Thank you to everyone who attended this year’s Redefining Vision Summer Garden Party!

Posted on by Robert Hanna in Photos
Guests experiencing the fragrant plants at the Redefining Vision Garden Party
Guests experiencing the fragrant plants at the Redefining Vision Garden Party

Thank you to everyone who attended the Redefining Vision Summer Garden Party this year! We hope that you enjoyed the scents, sounds, and feel of Ethel L. Dupar’s Fragrant Garden.

With community support from our generous sponsors Snoqualmie Tribe, Imaginetics, Exotic Metals Forming Company, Hilliards Beer, and Northwest Cellars, as well as a very successful silent auction, we were able to raise over $11,000 for our Employee and Community Services programs.

Guests checking out the silent auction items at the Redefining Vision Garden Party
Guests checking out the silent auction items at the Redefining Vision Garden Party

This event was more than just a fundraiser. We were pleased to have welcomed over 160 guests, including new friends, community members, and long-time Lighthouse supporters to the garden party this year. Our employee speaker Paul Ducharme shared his experience of jobs, independence, and empowerment at the Lighthouse. Many volunteers donated their time and energy to make this event a success. We send a big thank you to all of these folks and to all attendees for warming our hearts with your presence. Brian Hartbeat, the official DJ for the [206] TV Show, provided the musical groove for us all to enjoy.

If you were unable to attend, we have another great opportunity for you to experience our beautiful secret garden and enjoy a lunch presentation of our “Get to Know the Lighthouse” event series on Thursday, September 24th, 2015. Please RSVP to Troy Coalman at (206) 436-2174 or tcoalman@seattlelh.org.

Again, thank you for your attendance and support!

A Guest’s Perspective: 2015 Redefining Vision Luncheon

Posted on by Robert Hanna in Luncheon, Photos

Submitted by Billie Klan

Each year I think that the events by The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. are pretty special — that they are continually improving. This year’s Redefining Vision Luncheon was my favorite!

Lighthouse employees Peggy Martinez (left) and Andrew Stauffer (right) provided some musical entertainment for guests at the Redefining Vision Luncheon.
Lighthouse employees Peggy Martinez (left) and Andrew Stauffer (right) provided some musical entertainment for guests at the Redefining Vision Luncheon.

While guests mingled, Lighthouse employees Peggy Martinez and Andrew Stauffer set a light tone for the opening of the Luncheon by providing musical entertainment. Other Lighthouse employees, David Jefferson and Robert Studebaker, gave very clear and thorough explanations of some of the hundreds of parts and products made at the Lighthouse. Our guests were surprised at how compact the entrenching tool became as shown by Pat Cashman — a delightful and the perfect emcee.

BSC Sales Coordinator David Jefferson (left) and Contact Center Representative Robert Studebaker (inside left) tell guests about the products we make at The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.
BSC Sales Coordinator David Jefferson (left) and Contact Center Representative Robert Studebaker (inside left) tell guests about the products we make at The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.
Seattle Actor and Comedian Pat Cashman emceed the event
Seattle Actor and Comedian Pat Cashman emceed the event

The true STARS were Shawn, Michelle, and Nathan.  We know there had to have been lots of preparation and work to make such a wonderful video.  It really shows the people behind the jobs at the Lighthouse.

Development and Public Relations Director Shawn Dobbs addresses the crowd as Production Worker Michelle Denzer and CNC Machinist Nathan Greenwood stand on stage
Development and Public Relations Director Shawn Dobbs addresses the crowd as Production Worker Michelle Denzer and CNC Machinist Nathan Greenwood stand on stage

We all come to this event knowing that we’ll have a lovely meal, meet other people excited and interested in the Lighthouse, and leave inspired.  This luncheon achieved all that and more. Congratulations!

Thank You for Being Part of our Lighthouse Family!

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Employee speaker Jacob Kamaunu
Employee speaker Jacob Kamaunu

On this national day of philanthropy, #GivingTuesday, we want to say thank you for supporting our mission with your gifts of time, passion, and financial contribution.

This morning we held our annual Redefining Vision Holiday Breakfast and Donor Recognition Reception to honor some of the volunteers, board members, Legacy Society members, and donors who have made a significant impact to The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. I am very grateful and honored to have been given the opportunity to attend this morning’s function and share my life’s journey and connection to the Lighthouse.

Many employees say that the Lighthouse is like a family to them. You are a member of that family!

Today we celebrate each and every one of you for helping continue our important work. Together we are transforming lives by giving individuals who are blind, Deaf-Blind, and blind with other disabilities the means to become increasingly independent and self-sufficient.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our mission and happy holidays!

Sincerely,

Jacob Kamaunu
Production Worker
The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.

Seattle Lighthouse’s Summer Social

Posted on by Robert Hanna in Photos
Lighthouse Employee of the Year Salvador Huizar speaks to the crowd at Redefining Vision Summer Evening Out
Lighthouse Employee of the Year Salvador Huizar speaks to the crowd at Redefining Vision Summer Evening Out

In true Seattle style, the nearly 100 event attendees and volunteers appreciated the warm afternoon at our August 14th Redefining Vision Summer Evening Out.

