2008 Happenings
Northern Trust Bank Visits Miami Lighthouse
On July 3, 2008 Board Directors Ed Joyce and Kent Benedict along with
colleagues from Northern Trust Bank visited Miami Lighthouse where they joined
Lighthouse clients in the Gallery for lunch and were entertained by summer camp
student musicians and instructors. The group toured the facility and learned
about the many programs and services offered by Miami Lighthouse to blind and
visually impaired children and adults.
Miami Lighthouse Awarded Four New Grants
Four important new grants awarded recently to Miami Lighthouse will
significantly advance our mission of providing the best in vision rehabilitation
and eye health services.
Allegany Franciscan Ministries awarded a capacity building grant for the
development of Miami Lighthouse Center of Excellence initiatives, and the
pursuit of a new social enterprise aimed at helping more people affected by
vision impairment.
The Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation has awarded a grant to Miami Lighthouse
for the Heiken Children’s Vision Program to expand free eye care to low-income
schoolchildren who fail state-mandated vision screenings. The Florida Optometric
Association through its FOA Charities announced a grant, also to the Heiken
Children’s Vision Program, to fund a medical director position and community
education outreach to parents regarding the importance of early detection of
vision problems in children.
The Children's Trust has provided funding for a year-round teenage inclusion
music project, in which sighted and blind and visually impaired kids make great
music together.
“These funders have our deepest gratitude and our firm commitment to
achieving our goals. They deserve a return on their investment, and we are
committed to achieving the outcomes proposed in our funding requests,” said CEO
Virginia Jacko.
Bear Hugs Foundation Grant Supports STAR Program
Miami Lighthouse has been awarded a grant from the Build-A-Bear
Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation through their literacy grant program. The grant
will enhance the 2008 Miami Lighthouse Summer Training and Recreation (STAR)
Program, enabling the purchase of art supplies and musical instruments for use
by legally blind children between ages 5 and 13. Musical instruments, such as
bongos and bells, will enhance the children’s coordination and rhythm while the
art supplies, such as beads, yarn and textured paper will help the children to
enhance their fine and gross motor skills as well as encourage creativity.
Miami Lighthouse Women of Vision Honor
Jean Ellen duPont Shehan and Gloria Martin
More than 50 of Miami’s most prominent female philanthropists gathered at
Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired June 24 at the second
annual Women of Vision luncheon. The inspiring event included the presentation
of the 2008 Woman of Vision Award to Jean Ellen duPont Shehan; the completion
of Gloria Martin’s $1.1 million gift to Miami Lighthouse; news from CEO Virginia
A. Jacko about new initiatives at Miami Lighthouse; a touching testimonial from
Helen Mopsick, whose 6-month-old son Colton participates in the Miami Lighthouse
Blind Babies program; and original music performed by the Miami Lighthouse
musicians. Norma Jean Abraham, Shelley Beckwith Rutherford, Jan Salvesen
Morrison and Norma Quintero hosted the event.
Miami Lighthouse CEO Receives AXA Advisors 2008 Business Woman of the Year Award
April 8, 2008 – Virginia A. Jacko, President and CEO of Miami Lighthouse for
the Blind and Visually Impaired, has received the AXA Advisors 2008 Business
Woman of the Year Award in the Public Service/Non-Profit Award category. The
Award was presented April 4th at a luncheon hosted by AXA and the Coral Gables
Chamber of Commerce.
Ms. Jacko was a successful executive when she began to lose her sight to
retinitis pigmentosa and came to Miami Lighthouse for vision rehabilitation. Now
totally blind, as CEO she is leading Miami Lighthouse into a new era of growth
and expanded client services. The institution recently received its first
four-star ranking, the highest level from Charity Navigator, the independent
evaluator of not-for-profits.
“I feel so blessed to know my passion," CEO Jacko exclaimed. "As Helen Keller
said, 'Through blindness, I found myself, my work and my God.'"
"Despite her blindness, she has a vision for the future of vision enhancement
and rehabilitation in our community that will improve the lives of thousands of
impaired people." said Chairman William R. Roy, Ph.D.
She was nominated for the award by Miami Lighthouse Honorary Board Member Don
Marx and Pat Morgan of Smooth Sailing Executive and Life Coaching. The AXA
Advisors Awards, which are sponsored by AXA Financial Protection, were
established to honor outstanding professional businesswomen in Miami-Dade
County.
Miami Lighthouse Hosts “Music Under the Stars: A Taste of Brickell” Event
On April 30, Miami Lighthouse for the Blind hosted Music Under the Stars: A
Taste of Brickell. This inaugural event, held at the Lighthouse, benefited its
Children’s Vision Care Program, a mobile outreach program that provides free eye
care services to school children in need.
Friends and donors were treated to culinary delights prepared by Brickell
area restaurants including Morton’s the Steakhouse, Blu Pizza é Cucina,
Perricone’s Marketplace, Gordon Biersch, Rosinella, Baja Fresh and Provence
Grill. Musical entertainment was provided by Latin Tenor Warren Tesh,
international violinist Randolph Margitza, and the talented Miami Lighthouse
musicians.
To top the night off, legendary music producer Henry Stone presented CEO
Virginia Jacko with the first royalty check from sales of “Instrumental Magic,”
the first album produced by Stone since completing vision rehabilitation at
Miami Lighthouse, and featuring saxophonist Jeff Zavac, a current client at the
Lighthouse.
The event was sponsored by Ambutech, Eschenbach Optik, Florida Reading &
Vision Technology, Mobile Specialty Vehicles, Southern Wine & Spirits, and AMC
Liaisons/Rain Vodka.
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Miami Lighthouse Hosts First Annual “Dog A Thon”
On March 30th, friends gathered at the new Shops at Midtown Miami to take
part in the first annual Dog A Thon benefiting Miami Lighthouse. Event sponsors
included PetSmart, Ameriprise Financial, The Shops at Midtown Miami, Romero
Britto, Dunkin Donuts, and Multivision Video & Film.
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2008 McCrea Volunteer Recognition Luncheon
On March 10th, Miami Lighthouse Volunteers of the Year, Shutts & Bowen LLP
and the Lou Nostro Family, were honored at the 2008 McCrea Volunteer Recognition
Luncheon.
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