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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CONGRATULATING THE CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND ON ITS 110TH ANNIVERSARY
WHEREAS, Founded in 1906 on Chicago's West Side, The Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind has been a pioneer in innovation across the areas of vision care, rehabilitation, education, employment and technology for 110 years; and,
WHEREAS, Since its inception, Chicago Lighthouse activities have included collecting donated food and clothing from area women's clubs, as well as teaching employable skills like weaving and carpentry for permanent job attainment; and,
WHEREAS, The Chicago Lighthouse has remained diligent and dedicated through two world wars and the worst economic depression in history. The organization continues to provide opportunities for employment, empowerment and independence to individuals facing life with vision loss; and,
WHEREAS, Over several decades, the Lighthouse's mission has grown to include clinical vision care, with the establishment of the first low vision rehabilitation clinic in the Midwest. In 1955, The Lighthouse opened the doors of a facility in Chicago's Medical District, dedicated by the world-renowned advocate for the deaf and the blind, Helen Keller; and,
WHEREAS, The Lighthouse earned an exclusive clock manufacturing contract from the federal government in the late 1970s and, over the next two decades, saw the facility double in size and expand its services to a North Shore satellite location, marking the beginning of a growing regional footprint; and,
WHEREAS, Former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley called the Lighthouse one of the most "comprehensive social service agencies in the United States," given the diversity of programs and beneficiaries of Lighthouse services; and,
WHEREAS, Today, The Chicago Lighthouse serves more than 67,000 people each year, and remains committed to growing that impact by expanding critical programs, forging collaborative partnerships, and creatively approaching the challen...
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