Through education, training, research and vision enhancement, Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired provides hope, confidence, and independence to people of all ages
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Miami Lighthouse Board

Board Member Log In

  Quarterly 2019 Board of Directors meeting on April 11, 2019 in recognition of our Board Directors selfless service and generous support of our Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired.  
 

Quarterly 2019 Board of Directors meeting on April 11, 2019 in recognition of our Board Directors selfless service and generous support of our Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

 
     

Miami Lighthouse Board

     
  Past Board Chairs at the 2017 Annual Board Meeting. From left to right: Peter R. Harrison, Agustin Arellano, Jr., Charles J. Nielson, Donna Blaustein, Louis Nostro, Ramón (Ray) Casas, Owen S. Freed and William L. Morrison.  
 

Current and Past Board Chairs at the 2017 Annual Board Meeting. From left to right: Peter R. Harrison, Agustin Arellano, Jr., Charles J. Nielson, Donna Blaustein, Louis Nostro (Chair 2017-2018), Ramón (Ray) Casas, Owen S. Freed and
William L. Morrison.

Click here to view list of Miami Lighthouse Board Chairs

 
     
     
Steven J. Solomon

Name:

Steven J. Solomon

Position:

Chair of the Board

Profession:

Gray Robinson

Charles J. Nielson  

Name:

 

Charles J. Nielson

       
 

Position:

 

Immediate Past Chair

       
 

Profession:

 

Nielson, Hoover & Associates

       
       
Louis Nostro, Esq.  

Name:

 

Louis Nostro, Esq.

       
 

Position:

 

Secretary

       
 

Profession:

 

Shareholder, Gunster

       
       
Jose A. Abrante Cosio

Name:

José A. Abrante Cosío

Position:

Assistant Secretary

Profession:

Chief Executive Officer-Abraco Group, LLC

Peter R. Harrison

Name:

Peter R. Harrison

Position:

Treasurer

Profession:

Commercial Real Estate Consultant

Anne E. Helliwell

Name:

Anne E. Helliwell

Position:

Assistant Treasurer

Profession:

Helliwell Family Foundation

Sheila Freed

Name:

Sheila Freed

Position:

Board Director

Profession:

Broker-Associate, Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate

Jill Granat

Name:

Jill Granat

Position:

Board Director

Profession:

General Counsel, Restaurant Brands International

David Harrison

Name:

David Harrison

Position:

Board Director

Profession:

Harrison Crane Service

Christian Infante

Name:

Christian Infante

Position:

Board Director

Profession:

SFM Services, Inc.

Stacey W. Jones

Name:

Stacey W. Jones, PID, EDS

Position:

Board Director

Profession:

Retired Educator

Alan P. Levitt, O.D

Name:

Alan P. Levitt, O.D

Position:

Board Director

Profession:

Optometrist

Victor Lopez

Name:

Victor Lopez

Position:

Chair, Young Professionals of the Lighthouse

Profession:

Aide to State Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez

Ali Mandsaurwala

Name:

Ali Mandsaurwala

Position:

Board Director

Profession:

President - Accessible Home Health Care of Aventura

Craig A. McKeown, M.D.

Name:

Craig A. McKeown, M.D.

Position:

Board Director

Profession:

Ophthalmologist at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

Rodrick T. Miller

Name:

Rodrick T. Miller

Position:

Board Director

Profession:

President- Miami-Dade Beacon Council

Deborah A. Montilla

Name:

Deborah A. Montilla

Position:

Board Director

Profession:

Retired M-DCPS

Stephen A. Morris, O.D.

Name:

Stephen A. Morris, O.D.

Position:

Board Director

Profession:

Optometrist

Ralph Niebles

Name:

Ralph Niebles

Position:

Board Director

Profession:

Vice President- Invicta

Scott J. Richey  

Name:

 

Scott J. Richey

       
 

Position:

 

Board Director

       
 

Profession:

 

Northern Trust Bank

       
       
Caterina Sastri  

Name:

 

Caterina Sastri

       
 

Position:

 

Board Director

       
 

Profession:

 

Real Estate Advisor, Compass

       
       
Robert J. Shelley III  

Name:

 

Robert J. Shelley III

       
 

Position:

 

Board Director

       
 

Profession:

 

Rotary Club of Miami

       
       
Mauricio Villasuso

Name:

Mauricio Villasuso

Position:

Board Director

Profession:

VP, Fausto Commercial Realty

Frank J. Voytek  

Name:

 

Frank J. Voytek

       
 

Position:

 

Board Director

       
 

Profession:

 

Management Consultant- Foxhall Advisory

       
       
Angela Whitman  

Name:

 

Angela Whitman

       
 

Position:

 

Board Director

       
 

Profession:

 

Philanthropist

       
       
HONORARY BOARD

Donna Abood
Agustin Arellano, Sr.
Agustin Arellano, Jr. - Past Chairman
William E. Beckham
Will Beckham
Donna R. Blaustein, Esq.
Ray Casas
Sander R. Dubovy, M.D.
George W. Foyo
Gary D. Fox, Esq.
Pamela J. Garrison, R.N.
John H. B. Harriman
Thomas E. Johnson, M.D.
Edward J. Joyce
Susan P. Kelley
J. Megan Kelly
Jan S. Morrison
William L. Morrison
Maricarmen Perez-Blanco, O.D.
Shirley Press, M.D.
Edward (Ed) J. Rosasco
Audrey H. Ross, Ph.D.
William R. Roy, Ph.D.
Shelley D.Rutherford
Donald J. Sackrider
Michael A. Silva, Esq.
Scott K. Sime
David M. Turner III, CPA
Harold L. Young, Jr.

