Summer 60-Day Challenge
Lighthouse of Pinellas is racing to beat the clock! We have received a generous $10,000 matching gift challenge, but in order to receive the full gift, we must raise $10,000 in donations in 60 days starting June 23! We are referring to this as our Summer 60-Day Challenge. Our plan is to meet this challenge as quickly as possible, to ensure the full benefit of the gift, so we need your help.
Challenges are nothing new to Lighthouse of Pinellas – in fact, meeting them is what we do. Every day, for the past 54 years, we have helped people of all ages in Pinellas County overcome the challenges associated with their vision loss. Recently, we were able to “celebrate” overcoming these challenges in a unique way.
After a year long effort, June 2010 marked the publication of the book In-Sight, a collection of writings by members of the Creative Writing Class at Lighthouse of Pinellas. The class, comprised of individuals who are experiencing various degrees of vision loss, has some great stories to share. Guided by volunteer instructor and former client, John Humpal, the book’s creation provided a vehicle for stories, poems, and memoirs of personal insights and life journeys – many of which deal with the challenges of vision loss. By unanimous decision, the class designated the book proceeds be donated to support Lighthouse of Pinellas. What an inspiring effort – a culmination of writings regarding vision and life challenges will benefit the same agency that helped the authors deal with those challenges. We thankfully celebrate the sale of In-Sight on our website and the heartfelt generosity of the authors. They have given us their support and we, in turn, ask for your help to continue helping people in our community who are blind or visually impaired.
Entering the last quarter of our fiscal year, we are projecting a $60,000 budget deficit. As we look around our community and read local news headlines, there are regular stories of companies, individuals and resource agencies such as ours being negatively impacted by this difficult economy. In that light, we are thankful to project a comparably manageable budget deficit. By completing this summer 60-day match, we can offset a third of that deficit…imagine if we accomplish the match in the first 30 days? This is an achievable goal – but we need your help. Every gift takes us one step closer to our $10,000 goal. If just 20 people would commit to a $500 donation, our goal would be complete. Please join us in meeting this challenge….let’s see how quickly we can reach the match! Ready, set, GO!
To donate, please click here now.
In-Sight – A Memorable View from the Lighthouse
Lighthouse of Pinellas Creative Writing Instructor John Humpal and members of his class looked back on their lives recently to record cherished memories, lessons learned and historic events. Together they created a unique book of grace and wisdom. Read More - or - Click here to buy In-Sight
Disaster Preparedness Workshop
About 50 Lighthouse of Pinellas clients, staff and guests took advantage of a Disaster PreparednessWorkshopheld in theagency auditorium June 1. Presented by the State Department of Financial Services, the free workshop gave attendees the information necessary to prepare for a hurricane and for the possible aftermath of a bad storm.
Not just humans were included. A speaker from the Disaster Animal Response Team also shared important information on how to prepare on behalf of your pets.
Speakers were also present from the Florida Department of Financial Services, the State Fire Marshall Office, the City of Pinellas Park, the American Red Cross, and the Pinellas county Department of Justice and Consumer Service.
Lighthouse of Pinellas extends a special thank you to Linda M. Smart of the Department of Financial Services for coordinating this great event!
American Idol Finalist Scott Macintyre To Headline
LIGHTHOUSE OF PINELLAS 4TH ANNUAL TEA FOR TOTS
American Idol finalist Scott MacIntyre, whose vision-impairment could not impede his talent, will share his moving success story at the 4th Annual Tea for Tots Luncheon sponsored by Lighthouse of Pinellas Sept. 15.
A singer, songwriter and musician, the gifted MacIntyre was called “an inspiration to the entire world” by former Idol judge Paula Abdul during the Season 8 competition. His latest CD Heartstrings debuted at #18 on the iTunes Pop Album Chart. MacIntyre also has found success as a motivational speaker, sharing his amazing life story with audiences across North America and beyond. Read More ..
To hear Scott MacIntyre as he performed on American Idol, click here.
A State of Vision
Lighthouse of Pinellas is proud to welcome D-Mar General Contracting as our first “State of Vision” Partner. D-mar has put “A State of Vision” license plates on 16 fleet vehicles. For more information, click here.
Did you know that Lighthouse of Pinellas is one of the 15 agencies in the state of Florida that receive support through the sales from the new license plate, "A State of Vision"? Sales from the new license plate generate monies for direct support services to Floridians statewide through a network of 15 local non-profit agencies which comprise the Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind (FAASB). Lighthouse of Pinellas is a member of the FAASB network. That means that the sales generated by "A State Of Vision" license plates in Pinellas County will help to support the programs and services right here at Lighthouse of Pinellas! This year when you renew your vehicle registration, please consider purchasing this new license plate... make a statement that YOU support A State of Vision!
To purchase a specialty plate or for more information, call (727) 464-7777.
