Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form
Organization Name: Lighthouse of Broward County, Inc.
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As: LHOB
Mailing Address: 5901 Del Lago Circle
City: Sunrise
State: FL
Postal Code: 33313-9893
Main Phone: 954-463-4217
Main Fax: 954.764.3825
Organization Website: www.LHOB.org
Employer ID Number: 59-1650909
Organization Tax Status: 501-C-3
Proposal Information
Today’s Date: March 14, 2025
Requested Amount: $10,000
Project Title: Children’s Services to Independence Program (CSTI)
Project Description:
The CSTI program at the Lighthouse of Broward is dedicated to empowering blind and visually impaired (BVI) youth under 13 in Broward County. Having been in our new 25,000 square-foot facility in Sunrise, FL for a year, we are currently in the permitting stage of renovations that are slated to further enhance our ability to serve the community more effectively. This expanded space has already allowed us to reach more families and improve the quality and variety of our services. Currently, CSTI serves over 96 BVI children and their families, including more than 36 participants in the Bright Beginnings Early Intervention Program for infants to five-year-olds. This program employs play therapy to stimulate remaining senses—hearing, touch, taste, smell, and proprioception—while fostering cognitive skills, communication abilities, assistive technology proficiency, and essential life skills such as personal hygiene and motor development.
For children aged 6 to 13, CSTI offers comprehensive year-round programming that focuses on academic enrichment, life skills, and social development. Activities are provided during non-school days, Saturdays, and summer breaks, with instruction in safe travel, cooking, self-care, Braille literacy, computer use, and effective communication. The curriculum integrates STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) elements and follows the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC), an evidence-based framework designed to equip BVI youth with the skills needed for independence. Our specialized Teachers of the Visually Impaired deliver personalized support in one-on-one and small group settings.
Additionally, CSTI addresses the needs of children with multiple disabilities, a growing demographic identified by the School Board of Broward County. By providing adaptive equipment, personalized learning plans, and targeted interventions, CSTI bridges critical service gaps for BVI youth who are often excluded from traditional educational settings. Through these comprehensive efforts, CSTI fosters independence, self-advocacy, and academic success, empowering BVI children to thrive both academically and socially.
Total Project Budget: $1,479.365.89
Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Division of Blind Services; United Way of Broward County; The Batchelor Foundation; Henry L. & Kathryn Mills Foundation; Hoffa Memorial Foundation; Kegel Foundation, Negley Flinn Foundation, Gore Foundation, Deaver Phoenix Foundation, and The William R. Watts Foundation, Inc., Children’s Opportunity Group
Project Duration: Year-Round
Geographical Area Served: Broward County, FL
Age Group To Be Served: Birth to 13 years old
Contact Information
Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mr.
Contact First Name: Jose
Contact Last Name: Lopez-Masso
Contact Title: VP of Public Affairs & Government Relations
Contact Phone: 954-463-4217 ext. 115
Contact Email: jlopez@lhob.org