Redefining Vision Took Flight on September 22nd!

 

Chris Loomis, Keynote Speaker of the evening, presents his personal story of discovering meaningful employment at The Lighthouse as a machinist.

 

On Saturday, September 22nd Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind Foundation celebrated its fall Redefining Vision Takes Flight event. Over 65 friends and supporters joined us at the Museum of Flight’s historic Red Barn to celebrate and support our mission of creating and enhancing opportunities for independence and self-sufficiency for individuals who are blind, Deaf-Blind, and blind with other disabilities.  The event raised approximately $8,000 in support of this mission.  Thank you to everyone who participated that night.

The fascinating venue highlighted the long relationship between The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. and The Boeing Company, as the Red Barn is the original manufacturing facility of The Boeing Co.

Set-Up Machinist Chris Loomis shared his moving story of finding the Lighthouse as a place to work after searching 46 other states for an organization that could offer him meaningful employment.  He demonstrated how accessibility measures such as American Sign Language interpreting, the addition of a large monitor, and use of calipers with a large visual display allow him to operate an Okuma machine, which produces precision parts for aerospace customers.  Chris was one of the Lighthouse’s Employees of the Year in 2010.  President and CEO Kirk Adams expressed that the Lighthouse was fortunate to have attracted someone with Chris’ skills and dedication.

We’d also like to thank Foundation President Howie Dickerman for his remarks and Otis Kenyon Winery of Walla Walla for donating a magnum of 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon as the prize for our Braille Raffle.