120 Years of Service
Founded in 1900 by two men from Connecticut who were blind, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB) celebrated its 120 years of impact on May 17, 2020. As President & CEO of Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, I, Tony Cancelosi, thank you all for your enduring support that has contributed to our 120 years of programs and services.
CLB’s history has evolved from hiring people who are blind to assemble magazines, make lightbulbs, and construct furniture to taking our clients skiing and holding virtual trainings. However, CLB’s mission has remained the same: to help people of all ages in the Maryland, D.C. and Virginia region overcome the challenges of blindness or vision loss, and enable them to remain independent, active and productive in our society. Please read our full history here: Our History
Our staff and community stakeholders shared their congratulatory messages. Please take a moment to read them.
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“Congratulations to Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind for a remarkable
120 years of service to people who are blind in the Washington, D.C.
area. CLB has been a longstanding leader and innovator in creating employment opportunities and providing other critical services for people who are blind. On behalf of the entire NIB team, thank you for your outstanding contributions, and we look forward to continuing our strong partnership for many more years to come.”
Kevin Lynch
President and CEO of National Industries for the Blind
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“During this pivotal point in our world, the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind Board of Directors is honored to recognize our 120 years of continued service to the community. We are pleased about the enduing commitments that our staff and volunteers extend in order for people with vision loss to maintain productive and independent lives.”
Paul Rothenburg
CLB Board Chairman
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“On behalf of the Federal City Council, we extend our congratulations to Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind for 120 years of service. Your dedication to our Washington, DC region is tremendous and invaluable.”
Anthony Williams
CEO and Executive Director
Federal City Council
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“When you work at CLB, your purpose in life to assist others begins.”
Kathy Gross
CLB Assistant Manager of Low Vision Services
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“CLB’s rehabilitation team has tirelessly and creatively recreated itself during this pandemic to try to meet the needs of our clients.
Many of my clients have shared with me how much they appreciate our efforts to instruct and support them during this time.”
Annie Linda
CLB Manager
Rehab Services – Orientation & Mobility/Vision Rehab Therapist
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“It’s an honor to work for an organization that has a history as long as CLB. I’m especially proud to be a part of a team that is working so hard to maintain our connections and commitments to the blind community during this time when it’s so easy to lose contact with others. As an Orientation & Mobility Specialist, I love having the opportunity to meet and get to know clients, who all have such amazing and diverse backgrounds, and working with them to become more independent. While meeting with clients virtually has been an adjustment, getting to know and work with clients has been just as rewarding.”
Denise Wyatt
CLB Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist
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“Congratulations to the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind on its 120th Year Anniversary! I have been working with the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind and its CEO, Anthony Cancelosi for many years. CLB is an amazing nonprofit that provides so many resources to so many people that are visually impaired as well as to their families. I work with hundreds of nonprofits in my capacity as the National Leader of the Nonprofit & Social Sector at Raffa – Marcum’s Nonprofit and Social Sector Group and CLB is up there with some of the most effective and efficient. Tony is truly a visionary with his feet planted solidly on the ground so that I know my efforts and my contributions are put to their best use because of his leadership.”
Thomas Raffa
CPA, National Leader of the Nonprofit and Social Sector Group