Young Professionals of the Lighthouse (YPOL)
Visionaries of Tomorrow
Young Professionals of the Lighthouse Committee
Members
Kent Benedict, Co-Chair
Humberto (Bert) Gonzalez, Jr., Co-Chair
Ana Maria Rodriguez, Co-Chair
Agustin Arellano, Jr.
Scarlette Carballo
Josh Coller
Alex Dominguez
Lauren Firtel
Otto Foerster
Pablo Gonzalez
Michael Jimenez
Lena Lowell
David New
Rebecca Osorio
Michael Mowatt
Young Professionals of the Lighthouse (YPOL) was
established in 2003 to target young professionals between 25-40 years.
This volunteer group helps raise awareness and funds through various
social activities in the community. Check out the Calendar of Events for
more information or to learn more about YPOL membership contact Cameron
Sisser at
CSisser@MiamiLighthouse.org or 786-362-7515.
On March 13th the Young Professionals of Miami Lighthouse
(YPOL) and the Humane Society of Greater Miami met for a happy hour at the
beautiful Zen Sai at Essex House on South Beach to benefit both
organizations. More than 40 young professionals gathered to enjoy
appetizers and specialty cocktails. You can become a YPOL member by
contacting Cameron Sisser at
csisser@miamilighthouse.org or 786-362-7515. The YPOL Committee thanks
PetNet for their partnership and James Butler of Zen Sai at Essex House
for his hospitality.
On Wednesday, January 16th, SFG headed to the Betsy Hotel
in South Beach to celebrate Overture to Overtown. The celebration is part
of a week-long event thrown by the Betsy Hotel to honor the history and
culture of this community. This event kicks off their Art Deco Jazz Week
celebrations with fantastic musical performances lined up for each night
of the celebration.
On November 7th the Young Professionals of Miami
Lighthouse (YPOL) met for a relaxing happy hour at the beautiful Mayfair
Hotel & Spa in Coconut Grove to toast and celebrate the completion of the
Spencer Educational Empowerment Center Challenge, which will allow for the
construction of a new fourth floor to expand Braille and technology
literacy, job readiness, and transition program for teenagers. You can
become a YPOL member by contacting Cameron Sisser at
csisser@miamilighthouse.org
or 786-362-7515. The YPOL Committee thanks Steven Bumpus and the Mayfair
Hotel staff for their gracious hospitality.
The Young Professionals of Miami Lighthouse (YPOL) held
their holiday toy drive at The Learning Express on November 4th. Children
and parents gathered to enjoy a Sunday afternoon of purchasing toys for
blind babies and children, and laughs were provided by Ziggy the Clown.
Board Director Steven Solomon welcomed everyone who attended the event and
explained what Miami Lighthouse does to help visually impaired children
and adults. The YPOL Committee would like to thank Learning Express, Board
Director Steve Solomon and everyone who purchased toys for blind and
visually impaired children.
On October 4th the Young Professionals of Miami Lighthouse
(YPOL) met for a relaxing happy hour at the beautiful Delano on South
Beach. Complimentary Bacardi cocktails were provided while members of YPOL
networked with each other. You can become a YPOL member by contacting
Cameron Sisser at csisser@miamilighthouse.org or 786-362-7515. The YPOL
Committee thanks Loni Paige for her gracious hospitality.
The Young Professionals of Miami Lighthouse (YPOL) held a
happy hour sponsored by United Teacher’s of Dade on Thursday, September
13th. More than 40 young professionals gathered to enjoy an evening of
delightful appetizers and wine. YPOL co-chair Kent Benedict welcomed
attendees to the event and thanked United Teachers of Dade for their
generosity in sponsoring the event. Guests heard from Karen Aronowitz,
President United Teachers of Dade, who spoke about the amazing work Miami
Lighthouse does for the blind and visually impaired community. To cap off
the night, Joanne Messing won the business card raffle for two tickets to
the Miami Dolphins home opener against the Oakland Raiders.
On August 10th the Young Professionals of the Miami
Lighthouse (YPOL) met for a relaxing happy hour at the beautiful SLS Hotel
on South Beach. Complimentary cocktails were provided while members of
YPOL networked with each other. You can become a YPOL member by contacting
Cameron Sisser at csisser@miamilighthouse.org or 786-362-7515. The YPOL
Committee thanks Mario Stocco of the SLS Hotel for his gracious
hospitality.
The Young Professionals of Miami Lighthouse held their
Legislative Luncheon and networking event at the Miami Lighthouse for the
Blind and Visually Impaired on Monday, June 18th. The event was generously
underwritten by Flagler Development Company. Nineteen elected officials
were represented at the luncheon including representatives from U.S.
Senator’s Nelson and Rubio’s offices, two U.S. Congressional aides, one
State Senator and four State Representatives. Over eighty young
professionals gathered to enjoy the complimentary luncheon and networking
which were followed by a tour of the Miami Lighthouse.
