Our annual Redefining Vision Luncheon is the Lighthouse’s largest fundraising event of the year. This year, we welcomed over 220 guests to The Westin Seattle Hotel on Thursday, March 9th to celebrate the impact of the Lighthouse’s mission and success in the community. We raised over $126,000 for the continued support of accessible jobs, adaptive technology, and vital training programs for people who are blind, DeafBlind, and blind with other disabilities.
Guests had an opportunity to meet employees and engage in lively conversations with other attendees before the start of the program. In addition, guests had an exclusive opportunity to visit our display tables showcasing a selection of products manufactured by the Lighthouse in Seattle, Spokane, and Summerville. Also featured was a demonstration table hosted by Orientation and Mobility Specialists from our Employee and Community Services department.
When the Luncheon program commenced, guests were treated to an inspiring and motivational program featuring KING5 news anchor Mark Wright as the emcee, blind athlete and inspirational speaker Jake Olson as our keynote speaker, and DeafBlind Lighthouse employee Jorge Aristizabal.
Mark Wright was a skilled and lively emcee, keeping the program engaging while sharing his how impressed he was with the Lighthouse after a recent tour. Jake Olson shared how he overcame losing his eye sight to cancer at age twelve and his journey to becoming a football player. He shared his inspirational philosophy, “that when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” You can learn more about this amazing young man by visiting his website www.openyoureyes.com.
The highlight of the afternoon was the Lighthouse’s very own Jorge Aristizabal who spoke about his time at the Lighthouse. He spoke of the positive influence the organization has had in people’s lives and how it has impacted him personally. He gave a spirited lesson in DeafBlind culturally appropriate applause which consists of stomping feet and banging on the tables in order to create vibrations that someone who is DeafBlind can feel.
It has become a tradition to debut a new video about the Lighthouse at the Redefining Vision Luncheon. This year’s video was inspired by the ways the Lighthouse is “making an impact,” featuring Lighthouse employees CNC Specialist Mike King, Contact Center Representative Meka White, and Accessibility Manager Antonio Rozier, along with Foundation Board members Katherine Perry, Barbra Ross, Doug Fischer, and Doug’s husband and Lighthouse donor Stephen Hadden. You can view the video here below:
We would like to thank everyone who joined us to support and celebrate our mission of creating and enhancing opportunities for independence and self-sufficiency of people who are blind, DeafBlind, and blind with other disabilities. To all our table captains and volunteers, we couldn’t have done this without you, thank you for your dedication and support. To our sponsors, thank you for your ongoing financial commitment to our mission, you help us sustain the work we do each and every day.
To everyone who donated, attended and lent their resources to the 2017 Redefining Vision Luncheon, we extend a heartfelt Thank You! Together we are making an impact for the future of the Lighthouse!
