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Fundraiser

Cycle for Sight Spotlight – Gena Harper

04/14/2015 LightHouse Staff

GenaHarper

Please support Gena Harper in this year’s Cycle for Sight by sponsoring her ride.

We are thrilled to have LightHouse Board member and 2011 U.S. National Para-cycling Team member Gena Harper riding again in Cycle for Sight.

Gena is no stranger to triumph in the face of challenge. She was born with limited vision but this did not stop her from becoming Senior Vice President-Wealth Management, and Senior Investment Management Consultant at Morgan Stanley and one of the few blind people in the U. S. investment industry to win a bronze medal in the National Handicapped Ski Championships.

With her strong commitment to volunteerism and philanthropy, Gena is also a champion for Enchanted Hills Camp. She met her husband Mike May at Enchanted Hills Camp, and they married last year under the redwoods at Enchanted Hills Chapel. She got her cycling start as a tandem rider at Cycle for Sight four years ago. This year she will ride the 25 mile route with her son.

Her words of wisdom to blind cyclists? “Just do it. Get a partner and make it happen. There’s always a way. Work hard and be creative!”

Go Gena! Come out to Cycle for Sight in Napa and watch Gena fly by to her next challenge. Support her in this year’s Cycle for Sight by sponsoring her ride. Simply go to our donation page and select Cycle for Sight as your giving designation. You’ll want to put Gena’s name in the “I want my donation to be dedicated:” field.

LightHouse News

Clock is Ticking – Last Chance to Sign Up for Cycle for Sight 2015 on April 18

03/27/2015 LightHouse Staff

Margie Donovan holds Cycle for Sight 2013 trophy surrounded by members of Team LightHouse

>>Attention LightHouse Youth – See below for special Youth Overnighter at Enchanted Hills Camp

The day is almost here. If you haven’t already, it’s time to sign up to ride in the best bike ride of the year, Cycle for Sight 2015. Cycle for Sight boasts more than 2,000 riders and provides the single biggest fundraiser for Enchanted Hills Camp. Don’t be left out. Come join the largest and most fun group of tandem riders in Northern California to have some fun, get some exercise and support EHC’s life-changing programs.

Sign up at www.cycle4sight.com as a cyclist for Team LightHouse and enjoy the beauty of Napa and the challenge of a 15, 25 or 50 mile route with 2,000 other cyclists. After the ride you’ll enjoy wine tasting from Napa Valley wineries, beer tasting from local microbreweries and local cuisine from Napa Valley restaurants, all while grooving to the sounds of “Pride and Joy”.

When: Saturday, April 18, 2015. The first ride starts at 8:00 a.m.
Where: Starts at Justin Siena High School, 4026 Maher Street, Napa
Be sure to designate “Team LightHouse” when you register.

If you can’t ride, donate.

Thank you to Sports Basement for your sponsorship of this year’s Cycle for Sight!

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Special Youth Overnighter for Cycle for Sight!
LightHouse Youth ages 14 to 24 are gathering together as a force to join Team LightHouse in the annual Cycle for Sight Fundraiser, in Napa, to raise money for Enchanted Hills Camp. Each youth that registers to ride is invited to spend the night at Enchanted Hills Camp the Friday before the big event. Read about Cycle for Sight on our blog.

When: Friday, April 17 through Saturday, April 18
Depart LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters at 3:00 p.m. Friday, April 17 and return by 4:00 p.m. Saturday, April 18
Who: Blind and low vision youth, ages 14 to 24
To participate, please contact Jamey Gump at jgump@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7372.

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Pilots and Blind Stokers Wanted
Are you interested in piloting a tandem bike for a blind stoker? Or are you a blind stoker in need of a pilot? Contact Tony Fletcher via email at afletcher@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7319 to join Team LightHouse today.

LightHouse News

Shop for a Cause: Stella & Dot Fundraiser is a Fun Way to Support Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind

03/19/2015 LightHouse Staff

Join LightHouse Board Member Gena Harper and her guide dog, Yulie, at a Stella and Dot fundraiser in Davis, CA. Proceeds will go towards the transformative programs of Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind. Can’t make it to the party? Shop online between now and April 24th and proceeds will go to Enchanted Hills. Check out the jewelry and other items to adorn the fashionista.