The event was kicked-off with a musical performance by
Miami Lighthouse Better Chance Music Production Program™ students Eddy
Camacho, Stephanie Camacho, Oman Pedreira and Alexis Velasquez. Chairman
of the board of directors Michael Silva and chair-elect Agustin Arellano
Jr. welcomed attendees to the luncheon and introduced Miami Lighthouse
transition student Joey Chica to give the invocation, after which Juan
Pablo Paniagua, a Braille literacy program student, spoke about his
journey with Miami Lighthouse.
Virginia A. Jacko, President & CEO of Miami Lighthouse,
spoke to the group about the inspiring mission of Miami Lighthouse and the
importance of leadership and uniting young professionals, elected
officials and Miami Lighthouse’s board directors. Attendees were treated
to a personal tour of Miami Lighthouse which included the Low Vision
Center and Solutions Store, STAR and Transition summer camp programs and
the Better Chance Music Production Program™. We have 150 schoolchildren
enrolled in our summer camps. Guests enjoyed seeing the fun and engaging
activities children participate in on a daily basis here at Miami
Lighthouse. We thank our sponsor, Flagler Development Company, elected
officials, aides and all the young professionals who attended the event.
On March 7th the Young
Professionals of the Miami Lighthouse (YPOL) held a night of networking to
help raise funds for the Miami Lighthouse Better Chance Music Production
Program™ student trip to Universal Studios. Virginia Jacko welcomed
everyone who attended the event and Christopher Block, Director of
Operations at Habify, explained how to make your home comfortable,
healthy, sustainable, safe, efficient and beautiful. The Better Chance
Music Production Program™ student musician’s provided musical delights
throughout the evening.
The Young Professionals of the Lighthouse (YPOL) held
their holiday toy drive at The Learning Express on December 4th. Children
and parents gathered to enjoy a Sunday afternoon of purchasing toys for
blind babies and children and laughs were provided by Ziggy the Clown.
Virginia Jacko welcomed everyone who attended the event and explained to
all the children about Miami Lighthouse and what her guide-dog Kieran does
for a living. The YPOL Committee would like to thank Learning Express and
all who purchased toys for blind and visually impaired students of Miami
Lighthouse generating over 100 gifts and $500 in donations. To read the
Miami Herald article on the event click the following link "Toy
Drive To Help Lighthouse For The Blind’s Baby Program".
The Young Professionals of Miami Lighthouse held their Legislative
Luncheon and networking event at the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and
Visually Impaired on Monday, June 27th. The event was generously
underwritten by Flagler Development Company. Sixteen elected officials
were represented at the luncheon including three State Senators, four
State Representatives and two U.S. Congressional aides. Sixty young
professionals gathered to enjoy the complimentary luncheon and networking
which were followed by a tour of the Miami Lighthouse.
The event began with elected officials assembled to view the unveiling of
a plaque commemorating legislative support for Miami Lighthouse programs.
Board member Agustin Arellano Jr. then welcomed attendees to the luncheon
and introduced Natalia Sulca, assistant instructor in the acclaimed Miami
Lighthouse Better Chance Music Production Program™, who delighted guests
with an inspiring vocal performance of “God Bless the U.S.A.”
Virginia A. Jacko, President & CEO of Miami Lighthouse, spoke to the group
about the inspiring mission of Miami Lighthouse and described the ways in
which the Florida Legislature helps Miami Lighthouse transform the lives
of the blind and visually impaired, from babies to seniors. Elected
officials and young professionals in attendance were treated to a personal
tour of Miami Lighthouse which included one of our Heiken mobile eye care
units, Low Vision Center and Solutions Store, STAR and Transition summer
camp programs and the Better Chance Music Production Program™, programs in
which 125 schoolchildren are enrolled this summer. Attendees enjoyed
seeing the fun and engaging activities children participate in on a daily
basis here at Miami Lighthouse. We thank our sponsor, Flagler Development
Company, elected officials, aides and all the young professionals who
attended the event.
YPOL at The Burgundy Room
The Young Professionals of the Lighthouse (YPOL) held
their second social of 2011 at The Burgundy Room on May 17th. More than 50
young professionals gathered to enjoy an evening of delightful appetizers
and wine provided by The Burgundy Room. YPOL co-chairs Kent Benedict and
Bert Gonzalez, Jr. welcomed attendees to the event and thanked United
Teachers of Dade for their generosity in sponsoring the event. Guests
heard from Virginia Jacko, President Miami Lighthouse, Karen Aronowitz,
President United Teachers of Dade and Linda Weiss Rose, Department Chair
Programs for the Visually Impaired MDPS, who spoke about Miami
Lighthouse’s collaboration with Miami-Dade Public Schools Programs for the
Visually Impaired. At the end of the night a few lucky winners of the
business card raffle were awarded with a dinner for two gift certificate
to Fogo de Chao and a one year membership to Normandy Gym. Photos courtesy
of Caroline Lamarre.
