Welcome to the first edition of In Focus!
"Welcome to the first edition of In Focus, where we share heartfelt stories and updates that highlight the incredible impact your support creates at the Lighthouse of Broward. Together, we’re making a difference worth celebrating." |
Ellyn Drotzer, MSW, LCSW President & CEO |
Be the Light
The last color Jose Lopez Masso ever saw was blue. It lingered in the soft glow of a Berlin taxi and the sterile light of a hospital room until the world around him blurred and faded into darkness.
Born with glaucoma, Jose always knew blindness was a possibility. But as a Venezuelan diplomat in Germany, he never imagined it would arrive so suddenly. After a cornea transplant in 1999, his body began rejecting the procedure. Seventeen surgeries later, his vision was gone.
Back in Venezuela, Jose faced a world not built for the blind. Determined to live independently, he moved to Fort Lauderdale in 2001 and was introduced to the Lighthouse of Broward. What began as a reluctant visit became a life-changing experience. He learned to navigate life without sight while mastering technology, cooking safely, and traveling independently. He found confidence, community, and purpose.
Read the full Miami Herald story in English or Spanish
In 2008, Jose joined the Lighthouse team. Today, as Vice President of Public Affairs and Government Relations, he leads efforts not only to secure funding and expand services, but to ensure the Lighthouse is not a place to stay, it is a place to grow. His story is a powerful testament to resilience, reinvention, and the transformative impact of opportunity.
There are approximately 175,000 Broward residents who are blind or severely visually impaired, the need is great and growing. With our new and larger Sunrise headquarters, we are opening doors to possibility, empowering thousands in Broward County to rise above limitations, and illuminating paths to independence, confidence, and hope.
Be the light in someone’s journey.
Lighthouse of Broward 5901 Del Lago Circle Sunrise, FL 33313 Phone: (954) 463-4217 |  | ||
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Did you know our eyes are so central to how we experience the world that we use them in everyday expressions? We will spotlight one of these eye-inspired idioms per newsletter—just for fun and a little insight! This issue’s idiom: Turning a blind eye – To intentionally ignore something, even when you know it's wrong. It’s a curious phrase, isn’t it? But here at the Lighthouse, we believe in opening eyes—not turning them away. | |||
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