Events

“Scanathon” Open House
This year, the Lighthouse hosted an exciting event to showcase the organization’s newest service: digital scanning. The “Scanathon” took place from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, September 25. Guests from the medical, corporate and general community brought documents to be digitally scanned free of charge. This new service lowers clients’ operating costs and provides convenience by enabling companies to have instant access to their documents. Lighthouse’s Industrial Division currently offers services ranging from energy dissipation pads for U.S. Army aircrafts to cushioned shipping boxes for commercial use. “We are excited to say that we’re already seeing a lot of interest in this new service that provides even more employment opportunities for people who are blind,” said Bob Mosteller, President of the Lighthouse. Spread the word! If you know an organization that would benefit from Lighthouse’s digital scanning service, contact Phyllis Looney at (817) 332-3341.

EssilorUSA gets Fort Worth to “eyethinkSM” about Healthy Vision
Essilor, the leading manufacturer and wholesale distributor of optical lenses in the United States, collaborated with the Lighthouse Thursday, August 16 on a campaign to promote healthy vision. Essilor erected the world’s largest eye chart on Lighthouse property near I-30. The 5,000-square-foot eye chart reached ten stories high and could be seen from five miles away. The unveiling was covered by most of the local media, including the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and local TV stations. Unfortunately, strong winds brought down the chart before its time. Nevertheless, it was exciting for Lighthouse to be affiliated with Essilor’s “Think About Your Eyes Week” and stress the importance of receiving regular eye exams.

A New Look for Lighthouse
In May, the Lighthouse hired RealWorld IMC, a student-managed agency affiliated with the TCU Schieffer School of Journalism, to revamp its image. The students transformed the 70-year-old logo to a more contemporary and colorful design and developed new brochures, newsletters and business cards. A new Web site is also in the works. RealWorld aims to modernize and enliven the organization’s image. Let us know what you think!

Servmart 5th Anniversary
Lighthouse’s Servmart at the Naval Air Station celebrated its fifth anniversary August 15. Many long-time customers from the base attended the event. Commander Layne Araki, base executive officer, helped Jim Walker, Servmart’s manager, to cut the anniversary cake. Commander Araki commented that the store is a vital part of the base and is staffed by a professional and customer-oriented staff. The store motto is, “If we don’t have it, we will get it for you,” and the staff takes very good care of all the tenants on the base. He also commented on the extensive offering of 800 different AbilityOne products, which include ballpoint pens and copy paper manufactured by the Lighthouse. Fifteen Lighthouse and commercial vendors displayed their products at the event.

Lighthouse commends its 25-year Employees
Alex Rosales, a machine operator, began his employment at the Lighthouse in December of 1981 after working for Bruce Alford Door Company. In 1986, he became “Employee of the Year.” A single parent with two sons, Rosales said, “I wasn’t sure as a person with a vision problem how I would support myself and my family, but the Lighthouse has given me an opportunity to do that. I am proud to tell people I work at the Lighthouse.”

Teresa Dodd, a Fort Worth native, began working at the Lighthouse, her very first employer, in January 1980. Her husband, Mark, is a former Lighthouse employee. Teresa has enjoyed her work at the Lighthouse, particularly the variety of jobs she has been able to do over the past 27 years. “It has been a wonderful experience,” she said. “I plan on working here as long as I am able to get to work every day.”

Sharon Young has worked in the Lighthouse’s Box Department since joining the organization in September 1981. She was honored as “Employee of the Year” in 1998 and retired in September. “I really enjoyed the years I spent working here,” she said. “What I will miss the most about retiring is being with all my friends at the Lighthouse.”

The Lighthouse Celebrates the Spirit of the Season
The annual holiday activities at the Lighthouse this year began with the traditional Thanksgiving barbeque lunch from Riscky’s on Wednesday, November 21st. At the luncheon, Teresa Dodd, Alex Rosalez, and Sharon Young were recognized for their work of over twenty-five years at the Lighthouse for the Blind. On Thursday and Friday, the employees took some time off from the Lighthouse to celebrate the holidays with family and friends.

