In the past couple of weeks the leaves have been turning from green to the most astonishing fall colors. In the weeks ahead there’s just a chance that a winter wonderland of snow-covered neighborhoods will be topped with wispy smoke coming out of chimneys. Inside there will be colorful gifts under Christmas trees and equally bright stockings hung on the mantle.
All those sights are memory makers. Now, close your eyes and think of never seeing a color or image again. That’s what “more than 150,000 individuals who are blind or visually impaired living in the 11 North Texas counties” know all too well.
But they don’t let that hold them back. “More than 50% of those individuals desire, and are capable of, gainful employment and a chance to live a productive and independent life.” Thanks to Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind that opportunity is possible.
With 185 employees who are blind or visually impaired, Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind has been serving the North Texas area since 1931. That’s 84 years of providing “knowledge, training and motivation” for folks with visual impairments.
Joining the team is Hugh McElroy as CEO, who “brings more than 20 years of corporate, military and industrial CEO experience along with serving as a board member of numerous nonprofit organization.”
A graduate of Fairfield University, Hugh continued his post-graduate studies at Bridgeport Engineering Institute, Yale University, Duke University and Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.
Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind Chairman of the Board Michael Martin reported, “Hugh brings a unique blend of broad business acumen, passion for our mission, and strategic thinking to our organization. As a longtime board member for numerous non-profit agencies, Hugh is also an experienced executive who has held senior leadership positions in companies ranging from start-up to large, publicly-traded corporations. His talents are exactly what our organization needs.”
According to Hugh, “When I first toured Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind, I knew this was the next career step for me. I recently retired from the corporate world and saw a great opportunity to expand this organization’s services to reach thousands more in our North Texas communities. I am honored to have been chosen to engage my leadership experiences to help Dallas Lighthouse serve as many visually impaired people as possible in North Texas.”
If you still have a couple of dollars left from holiday spending, consider donating to Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind. It’s one of those 501(c)(3)’s that doesn’t have a glitzy fundraiser and depends upon the generosity of folks like you.
* Photo provided by Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind