History
Over 70 years of service, Take a walk back in time
Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired started in a little house on the corner of SW 6th Street and SW 8th Avenue in Little Havana, Florida. Over the years, we have expanded into a state-of-the-art 37,000 square foot facility to provide rehabilitation, vocational and social services for persons who are blind or visually impaired. Follow our timeline that starts in the 1930’s.
1930’s
Dolly Gamble, an energetic young blind woman, called to order the first Board meeting of the Florida Association of Workers for the Blind (Miami Lighthouse) in July 1931. Dolly was supported by blindness icon, Helen Keller, and the Lions Club of Miami and Miami Rotary Club. On that day, South Florida’s oldest private social service agency for the blind was born.
1940’s
Miami Lighthouse established a store and sheltered workshops that included chair caning, rug weaving, brush making, sewing and basketry. To assist with the war effort, clients sorted metals and other military supplies.
1950’s
Miami Lighthouse donated $500,000 to the University of Miami School of Medicine and helped found world renowned Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.
1960’s
Miami Lighthouse participated in the American Foundation for the Blind study and received recommendations for program changes.
1970’s
Miami Lighthouse pulled back from sheltered workshop and developed rehabilitation program. Agency became nationally accredited by National Accreditation Council for the Blind and Visually Handicapped and adopted the name Miami Lighthouse for the Blind.
1980’s
A second floor was added to the main building, the budget and staff increased to serve more clients. Vocational Training was added to the curriculum.
1990’s
A public capital campaign provided for major renovations of existing facilities to include expansion to 34,000 square feet, a wing for Computer and Vocational Training and an upscale garden for client training and enjoyment.
2000’s
Virginia A. Jacko, an experienced executive who
was losing her sight to retinitis pigmentosa, came to the Miami Lighthouse
as a client in 2001. Having completed her training and rehabilitation, and
after serving on the Board of Directors as Treasurer, Virginia Jacko began
as pro bono President & CEO in February 2005, donating her services and
following a national search was selected as President and CEO in June. In
2006 a low vision optometrist was hired to direct the agency’s low vision
program. This physician works closely with the agency’s low vision
optometrist and other low vision rehabilitation staff. The same year Miami
Lighthouse started a music production program, the first of its kind, to
provide professional training to blind and visually impaired young
performers, composers and sound engineers. With the assistance of
legendary producer Henry Stone, a recent client, two CD’s were produced:
Instrumental Magic and Vocal Magic. This was the year of the Diamond
Jubilee; a gala at the Biltmore Hotel celebrated seventy-five years of
history, turning a new page to a bright future. More than 400 guests
enjoyed a heartfelt performance by José Feliciano. During 2006 among the
agency’s new programs ceramics was introduced, and all clients began
enjoying a hot lunch. The Miami Lighthouse secured funding
in 2006 for the new third floor facilities, thanks to an incentive
matching gift of more than one million dollars from philanthropist Gloria
Martin. The Gloria Martin Third Floor Wing opened in May 2007, and houses
the Henry and Inez Stone Music and Sound Studio, the Austin and Marta
Weeks Little Lighthouse, and the Rotary Club of Miami Centennial Project
Fitness Center.
In 2007, the Miami Lighthouse acquired the assets of
the Heiken Children’s Vision Program including its Mobile Vision Care Van,
which is a fully equipped optometric office on wheels that travels to
schools in low income areas. By acquiring the Heiken Program, Miami
Lighthouse broadens its organizational mission to include eye wellness in
addition to low vision and vision rehabilitation. Also in 2007, the Miami Lighthouse Board of Directors
approved a new Mission Statement, to respond to growing needs in
our community. The Center of Excellence in Vision Rehabilitation at Miami
Lighthouse will attract the resources we need to continue to improve our
topflight vision rehabilitation services, while offering opportunities for
training, research, exploration of new technologies, and improving eye
wellness in the community.In
2008, Miami Lighthouse received its second matching gift of one million
dollars from philanthropist Mary Spencer. The “One Million Dollar
Challenge in Memory of Sash A. Spencer” was presented by Mrs. Spencer in
memory of her beloved husband, Sash. Upon learning of Miami Lighthouse’s
vision to be a Center of Excellence, she thought of her husband’s frequent
words: “strive for excellence.”
The Sash A. Spencer Memorial Challenge incentive matching
grant came to fruition in 2009, as Miami Lighthouse raised $1.5 million
before the scheduled end of the matching grant; the match was kindly
extended until the end of 2009, enabling us to raise another half million.
For more information and news on the Lighthouse please read or listen to
Lantern, our agency newsletter.
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