Lighthouse Central Florida, a nonprofit that provides vision rehabilitation services to Central Floridians living with vision impairment or blindness, announced it has been awarded a $30,000 grant from the Regions Foundation, a nonprofit initiative funded primarily by Regions Bank.
Employed individuals with disabilities are underrepresented in management, professional, and technical jobs, and often face barriers to certain occupations. The new funding will address these barriers by providing 100 visually impaired teens and adults with training in career readiness and life skills designed to help them maximize their potential and lifelong independence.
“Both Regions Bank and the Regions Foundation are committed to creating more inclusive prosperity across Central Florida,” said Chris Hurst, Orlando market executive for Regions Bank. “Lighthouse Central Florida shares this commitment and is doing incredible work serving, supporting, and further empowering members of our community who are visually impaired. This grant from our colleagues at the Regions Foundation – combined with the dedication of the Lighthouse team – will help connect more people with more opportunities for success. That, in turn, benefits the entire community.”
As the only provider of vision rehabilitation services in Central Florida, Lighthouse Central Florida provides critical resources for residents of Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties who live with some form of vision loss.
“At Lighthouse, we break down barriers that prevent visually impaired teens and adults from achieving their full potential in work, school and the community,” said Kyle Johnson, President and CEO at Lighthouse Central Florida. “Alongside community partners like Regions Foundation, we can provide life-changing services that empower people of all ages and abilities to live without restrictions or limitations.”
The check was presented to Lighthouse Central Florida during Mobility Week’s The Blind Experience event, which brought elected officials such as Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings and FDOT District Five Secretary John E. Tyler together to raise awareness about the White Cane Law and pedestrian safety.