The Lighthouse employees will celebrate the Christmas season with a traditional turkey and dressing luncheon on December 20th. At the luncheon, Board Chairman, Michele Hahnfeld, will name the 2007 Employee of the Year. Employees share time with family and friends on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. Employees also enjoy time off from the Lighthouse for a winter vacation to celebrate the season.

Artist Lewis Daniel Creates the Lighthouse Christmas Card
Artist Lewis Daniel designed and created the 21st Christmas card for the Lighthouse for the Blind. Daniel has had a very long career working with many different organizations. Daniel began his art career in the display department of Leonards Department Store. He then moved to Texas Refinery’s print shop and advertising department in 1951. It is there that he met his wife of 47 years, Shirley. He later joined Wallace Photography, then Witherspoon for 25 years, before he opened his own design firm.

Daniel also works within the community, donating his time and services. He was co-founder of the Fort Worth Art Directors Club, which became the Dallas Society of Visual Communications, to which he was named a lifetime member in 1993. Daniel was recognized by the Advertising Club of Fort Worth with its highest honor, the Silver Medal Award, in 1996. His work has graced programs and posters for Casa Mañana for about 25 years, the Shrine
Circus program cover, Zelli shoe catalog, and much more, including recent architectural renderings for the expansion of the Museum of Science and History. Daniel says he enjoys working and will continue to help and give back to the community any way he can.

Daniel is the 18th recipient of the Lighthouse Lumen Award, which he received at our last Annual Meeting in January. The Lighthouse featured on the Christmas card drawing this year is one of the Apostle Island lighthouses that is on Lake Michigan. The lighthouses were built in the late 1800s.

Tess Shell Hired to Work in the Seniors Program
The Lighthouse is proud to announce Tess Shell as the new head of the Seniors Program. The program at the Lighthouse aids those 55 and over who are going blind. The goals of the program are to assess the needs of seniors, encourage independence and help set up programs that are available for the blind. Shell, who started in October, is the first blind person in this position. “My biggest challenge is helping elders adapt to the change,” she said, “but it helps that I know what they are going through.” She added: “I couldn’t be more thrilled. I love the people here. At the Lighthouse, we don’t close cases because we care.”

Beat the Deadline on IRA Charity Tax Break
Getting ready to take a required annual withdrawal from your IRA? Until December 31st of this year, an individual who is at least 701/2 years old can
donate any amount up to $100,000 to the Lighthouse from his or her IRA. The donor will not be taxed on this distribution, and the donation counts toward the required minimum distribution that IRA holders must withdraw from their accounts each year.

An individual’s IRA custodian must send the funds directly to the Lighthouse. There is no charitable tax deduction for this gift. By June of this year, people had contributed over $75 million through this program to qualified charities across the country.

For more information about this remarkable opportunity, please contact Wayne Pound at the Lighthouse at (817) 332-3341, or your financial advisor.

Kevin Horrigan Completes Selective Business Program
Kevin Horrigan, an employee at the Lighthouse was one of 26 to participate in a 20-month Business Management Training program sponsored by the National Industries for the Blind (NIB). The program, which selects participants from Lighthouses across the nation, is conducted by the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business Administration. The training program targets employees who are blind, are motivated to succeed and have
demonstrated leadership potential.

Horrigan, one of two participants from Texas, enjoyed the program and hopes to grow as a business professional. “My biggest intent is to grow and bring others up as well,” said Horrigan. “The program is a crash course in business skills and helps to prepare me for a management position.” Kevin received his graduation certificate at the NIB and Lighthouse awards dinner at the annual meeting in Chicago.

Debra Warren, 2006 Employee of the Year
Debra Warren, an employee at the Lighthouse, was named Employee of the Year last December. Debra, who has worked at the Lighthouse for over seven years, was overjoyed to be this year’s honoree. Debra attended the Lighthouse National Conference November 14th-17th, 2007 in Chicago. “This is my first visit to Chicago,” said Warren, “I went with my sister!”

Debra was one of 45 honorees at this year’s national conference and is the 21st Employee of the Year for the Lighthouse. The conference opened with an introduction of the honorees. The conference program included several sessions to provide useful information, with the highlight being a tour of the Chicago Lighthouse and other sights of the city. There were also many opportunities for Debra and her sister to make new friends.