami Lighthouse. Dr. Eduardo C. Alfonso, BPEI Chair, welcomed his colleagues. Guests toured the Miami Lighthouse facility, learning about the variety of vision rehabilitation programs we offer, assistive devices and services available in our Low Vision Center, including functional assessments by our low vision consulting optometrist and on-site and in-home services provided by our certified low vision occupational therapist, Raquel Van Der Biest. Raquel described the collaboration between BPEI, whose surgeons performed the first Florida Argus II retinal implant, and Miami Lighthouse, which provided vision rehabilitation for the patient.
Dr. Harry W. Flynn, Jr., Professor of Ophthalmology at BPEI, was the keynote speaker. He presented a history of BPEI and its longstanding relationship with Miami Lighthouse dating back to Dr. Bascom Palmer's chairmanship of the Miami Lighthouse Board from 1947 to 1952. Chelsea Haina, Case Manager for our Senior Group Health and Activities Program, spoke about how our SGA Program helps blind and visually impaired seniors adjust to vision loss, how of arts and crafts help develop tactile skills necessary to learn Braille and other important benefits of the program such as alleviating depression and isolation, nutrition counseling and assistance obtaining social services. We were honored that David Kurtz, grandson of Dr. Bascom Palmer, attended this year's reception. The event was partially underwritten by the James Deering Charitable Trust.
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Board Directors Angela Whitman, Alan Levitt, O.D. and Owen Freed, CEO Virginia Jacko, Board Director Stephen Morris, O.D., Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Physicians Dr. Eduardo Alfonso, BPEI Chair, Dr. Harry Flynn, Board Director Dr. Sander Dubovy and Heiken Advisory Committee Member Dr. Craig McKeown. |
On August 27th, more than 40 faculty, residents and fellows from Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (BPEI) along with Miami Lighthouse Board Directors gathered for an informative evening at Miami Lighthouse. Guests toured the Miami Lighthouse facility, learning about the variety of vision rehabilitation programs we offer, assistive devices available in and services provided by our Low Vision Center, including eye examinations by our low vision consulting optometrist, and on-site and in-home services provided by our certified low vision occupational therapist. They also had the opportunity to visit our new fourth floor Sash A. Spencer Educational Empowerment Center. Dr. Eduardo C. Alfonso, BPEI Chair, welcomed his colleagues, and Virginia Jacko, Miami Lighthouse President & CEO, spoke about Miami Lighthouse's mission. Dr. Harry W. Flynn, Jr., Professor of Ophthalmology at BPEI, was the keynote speaker. He presented a history of BPEI and its longstanding relationship with Miami Lighthouse dating back to Dr. Bascom Palmer's chairmanship of the Miami Lighthouse Board from 1947 to 1952.
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Louis Nostro, Esq., Deborah Montilla and Angela Whitman, Miami Lighthouse Board Directors; Virginia Jacko, Miami Lighthouse President & CEO; Harry W. Flynn, Jr., M.D., Professor of Ophthalmology, BPEI |
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Scott Gartner, O.D., Miami Lighthouse Low Vision Consulting Optometrist; Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D., Chair, BPEI; Virginia Jacko, Miami Lighthouse President & CEO; Dr. Stephen A. Morris, O.D., Miami Lighthouse Board Director |
On August 28th more than 45 ophthalmology faculty, residents and fellows from Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (BPEI) gathered for an informative evening at Miami Lighthouse. Guests toured the Miami Lighthouse facility, learning about the variety of vision rehabilitation programs, as well as the Low Vision Center and Vision Solutions Store. Virginia Jacko, Miami Lighthouse President and CEO, welcomed guests and spoke about continuing the long tradition of collaboration between Miami Lighthouse and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Dr. Maricarmen Perez-Blanco, BPEI Senior Optometric Physician and Miami Lighthouse Board Director served as moderator, and the evening's speakers were Harry Epstein, former Miami Lighthouse vision rehabilitation client, Dr. Sander R. Dubovy, BPEI Professor of Ophthalmology and Pathology and Miami Lighthouse Board Director; Dr. Thomas E. Johnson, BPEI Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology and Miami Lighthouse Board Director; and Dr. Craig A. McKeown, BPEI Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology and Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program, LLC, Advisory Committee Member.
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Craig A. McKeown, M.D., Harry Epstein, Sander R. Dubovy, M.D., Thomas E. Johnson, M.D, Virginia A. Jacko and Maricarmen Perez-Blanco, O.D. |
On May 2nd 2013, fifty seniors interested in age-related eye disease attended a free seminar "Living with Low Vision" co-hosted by Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Miami Lighthouse held in the Retter Auditorium at BPEI. For details, please click here.