When: Friday, April 3, 2015 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Where: Vini Wine Bar, 611 2nd Street, Davis, CA

LightHouse News

Meet Margie, A Cyclist in This Year’s Cycle for Sight

03/13/2015 LightHouse Staff

Margie Donovan holds Cycle for Sight 2013 trophy surrounded by members of Team LightHouse Meet Longtime Enchanted Hills supporter and Cycle for Sight Rider Margie Donovan.

Margie Donovan makes Cycle for Sight a priority every year. “I absolutely love the event,” she says. “It is well-organized and I love how Team LightHouse brings visibility to the blind community.” This year she will ride 25 miles on a tandem bike with her significant other, RC, as her captain. The pair is popular out on the course due to all the work they do with Enchanted Hills Camp.

Margie started off as a camper and has volunteered at family camp for at least twelve years. She and RC started the kayaking program, and she has run support groups for parents and teens. She especially enjoys working with female campers and mentoring them as they grow up. She’s made lifelong connections with many of the campers she’s met at Enchanted Hills.

Two years ago, Margie, along with the rest of Team LightHouse, took the cup for having the largest team at Cycle for Sight. It was an emotional achievement after all her years of service. Last year, she decided to raise money for another rider, one of her campers at Enchanted Hills. One of her favorite things about the ride is “seeing all the campers out on the course and then racing them in little spurts along the way.”

Go, Margie! We can’t wait to see what she does this year.

Support Margie Donovan in this year’s Cycle for Sight by donating to her campaign. Simply go to our donation page and select Cycle for Sight as your giving designation. You’ll want to put Margie’s name in the “I want my donation to be dedicated” field.

Join Team LightHouse and ride in Cycle for Sight on Saturday April 18! Register at www.cycle4sight.com. Be sure to designate “Team LightHouse” when you register.

For more information contact Tony Fletcher at afletcher@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7319.

LightHouse News

Thanks to our Community Partners

02/13/2015 LightHouse Staff

Thank you to the following individuals, foundations and corporations who have recently shown their support by providing significant funds to help our programs go further and reach higher:

Bellini Foundation – for unrestricted support
Marie H. Brookreson Trust – for Employment Immersion
Humboldt Area Foundation – for North Coast older students
Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation – for Contra Costa Camperships for Enchanted Hills Camp
Thomas J. Long Foundation – for Employment Immersion
Eva L. McKenzie Memorial Fund – for Employment Immersion
George H. Sandy Foundation – for Enchanted Hills Camp
Edward & Edith Strobel Charitable Trust – for Employment Immersion
Mr. and Mrs. G. Kirk Swingle Foundation

LightHouse News

Gill Benefit for Enchanted Hills Session Raises over $7,000

02/13/2015 LightHouse Staff

In January beloved former Menlo School teacher Steve Gill, his daughter Anne and a team of talented current and former Menlo School students and faculty, treated audiences to two evenings’ worth of songs by the great American songwriter Harold Arlen, co-composer of many memorable songs such as Blues in the Night, Get Happy, That Old Black Magic and It’s Only a Paper Moon. This year the “Annie and Her Friends” concerts raised more than $7,000 for Special Needs sessions at Enchanted Hills Camp.

The Gill Family connection to Enchanted Hills Camp goes back to the late 1990’s when Anne, who was just out of high school, was in a near-fatal car accident that left her blind and brain injured. After a long rehabilitation period, the Gills learned about the Enchanted Hills session for blind adults who also have other disabilities and Anne began attending. Soon after they began to fundraise for the Enchanted Hills session and with this year’s concert have brought in nearly $95,000.

We offer our profound gratitude to Steve and Nancy Gill, Anne and all of “Annie’s Friends” for the great shows they put on to support us.

It’s easy to donate to Enchanted Hills Camp.

Portrait of Anne and Steve Gill

LightHouse News

Meet Sean, A Cyclist in This Year’s Cycle for Sight

02/02/2015 LightHouse Staff

Sean McGee and his dad

This year’s Cycle for Sight, held on Saturday, April 18, will be 15-year-old Sean McGee’s fifth year riding tandem with his dad, Kevin, as pilot. Before taking on tandem riding, Sean rode behind Kevin’s bike on a tag-a-long attachment for several years.