Guests enjoyed the delicious hors d’oeuvres, beer from Georgetown Brewing Company, and wine from Davenport Cellars while mingling in Ethel L. Dupar’s Fragrant Garden. The smooth jazz provided by Lighthouse employee and DJ, Larry Irvin, offered a great background soundtrack for chatting with old friends and meeting new ones.

Guests also had plenty of opportunities to learn about The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.’s mission and training programs by taking a tour of our Machine Shop or participating in a hands-on technology, Braille Literacy Program, or Orientation and Mobility Program demonstration.

A big thank you to our employee speaker Salvador Huizar for sharing his story of upward mobility and leadership training as one of our 2013 Employees of the Year. As always, we were delighted to hear from President and CEO Kirk Adams as he thanked our community for its continued support and shared a little about the Lighthouse’s recent accomplishments.

Thank you also to our premier event sponsor, Amber Janitorial Inc., and Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos for attending this lovely outdoor event.

Our small silent auction raised over $1,800 and included some incredible items such as Dinner and Jazz with Kirk and Ros Adams, Chihuly Gardens and Glass Arts and Excursion Package, tickets to Bumbershoot 2014, and more!

Will this be an annual event? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Please comment on this post or contact our Events and Annual Fund Coordinator Andrea Travis at atravis@seattlelh.org  to share your feedback and ideas for summer 2015!

Ethel L. Dupar Fragrant Garden Blooms with Support for the Lighthouse

Posted on by Robert Hanna in In Bloom, Photos
King County Master Gardener Helen Weber leading a guided tour at Redefining Vision In Bloom
King County Master Gardener Helen Weber leading a guided tour at Redefining Vision In Bloom

Submitted by Julie Brannon, ECS Support Services Manager  & Braille Instructor

It was a great pleasure to spend time with our guests at the Redefining Vision In Bloom event on Saturday, August 17th.  We had about 20 guests join us that beautiful morning for a fun and educational presentation.  It’s always an honor for me to get to talk to people about the benefits of braille, which I did that morning with the added delight of connecting it to experiencing the Ethel L. Dupar Fragrant Garden.  Guests also had the opportunity to hear details about The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.’s history from our President and CEO Kirk Adams.  And as always, our guests were fascinated by the personal tour by King County Master Gardener Helen Weber. The Redefining Vision In Bloom events have raised nearly $4,000 in support of our mission.  If you haven’t had the chance to have hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and a personal garden tour then you need to join our final event of the season on September 14th, 11:00am to 1:00pm.  Sign up on our RSVP page.

The 2013 Redefining Vision Luncheon was a huge success!

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Keynote Speaker Brett Lewis
Keynote Speaker Brett Lewis addresses the crowd at the 2013 Redefining Vision Luncheon

Thank you for supporting Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind Foundation! Our 2013 Redefining Vision Luncheon was a huge success!  Over $77,000 was raised for our Supported Employment Program, which provides employment and support for individuals who are blind or Deaf-Blind with a developmental disability.  It was a fantastic presentation by Program Manager Jodie O’Flaherty and Supported Employee Eric Swanson.

We’d especially like to express our appreciation for Emcee Barbara Ross and Keynote Speaker Brett Lewis.  And of course, a very big thank you to our dedicated volunteers and amazing sponsors… we couldn’t have done it without you!

If you were unable to attend, you can still support our mission to create and enhance opportunities for independence and self-sufficiency of people who are blind, Deaf-Blind, and blind with other disabilities.

Thank you for joining us at the Redefining Vision Holiday Breakfast!

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Guests at the 2012 Redefining Vision Breakfast

During this season of giving, thank you for joining us to celebrate our community’s generosity.

The Redefining Vision Holiday Breakfast honored our Society for Redefining Vision and Lighthouse Legacy Societydonors like you who give so generously to support opportunities in the blind and Deaf-Blind community.

We hope you enjoyed the opportunity to visit Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs.  Thank you again for joining us, and for your consistent support of the Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind Foundation.

Thank you to Northern Trust for their support of this year’s Redefining Vision Holiday Breakfast!

The 2012 Redefining Vision Luncheon Was a Great Success!

Posted on by Robert Hanna in Audio, Photos, Podcast
Keynote Speaker Patricia Walsh speaking at the 2012 Redefining Vision Luncheon
Keynote Speaker Patricia Walsh speaking at the 2012 Redefining Vision Luncheon

 

Thank you to all of our guests and sponsors who participated in the 2012 Redefining Vision Luncheon!  We hope you were inspired by the stories of opportunities and empowerment for individuals who are blind, Deaf-Blind, and blind with other disabilities. The event generated over $75,000 toward Lighthouse accessibility initiatives.  We are so grateful for your commitment to the Lighthouse.

We would also like to thank our wonderful volunteers, our emcee Cyrus Habib, our Accessibility Manager Peggy Martinez, and our Keynote speaker Patricia Walsh.

Listen to Keynote Speaker Patricia Walsh’s remarks here: [powerpress]
If you were unable to attend the event but would like to support Lighthouse accessibility initiatives, it’s not too late!  DONATE NOW