More than 50 ophthalmology faculty, residents and fellows from Bascom Palmer Eye Institute gathered for an informative evening at Miami Lighthouse on August 22nd. Guests were welcomed in the Low Vision Center and Solutions Store and then participated in personalized tours showcasing the variety of vision rehabilitation programs available at Miami Lighthouse. Dr. Sander Dubovy, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Pathology, BPEI, and Miami Lighthouse Board Director, introduced Dr. Harry Flynn, Professor of Ophthalmology, BPEI who gave a detailed history of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and its strong ties with Miami Lighthouse for the Blind. Herb Klein, a Miami Lighthouse client, spoke about how vision rehabilitation services offered by Miami Lighthouse changed his life. The program concluded with CEO Virginia Jacko explaining how Miami Lighthouse transforms the lives of blind and visually impaired babies, children, adults and seniors. The event was hosted by Dr. Sander Dubovy, Miami Lighthouse Board Director, and Virginia A. Jacko, President and CEO of the Miami Lighthouse.
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Harry Flynn, M.D., Professor of Ophthalmology; Sander Dubovy, M.D., Miami Lighthouse Board Director; Dr. Bradford Lee; Dr. Christopher Henry. |
Maricarmen Perez-Blanco, M.D., Miami Lighthouse Board Director; Dr. Craig McKeown, Member, Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program Advisory Committee. |
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On May 12th 2012, fifty seniors interested in age-related eye disease attended a free seminar "Living with Low Vision" co-hosted by Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Miami Lighthouse held in the Retter Auditorium at BPEI. For details, please click here.
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Michael Silva, Chair, Miami Lighthouse Board of Directors; Dr. Eduardo Alfonso, Chair, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, and Virginia Jacko, President & CEO Miami Lighthouse |
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Dr. Craig McKeown, Member, Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program Advisory Committee, Virginia A. Jacko, President & CEO Miami Lighthouse, Dr. Thomas Johnson, Dr. Andrea Kossler |
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Virginia A. Jacko, President & CEO Miami Lighthouse and Sander Dubovy, M.D., Miami Lighthouse Board Director |
On September 30th 2010, fifty seniors interested in age-related eye disease
attended a free seminar "Living with Low Vision" co-hosted by Bascom
Palmer Eye Institute and Miami Lighthouse held in the Retter Auditorium at
BPEI. Board Director and Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology Dr.
Sander Dubovy presented "New Treatments for Macular Degeneration," and
President and CEO Virginia Jacko told participants about her vision
rehabilitation at the Miami Lighthouse. Maria Fernandez, low vision
occupational therapist, spoke to the group about our new in-home services
and the importance of a low vision assessment. Carol Brady-Simmons,
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist and Director of Programs
gave a demonstration of sighted-guide assistance for someone with low
vision. To make an appointment for a low vision assessment at Miami
Lighthouse please call 786-362-7479.
More than 20 ophthalmology faculty and residents from Bascom Palmer Eye Institute gathered for an informative evening at Miami Lighthouse on August 25th 2010. Guests were welcomed in our newly opened Low Vision Center and Solutions Store and then participated in personalized tours showcasing the variety of vision rehabilitation programs available at Miami Lighthouse. Board Chair Owen Freed introduced Dr. Sander Dubovy, Miami Lighthouse Board Director, who spoke to guests about Bascom Palmer's long tradition of collaboration with Miami Lighthouse. Dr. Rosemary Gonzalez, Miami Lighthouse Consulting Optometrist, and Maria Fernandez, Miami Lighthouse Occupational Therapist- Low Vision Services, presented low vision case study. The program concluded with CEO Virginia Jacko speaking on "A Partnership in Transforming Lives." The event was presented by Eduardo C. Alfonso, Professor and Chairman of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Virginia A. Jacko, President and CEO of the Miami Lighthouse.