LEGAL COUNSEL

Rene Gonzalez-Llorens, Esq.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Virginia A. Jacko

  Groundbreaking Ceremony for new Lighthouse Learning Center for Children™, August 3, 2016:  Honorary Board Director John Harriman, Board Directors Louis Nostro, and Angela Whitman, CEO Virginia Jacko, Board Director Kent Benedict and Senator Gwen Margolis.  
 

Groundbreaking Ceremony for new Lighthouse Learning Center for Children™, August 3, 2016:
Honorary Board Director John Harriman, Board Directors Louis Nostro, and Angela Whitman,
CEO Virginia Jacko, Board Director Kent Benedict and Senator Gwen Margolis.

 
     
 
 
2017 ANNUAL MEETING
 
  Passing the gavel, 2016 Chairman Ramon F. Casas and 2017 Board Chairman  
 

Passing the gavel, 2016 Chairman Ramon F. Casas and 2017 Board Chairman.

 
     
2016 ANNUAL MEETING
 
2015 ANNUAL MEETING
Board Chair Ramon Casas, Board Director Bill Beckham and CEO Virginia Jacko  

Board Chair Ramon Casas, Board Director Bill Beckham and CEO Virginia Jacko.

 

Left to right: Incoming Chair Ray Casas (who also served as chair 1999-2000), outgoing chair Agustin Arellano, Jr., and Chair-Elect Louis Nostro. Board chairs serve for two year periods. Nostro will assume the chair in 2017.

 
     
 
2016 McCrea Volunteer Recognition Luncheon
 
2014 See the Light Luncheon
Board Directors Pablo Gonzalez, Jose Abrante, Board Chair Ramon Casas, CEO Virginia Jacko, Board Director Louis Nostro, Legal Counsel Rene Gonzalez-Llorens, Honorary Board Director David McCrea and Board Director Stephen Morris   Board Directors Steven Solomon, Edward Rosasco, CEO Virginia Jacko, Chair-elect Ray Casas, Angela Whitman, Kent Benedict, Board Chair Agustin Arellano, Jr., Louis Nostro, John Harriman and Bill Beckham.

Board Directors Pablo Gonzalez, Jose Abrante, Board Chair Ramon Casas, CEO Virginia Jacko, Board Director Louis Nostro, Legal Counsel Rene Gonzalez-Llorens, Honorary Board Director David McCrea and Board Director Stephen Morris

 

Board Directors Steven Solomon, Edward Rosasco, CEO Virginia Jacko, Chair-elect Ray Casas, Angela Whitman, Kent Benedict, Board Chair Agustin Arellano, Jr., Louis Nostro, John Harriman and Bill Beckham.

     
2014 McCrea Volunteer Recognition Luncheon
 
2013 Groundbreaking Ceremony for Fourth-Floor Expansion
Honorary Board Directors Gloria Martin, Board Directors Scott Richey with his son, Angela Whitman, CEO Virginia Jacko, Maricarmen Perez-Blanco, Honorary Director David McCrea, Steven Solomon, Deborah Montilla, Stephen Morris, Legal Counsel Rene Gonzalez-Llorens and Anne E. Helliwell   Board Director Owen Freed, CEO Virginia Jacko, Honorary Director Gloria Martin, Board Chair Agustin Arellano, Jr. and Board Director Bill Beckahm

Honorary Board Directors Gloria Martin, Board Directors Scott Richey with his son, Angela Whitman, CEO Virginia Jacko, Maricarmen Perez-Blanco, Honorary Director David McCrea, Steven Solomon, Deborah Montilla, Stephen Morris, Legal Counsel Rene Gonzalez-Llorens and Anne E. Helliwell

 

Board Director Owen Freed, CEO Virginia Jacko, Honorary Director Gloria Martin, Board Chair Agustin Arellano, Jr. and Board Director Bill Beckahm

     
2013 Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Reception
 
2012 Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Reception
Board Directors Dr. Sander Dubovy and Dr. Thomas Johnson with CEO Virginia Jacko   Board Members Deborah Montilla and Peter Harrison with Board Chair Michael Silva (center)

Board Directors Sander Dubovy, M.D. and Thomas Johnson, M.D. with CEO Virginia Jacko

 

Board Members Deborah Montilla and Peter Harrison with Board Chair Michael Silva (center)

 
     
 
2011 ANNUAL MEETING
 
  Current and past chairs of Miami Lighthouse (from left to right): Michael Silva, Ray Casas, Donna Blaustein, Owen Freed, Bill Roy, and Susan Kelley  
 

Past chairs of Miami Lighthouse (from left to right):
Michael Silva, Ray Casas, Donna Blaustein, Owen Freed, Bill Roy, and Susan Kelley.