The Young Professionals of the Lighthouse (YPOL) held
their first social of 2011 at the Miami Lighthouse on February 1st. More
than 50 young professionals gathered to enjoy an evening of delightful
paella and wine provided by El Carajo, as well as, live music provided by
Miami Lighthouse musicians and comedy hour hosted by Irene Morales, Elvis
Anderson, Dan DeCotiis and Jamal Hattar.
YPOL co-chairs Kent Benedict, Ana Maria Rodriguez and Bert
Gonzalez, Jr. welcomed attendees to the event and thanked El Carajo and
the Comedians for their generosity in providing the wonderful ambiance for
the evening’s festivities. At the end of the night a few lucky winners of
the business card raffle were awarded with bottle service at UVA donated
by Jamal Hattar and original ceramic pieces created and painted by Social
Group Activities clients.
Young Professionals of the Lighthouse
(YPOL) Luncheon Underwritten
by Baptist Health South Florida
The Young Professionals of the Lighthouse (YPOL)
held a luncheon and networking event at the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind
and Visually Impaired on June 29. Generously underwritten by Baptist
Health South Florida, more than 35 young professionals gathered to enjoy
the luncheon which was followed by a tour of the Miami Lighthouse.
YPOL co-chair Kent Benedict welcomed
attendees to the luncheon and introduced Natalia Sulca, member of the
acclaimed Miami Lighthouse music instruction program and graduate of the
Transition program, who delighted guests with an inspiring vocal
performance of “Wind Beneath My Wings.”
Humberto Gonzalez, Jr. and YPOL co-chair
Ana Maria Rodriguez spoke to the group about the inspiring mission of the
Miami Lighthouse and described the ways in which the organization changes
lives. One lucky guest won the business card raffle, which included an
original ceramic piece created and painted by a Social Group Activities
client as well as two music CDs performed and recorded by students in the
music program.
Young professionals in attendance at the
luncheon were treated to a personal tour of the Miami Lighthouse by
President and CEO Virginia Jacko. The tour included a visit to the new Low
Vision Center and Solutions Store as well as various summer camp programs.
Attendees enjoyed seeing the fun and engaging activities children
participate in on a daily basis.
The 2010 Project Goal for the YPOL is to
raise $10,000 for the Children’s Program to purchase note takers for blind
children which will aid their educational pursuits. We thank all those in
attendance for contributing towards this goal.
Young Professionals of the
Lighthouse (YPOL) Networking Event at
Angelique Euro Café
The Young Professionals of the Lighthouse (YPOL) held a networking event
at Angelique Euro Café in Coral Gables on September 7. More than 40 young
professionals gathered to enjoy an evening of delightful food and drinks,
as well as live music provided by Miami Lighthouse musicians.
YPOL co-chair Agustin Arellano, Jr. welcomed attendees to the event and
thanked Angelique Euro Café owners Carlos and Yolanda Rossi for their
generosity in providing the wonderful venue, as well as delicious hors
d’oeuvres, beer, and wine. Miami Lighthouse instructor Isabel Chica spoke
to the group about how blind children are able to take notes in school and
brought along a traditional Perkins Brailler and Mountbatten Brailler to
demonstrate.
YPOL co-chair Kent Benedict presented one lucky winner of the business
card raffle with an original ceramic piece created and painted by a Social
Group Activities client. Young professionals in attendance were treated to
handmade thank you cards created by children who participated in the Miami
Lighthouse Summer Camp 2010.
Young Professionals of the Lighthouse
(YPOL) 2010 Kick-off Event at
Perricone’s Marketplace & Café
On February 24, 2010, the Young
Professionals of the Lighthouse (YPOL) kicked off the 2010 year with an
exclusive event at Perricone’s Marketplace & Café in downtown Miami. Over
60 young professionals gathered to celebrate the launch of the book The
Blind Visionary -- the powerful, true story of Miami Lighthouse for
the Blind’s President and CEO, Virginia Jacko.
The evening began with complimentary wine,
beer, and hors d’oeuvres -- generously provided by Perricone’s – and as
the YPOL members socialized with one another, they were treated to the
rich sound of jazz, skillfully performed by the talented Miami Lighthouse
for the Blind musicians. All attendees received a signed copy of
Virginia’s book.
YPOL co-chair Kent Benedict welcomed
attendees to the event and spoke about the mission of the Young
Professionals of the Lighthouse. YPOL member and father of a visually
impaired child Humberto Gonzalez Jr. gave a personal account of his
family’s experiences with the Blind Babies Program. Finally, Miami
Lighthouse for the Blind CEO, Virginia Jacko, shared with the audience her
long journey from her professional career as Director of Financial Affairs
at Purdue University to becoming the leader of the Miami Lighthouse – and
the lessons she had learned along the way.
The 2010 Project Goal for the YPOL is to
raise $10,000 for the Children’s Program to purchase note takers for blind
children, which in turn will aid their educational pursuits. We thank all
those in attendance for contributing towards this goal.
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