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Craig McKeown, M.D., Member, Miami Lighthouse Heiken Children's Vision Program Advisory Committee; Virginia A. Jacko, President & CEO Miami Lighthouse; Richard Forster, M.D., former Miami Lighthouse Board Director; Sander Dubovy, M.D., Miami Lighthouse Board Director. |
Brett Bielory, M.D., Andrew Kao, M.D., Owen S. Freed, Esq., Chair, Miami Lighthouse Board of Directors, Virginia A. Jacko, President & CEO Miami Lighthouse; Marco Gonzalez, M.D. |
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Over 40 Ophthalmologists from Bascom Palmer Eye Institute gathered for an informative evening at Miami Lighthouse on August 26th 2009. Moving testimonials were given by Gert Stein and Furious Berrain, both former clients and current volunteers at Miami Lighthouse. In addition, Dr. Sander Dubovy, Miami Lighthouse Board Director and Dr. Craig McKeown, Miami Lighthouse Heiken Children's Vision Program Advisory Committee Member, spoke to guests about their involvement with the Lighthouse. Following the program, guests received personalized tours of the modern 37,000 square foot facility and our variety of programs. The event was hosted by Eduardo C. Alfonso, Professor & Chairman of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Virginia A. Jacko, President & CEO of the Lighthouse.
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Owen S. Freed, Esq., Chair, Miami Lighthouse Board of Directors; Virginia A. Jacko, President and CEO, Miami Lighthouse; Eneida O. Roldan, President & CEO, Jackson Health System; Eduardo Alfonso, M.D., Chairman Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. |
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Sander Dubovy, M.D., Miami Lighthouse Board Director; Barbara McKeown; Craig McKeown, M.D., Member, Miami Lighthouse Heiken Children's Vision Program Advisory Committee. |
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John Harriman, Senior Director, Standard Charted Bank and Miami Lighthouse Board Director; Sharon Crosby, Standard Chartered Bank; Virginia A. Jacko, President and CEO, Miami Lighthouse; Rosa Rivera, Facilities Manager, Standard Charted Bank |
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Over 40 Ophthalmologists from Bascom Palmer Eye Institute gathered for an informative evening at Miami Lighthouse on August 20th 2008. Moving testimonials were given by Lighthouse clients. Harry Epstein offered a thank you to these doctors for "saving his life" and the Miami Lighthouse for giving him a "new life" as an advocate for the blind and visually impaired. Latrissa Logan, mother of Ty'quan Logan currently enrolled in the Blind Babies Program also thanked both institutions for their dedication and commitment in helping mothers like herself cope with a blind baby and the many surgeries which are leading toward a very positive outcome. Guests received personalized tours of the modern 37,000 square foot facility and our variety of programs. The event was hosted by Eduardo C. Alfonso, Professor & Interim Chairman of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Virginia A. Jacko, President & CEO of the Lighthouse.
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Miami Lighthouse has been continuously accredited by the National Accreditation Council For Blind and Low Vision Services (NAC) since 1978 and The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) since 2017 distinguishing that an agency or school operates at the highest level of quality and is positioned to generate the outcomes needed by the clients.
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Miami Lighthouse is AER accredited distinguishing that an agency or school operates at the highest level of quality and is positioned to generate the outcomes needed by the clients.
Miami Lighthouse received the coveted Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce 2023 Nonprofit Business Innovative Excellence NOVO Award with an organizational budget of $2 million and above.
Miami Lighthouse ranks among the elite 1% of U.S. nonprofits having earned 13 consecutive 4-star ratings 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.
Early Intervention Blind Babies Program Named the Children's Trust 2016 Program of the Year. This most prestigious award recognizes this Early Intervention Program, in particular, for including parents as teachers.
Miami Lighthouse Learning Center for Children™ is a Florida gold seal and nationally Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment (APPLE)
Miami Lighthouse was recognized at the 2015 Florida Blue Foundation Sapphire Awards luncheon as an organization that has demonstrated excellence and innovation in community health.
Miami Lighthouse received the prestigious 2015 Beacon Award in Education at the 13th Annual Beacon Council Awards.
Miami Lighthouse is a two-time Charity Partner (2013 and 2014) of the Marlins Foundation and a 2017 Major League Baseball All-Star Game Legacy Partner. Our Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program has received over $300,000 in charitable donations through these partnerships.
Miami Lighthouse received the prestigious 2008 Concern Award from Health Foundation of South Florida.
Miami Lighthouse received a Silver medal at the 2016 Miami Today Gold Medal Awards Ceremony.
Miami Lighthouse named "Best of Miami" Charity 2017 by the New Times.
Miami Lighthouse received United Homecare's 2012 Thelma Gibson Community Service Award at the 18th Annual Claude Pepper Memorial Awards Ceremony.
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 2020 award for "Best in Nonprofit" campaign by PRWeek referred to as the "Oscars of the PR industry".
Miami Lighthouse is proud to be a strategic partner with ABLE United, Florida's disability savings program, to learn more visit www.ableunited.com
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