Dear Dedicated Supporters and Friends,
On August 1, 2021, it was my honor to accept the position of President and CEO of The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. The impact the Lighthouse has on the lives of those who are blind, DeafBlind, and blind with other disabilities is impressive and I’m proud to be part of this incredible organization.
We truly had an exciting year with wonderful accomplishments. We adjusted our services and used innovative approaches to provide training for employees. We had great success providing computer training and braille instruction remotely. This allowed us to serve employees at locations outside of Seattle and Spokane more readily, and maintain a high, consistent level of support. We received incredibly positive feedback from those receiving the training. We look forward to making more of these opportunities available. The Employee and Community Services Department served more individuals this year than ever before, and we expect this trend to continue.
The Lighthouse Low Vision Clinic in Seattle has been in high demand. We received numerous referrals, thanks to strong relationships with eye care professionals. Patients expressed gratitude for the Lighthouse helping them to access tools and learn techniques that allow them to maximize their remaining vision.
In May, our Summerville, South Carolina facility celebrated its fifth anniversary. I had the privilege of visiting our staff and they all expressed how happy they are to be working and are thrilled to be part of the Lighthouse family. We are working to expand our operations in Summerville and hire more individuals who have visual impairments.
We opened a new Base Supply Center in Seattle this year. This was our first opportunity to serve the U.S. Coast Guard, and in keeping with our mission, an employee who is blind was ready to step into the store manager role. We look forward to playing a bigger role for the Coast Guard as they expand over the next three years.
Last year we made a commitment to educate our elected officials about the excessively high unemployment rate of those with disabilities, and how the Lighthouse creates excellent opportunities for employment, upward, and outward mobility. We met with dozens of Congressional representatives and staff resulting in positive dialogues and greater awareness of our mission.
Thank you employees, trustees, volunteers, donors, and friends who have generously supported the Lighthouse! We are grateful for your time, suggestions for improvement, and desire to help us succeed.
The future is bright at the Lighthouse!
Sincerely,
George Abbott
President and CEO
