Facts 2012
The San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind – Touches lives of the blind and severely vision impaired. We accomplish this through employment in our manufacturing plant and military stores and our rehabilitation programs. These opportunities allow people to live productive lives with dignity ….turning dis-ABILITY into ABILITY. The Lighthouse is the community icon for training, educating and enabling the blind and visually impaired, in addition to being a leader in manufacturing and sales in support of the military with U.S. made products.
The San Antonio Lighthouse. . . . . .
- Has been operating and supporting the blind in San Antonio since 1933 ---78+ years!
- Making and selling the only “US-made” pens, pencils and highlighters in San Antonio
- Supporting our troops through contracts with the Army, Navy, and Air Force (uniforms, helmet chin straps, and oil analysis kits)
- Employs 500 people -- 250 of whom are blind (competitive pay, medical, and retirement)
- Provides services to over 5,000 people who are blind and severely visually impaired every year
- Is one of the largest manufacturing operation in the city
- Is one of only two agencies for the disabled in the world to be awarded quality certifications of both ISO 9001 and AS 9100 (aerospace)
- Operates 14 mission-support stores on 11 military installations across Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma (including Lackland and Randolph Air Force Bases). A 15th store is soon to be built on Ft. Sam Houston.
- Maintains an E-Commerce website with nearly 50,000 office supplies and furniture products, many of which are produced by people who are blind (www.salighthouse.org - click on shop online)
- Operates one of the only Senior Centers in Texas for the blind/visually impaired over the age of 50
- Operates the only Low Vision Store in South Texas
- Invests its profits in providing services that improve the quality of life for people who are blind and severely vision impaired
- Functions as a “One-Stop Shop” for the blind in San Antonio.
- Some of the critical services provided are:
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- Independent living skills |
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- School to work transitioning |
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- Employment |
RECENT AWARDS and RECOGNITIONS
The Non-Profit Times
50 Top Non-Profits in Nation to Work for – 2010, 2011 & 2012
Univ. of Texas San Antonio/Ecumenical Center
Business & Ethics Award- 2012
San Antonio Express News & S A Business Journal
“Best Place to Work in San Antonio” – 2010 & 2011
Boeing’s “Diversity Supplier of the Year” – 2010
American Association of Retired Persons
“National Top 50 Company to Work for People Over 50” 2009 & 2011
