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Our Report to the Community
FY 2008
Message from the Board Chairman
I am pleased to once again have the honor of presenting our annual report to the community. We celebrated our 90th anniversary in 2008 — an extraordinary milestone for an organization that has come so far, but at the same time has never lost sight of our mission: to create and enhance opportunities for independence and self-sufficiency of people who are blind, Deaf-Blind, and blind with other disabilities.
In 2008, Kirk Adams stepped into the role of President and CEO, bringing an exceptional understanding of non-profit leadership and the issues facing the blind community today. As our first blind President, Kirk’s commitment to the Lighthouse mission was evident as we weathered storms and set an ambitious course for the future.
Kirk led the organization through the ups and downs of the market with a firm commitment to preserving all Lighthouse jobs for blind people. Not only did we sustain existing jobs for blind and Deaf-Blind adults, we grew our roster of blind employees by 31 individuals. By the end of fiscal year 2008, The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. employed 216 individuals who are blind, Deaf-Blind, and blind with other disabilities.
With Kirk on board, the Lighthouse Board of Trustees embraced the opportunity to set an ambitious course for the future. Under the leadership of Trustees Bruce Walker and Harry Egler, we began a strategic planning initiative to set the course for the Lighthouse over the next seven years.
Together, we focused on the things that really matter to the people we serve: living-wage, meaningful work; innovative, quality training; cutting-edge assistive technology; and responsible, intentional stewardship of assets. As the leading employer of blind individuals on the West Coast, we are committed to more than doubling our living-wage jobs over the next seven years. It’s an audacious goal, and we are working together to create a road-map that will help us reach it as we move further into the new millennium.
We are already taking steps to grow new opportunities for blind adults across the state. In September 2008, we celebrated the grand opening of our first satellite operation in Spokane, Washington. The Inland Northwest Lighthouse (INL) has already created over 25 employment opportunities for blind people in Eastern Washington. I am confident we will meet our goal of employing 40 blind people at the INL by the end of 2009.
Just as we expanded job opportunities, we also expanded training programs essential to succeeding on the job. In 2008, we opened our Braille Literacy Program for adult students and intermediate braille readers. Studies have continuously demonstrated the positive impact braille literacy has on employment opportunities and upward mobility for blind adults.
While we welcomed new Lighthouse programs, we also celebrated the 30th anniversary of our nationally acclaimed Deaf-Blind retreat. We welcomed Deaf-Blind individuals who attended the very first retreat as well as new faces from across the country. The retreat has been part of strengthening the Deaf-Blind community for three decades now.
It’s a unique honor to be part of one of Seattle’s oldest nonprofits. I have only to look at our dedicated board, donors, and employees to understand how we have achieved our longevity. Their commitment to our mission has kept us going and growing for ninety years, and it keeps us growing today.
To all you who were a part of our success in 2008, I extend my sincerest thanks for your outstanding work.
Patrick Sullivan
Chairman
The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.
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