 
     

Financial Health

  • Through effective work in seeking public funding and expanding philanthropic support, Miami Lighthouse enhanced its financial health and its sustainability in serving its more than 20-fold increase in clients since 2004.
  • Miami Lighthouse ranks nationally among the top 2% of the 8,000 nonprofit organizations evaluated by Charity Navigator based upon sound fiscal management and responsible use of donor dollars thus ranking as one of the elite 160 nonprofits in the nation that have received eight consecutive 4-star ratings. Only about one in four organizations evaluated gets a 4-star rating.

Board Strategic Plan, 2013-2016 Update

In 2013, the Board Strategic Plan identified the following six focus areas:

  • Providing Career Guidance and Job Placement
  • Meeting the Needs of Visually Impaired Adults, Especially Seniors
  • Innovating through Advanced Technology
  • Collaborating with Academe
  • Pursue National Health Care Strategic Partners
  • Meeting the Needs of Visually Impaired Children

Read a case study on Board governance in Nonprofit World by Bill Roy, Virginia Jacko and consultant Doug Eadie.

Miami Lighthouse Board of Directors is comprised of a diverse and dynamic group of volunteers, who provide leadership and support to ensure the vitality of the organization.

The Miami Lighthouse Board adopted a contemporary high-impact governance model in early 2007 which channels the energy and talents of board members in three areas of governance: monitoring, planning, and external relations. Further, it facilitates a close, enduring, and truly effective Board-CEO partnership which has a significant impact in organizational affairs.

 
AER
NAC
 

Miami Lighthouse has been continuously accredited by the National Accreditation Council For Blind and Low Vision Services (NAC) since 1978 and The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) since 2017 distinguishing that an agency or school operates at the highest level of quality and is positioned to generate the outcomes needed by the clients.

 

Enroll today in our Miami Lighthouse Academy!

A best practice inclusive learning program.

2023-2024 VPK Open Registration


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If you know someone affected by vision loss, check out our virtual "Living with Low Vision" series supported by Florida Blue, visit: https://lighthouseshop.org

 


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Miami Lighthouse is honored by the following

 

AER accredited

Miami Lighthouse is AER accredited distinguishing that an agency or school operates at the highest level of quality and is positioned to generate the outcomes needed by the clients.

Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce

Miami Lighthouse received the coveted Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce 2023 Nonprofit Business Innovative Excellence NOVO Award with an organizational budget of $2 million and above.

Charity Navigator

Miami Lighthouse ranks among the elite 1% of U.S. nonprofits having earned 13 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator, the nation's premier independent nonprofit evaluator. Receiving such a distinction reflects our sound fiscal management, responsible use of donor dollars, and financial strength.

The Children's Trust

Early Intervention Blind Babies Program Named the Children's Trust 2016 Program of the Year. This most prestigious award recognizes this Early Intervention Program, in particular, for including parents as teachers.

Apple

Miami Lighthouse Learning Center for Children™ is a Florida gold seal and nationally Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment (APPLE)

 
 

Florida Blue Foundation

Miami Lighthouse was recognized at the 2015 Florida Blue Foundation Sapphire Awards luncheon as an organization that has demonstrated excellence and innovation in community health.

The Beacon Council

Miami Lighthouse received the prestigious 2015 Beacon Award in Education at the 13th Annual Beacon Council Awards.

Marlins Charity Partner

Miami Lighthouse is a two-time Charity Partner (2013 and 2014) of the Marlins Foundation and a 2017 Major League Baseball All-Star Game Legacy Partner. Our Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program has received over $300,000 in charitable donations through these partnerships.

Health Foundation of South Florida

Miami Lighthouse received the prestigious 2008 Concern Award from Health Foundation of South Florida.

Miami Today

Miami Lighthouse received a Silver medal at the 2016 Miami Today Gold Medal Awards Ceremony.

 
 

Miami New Times - Best of Miami 2017

Miami Lighthouse named "Best of Miami" Charity 2017 by the New Times.

United Homecare

Miami Lighthouse received United Homecare's 2012 Thelma Gibson Community Service Award at the 18th Annual Claude Pepper Memorial Awards Ceremony.

South Florida Business Journal

Miami Lighthouse received the prestigious South Florida Business Journal 2011 Excellence in Health Care Award in the Community Outreach category.

Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce

Miami Lighthouse honored by being named the recipient of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce 2010 Non-Profit Business Diamond Award.

PR Week


Miami Lighthouse received the prestigious 2020 award for "Best in Nonprofit" campaign by PRWeek referred to as the "Oscars of the PR industry".

 
 
 
 

ABLE United

Miami Lighthouse is proud to be a strategic partner with ABLE United, Florida's disability savings program, to learn more visit www.ableunited.com

 
 
 
 

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