This year the pair is taking on the 25-mile route, a distance Sean is proud to have achieved last year. Sean’s mom, Kathleen, says “We are all excited to be able to ride in the wine country and raise money for Enchanted Hills Camp and Pathways.”

This high school freshman has been a camper at Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind for seven years and running, Sean says his favorite camp memories are the hay rides and making new friends with fellow campers and counselors. Kathleen adds, “We love interacting with the camp staff and letting Sean explore in a safe environment. The camp is a comfortable place to relax and try new activities.”

Support Sean McGee in this year’s Cycle for Sight by donating to his campaign. Simply go to our donation page and select Cycle for Sight as your giving designation. You’ll want to put Sean’s name in the “I want my donation to be dedicated:” field.

Join Team LightHouse this year on Saturday April 18! Register at www.cycle4sight.com. Be sure to designate “Team LightHouse” when you register.

For more information contact Tony Fletcher at afletcher@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7319.

LightHouse News

Get on Your Marks – Register Now for Cycle for Sight 2015 and Ride on Saturday, April 18

01/14/2015 Andrea Ogarrio 1 Comment

Registration is already open for the Napa Rotary’s Cycle for Sight 2015 ride which will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2015.

Sign up at www.cycle4sight.com to ride as a cyclist for Team LightHouse and enjoy the beauty of scenic Napa and the challenge of a 15, 25 or 50 mile route with 2,000 other cyclists. Proceeds support Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind. Raise pledges for every mile you ride through the Cycle for Sight website. The Napa Rotary’s goal this year is to raise a total of $100,000.

Be sure to designate “Team LightHouse” when you register.

Interested in piloting a tandem bike for a blind stoker? Or, are you a blind stoker in need of a pilot? Contact Tony Fletcher via email at afletcher@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7319 to join Team LightHouse today.

LightHouse News

Thanks to our Community Partners

12/19/2014 Andrea Ogarrio

Thank you to the following individuals and corporations who have recently shown their support by providing significant funds to help our programs go further and reach higher:

Dodge and Cox – for unrestricted support
The George H. Sandy Foundation – for Enchanted Hills Camp
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation – for unrestricted support
Marmor Foundation – for unrestricted support
Packet Fusion – for our campaign for a 21st Century LightHouse

LightHouse News

The Freedom of Riding

04/24/2014 Lisamaria Martinez

Fourteen-and-a-half year old Jacob Obeso of San Leandro is stoked to be a stoker for his second Cycle for Sight ride, a signature fundraiser benefiting Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind where he has participated as a camper for several summers. This Saturday, Jacob and his dad Robert will be pedaling 25 miles along the scenic roads of Napa as one of 40 tandems and 2500 cyclists.

Jacob’s mother Martha told us that tandem cycling was one of the very few things her son could do when he began to lose his vision. She said, “He couldn’t do a lot of sports and athletics but we got him to ride bikes. He liked it. I kept looking for things he could do and I found Cycle for Sight. The first year, my kids and I rode 15 miles. Jacob was really psyched to have so much support from the family. This year he’ll be riding 25 miles with my husband, no hesitation on Jacob’s part. Bike riding is a sense of freedom for him.”

Jacob is a freshman in high school. He has been attending Enchanted Hills Camp for a handful of summers now and, like so many blind campers before him, has benefited greatly from the transformative camp experience. Martha says, “Camp has completely changed Jacob’s attitude. He found other kids that he could relate to and now he is far more comfortable with his visual impairment. He loves EHC. The counselors are just fantastic and many are great blind role models.”

His love for camp and his need to feel free while biking are two reasons why Jacob and his family are riding this Saturday in Cycle for Sight. The Obeso family is hard at work raising money to help blind youth of all ages experience the magic of Enchanted Hills Camp. For 64 summers, Enchanted Hills has been a place where blind children and adults learn, grow and discover a new sense of self-confidence and freedom.

You can help Jacob and his family raise money for Enchanted Hills Camp by going to our
donation page and selecting Cycle for Sight as your giving designation. Be sure to put Jacob’s name in the “in honor of” field.

For more information about Cycle for Sight or Enchanted Hills Camp, contact Tony Fletcher at afletcher@lighthouse-sf.org or call 415-694-7319.

Ride on!