Dear students, supporters and friends of the LightHouse:
Here I am at the end of my third week as CEO of this incredible organization and it’s been a wonderful whirlwind. I arrived in San Francisco before my belongings and my two dogs and hit the ground running. My third day on the job was to attend the grand opening of the LightHouse Sirkin Center in Alameda. This is our newly-built, state-of-the-art light manufacturing facility. Here, the team makes tissue for MRE packets for the military and they blend, fill and ship three lines of disinfectants and cleaners to customers and suppliers all over the country. It was so heartwarming to meet the whole team and many supporters of the LightHouse and our community. I received such a warm welcome.
That weekend the truck containing my worldly possessions arrived and I began making a new home for myself and my animals only two blocks away from the LightHouse. I always have chosen to live and work in the same community so that I truly become a part of it and San Francisco is no different.
I have spent many productive hours listening to the staff at the LightHouse: hearing about their hopes and dreams for the agency and also for our students and for themselves. I feel so grateful to get to work alongside such a dedicated, qualified and caring workforce.
Last Monday was my first chance to visit Enchanted Hills Camp and get to really understand why it’s the true center of everything we do. The imagination and the scope of the Enchanted Hills rebuild effort is truly astounding. I can’t wait until we can all swim in the pool, learn new skills in the blindness training center, hike the trails and fully put the space to its best use.
And so, at the end of my third week and coming up to Thanksgiving, I am filled with enormous gratitude for my good fortune to be leading the LightHouse in to its next 120 years. I am grateful to all of you for walking alongside us: taking part in our courses and classes, coming along to our recreational opportunities and being the most important part of our community.
Happy Holidays to one and all,
Sharon Giovinazzo
LightHouse CEO
