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Beacon Newsletter January-March 2023

A Letter from LHOB

Dear Lighthouse Family,

It’s hard to believe that 2022 is over.  What a year it has been!

This past year, it has been our honor to serve 2,500+ clients of all ages who are blind or visually impaired.  Providing resources and training to empower our clients to live life more independently brings us great joy.  We are so proud to stand with you this holiday season and every day of the year.

Speaking of the holiday season, we pulled off several fantastic end-of-year events.

For our wonderful Lighthouse kids, we hosted a “snowy” holiday celebration. Children and their siblings merrily played in a huge pile of snow, jumped in a bounce house, decorated cookies, made cards and crafts, ran around an obstacle course, and visited with Santa Claus. They enjoyed themselves as only kids can do.

Our adult clients, past and present, had a lovely luncheon at Flamingo Hall, located at Flamingo Gardens, the 60-acre botanical gardens and wildlife sanctuary.  In addition to having a scrumptious lunch, guests enjoyed dancing, music, games and prizes and generally had tons of fun.

Plus, our staff holiday gathering was an opportunity to celebrate their commitment to our mission and their passionate efforts on our clients’ behalf.  Many thanks to our dedicated team.

Another huge highlight this past year was Dining in the Dark! 2022 marked our first gala since the pandemic.  It was so exciting to have 200-plus guests in attendance to celebrate our mission after being on hiatus since 2019! The event exceeded all expectations and was simply fabulous.

We are proud to report that Giving Tuesday was very successful! We engaged our supporters to contribute to our cause of empowering people who are blind or visually impaired to live independent, healthy, employed and fulfilling lives. A big thanks goes out to all our donors and funders, who make our important work possible.

Looking ahead to 2023, we’re enthusiastic about moving out of our existing building into a new, more centrally located space. Once our new location is finalized, we’ll have more space for specialized activities as well as the opportunity for growth and expanded programming. We look forward to a prosperous future.

All of our programs and plans are the direct result of strong leadership.  I’d like to thank our leadership team and our professional, committed board of directors who offer the highest levels of expertise and professionalism.  We’re very grateful for each and every one of them.

Wishing you a magical holiday season and a healthy New Year,

Ellyn Drotzer, MSW, LCSW

President & CEO

Lighthouse of Broward

Upcoming Important Information & Dates

January 2, 2023 (Monday): New Year’s Day. The Lighthouse will be closed.

January 16, 2023 (Monday):  The Lighthouse is closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

February 10, 2023 (Monday): The Lighthouse is closed for Presidents’ Day.

We're ecstatic to offer in-person social groups and activities at the Lighthouse of Broward once more. If you have any suggestions for new groups, please contact the front desk at 954-463-4217, ext. 0.

LHOB Social Groups and Activities

Flamingo Gardens tour: Tuesday, Feb 14 10:00am-2:00pm. There will be a special sensory tour, time to explore, socialize, and enjoy the gardens. Lunch is included for clients. There will be no special orders. Event is open to current and past clients. RSVP by Feb 3rd to Front Desk at 954-463-4217 ext. 0. Space is limited.

Baking with Joel: will meet Tuesday, January 17th, February 7th & 21st, March 7th & 21st from 10:00am-2:00pm. During each session, clients learn techniques to improve their baking skills. This program is free and has limited space. RSVP at 954-463-4217 ext. 0.

In person Trivia Group: Friday, January 6th, February 3rd, and March 3rd from 10am-12pm. When raucous laughter is heard in the halls of the Lighthouse, you can be sure it’s coming from the trivia group. Questions on a variety of subjects are read by a volunteer, and anyone who thinks they have the answer is free to call it out. Please RSVP at 954-463-4217 ext. 0.

Lighthouse Book Club will meet 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in Dining Room on Friday, January 27th, February 24th, and March 31st. For more information, please contact Ellen Meyers at 954-922-7360.

January 27- The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner, 10.41, Hist. fiction, DB102273

February 24- West with Giraffes by Linda Rutledge, 10.0, Depression Era, Historical fiction, DB102687

March 31- Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty, 18.6, Suspense/mystery, DB104909

Descriptive movies: Join us for a movie, popcorn, and treats. The movies will be shown in the Boardroom and will start at 10:00a.m., please RSVP at 954-463-4217 ext 0.

January 13th- The Eyes of Me.

An up-close look at four teens who have lost their sight. Set in Austin, TX, this film follows their high school experiences of dating, academic responsibilities, fitting in, family problems and preparing for college.

February 10th- Barry

A young Barack Obama forges his identity while dealing with race, divergent cultures, and ordinary life as a New York City College student.

March 10th- Luckiest Girl Alive

A writer's perfectly crafted New York City life starts to unravel when a true-crime documentary forces her to confront her harrowing high school history

Support for Past and Present LHOB Clients

Every Wednesday from 1:00-2:00. This support group is to help participants manage anxiety related to isolation that has occurred during this difficult time of social distancing. Counselors will discuss strategies for dealing with stress and anxiety. Members of this group can connect; share their experiences, coping strategies, and their strength and hope.

Join the call: https://www.uberconference.com/room/lhobsupport 

Optional dial-in number: 954-451-0380 

No PIN needed. 

International Access Numbers: https://www.uberconference.com/international 

For more information, contact Elaine Schiffman at 954-463-4217 EXT. 131 or eschiffman@LHOB.org