The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.
Melanie Wimmenauer, MNLP, is an accomplished executive with extensive experience in communication, marketing, and fundraising within non-profit organizations. Currently serving as the Vice President of Communications & Retail/Service Business at The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., since May 2005, Melanie manages over 50 staff members and an annual budget of $24 million. Previous positions include Annual Fund and Grants Manager at Youth Eastside Services, where over $2 million in grants were secured, and Program and Grants Manager at Fred Hutch, where grant awards exceeded $5 million. With a Master's degree in Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management from Seattle University and a certification in Strategic Communications & Public Relations from the University of Washington, Melanie has demonstrated a strong commitment to development and community outreach throughout their career.
The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.
Established in 1918, The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit social enterprise. We empower people who are blind, DeafBlind, and blind with other disabilities by creating diverse, sustainable, and meaningful employment opportunities. We are a successful manufacturer of quality products for the Federal Government and assorted aerospace customers, that is committed to making jobs accessible to individuals who are blind, DeafBlind, or blind with other disabilities The Lighthouse currently employs over 470 individuals, more than 260 of whom are blind, DeafBlind, or blind with other disabilities, providing a wide range of programs and services for visually impaired employees and DeafBlind people in the larger community. These include vocational computer training programs for adults who are blind and one-on-one computer classes for people who are DeafBlind. In addition, we offer courses in braille, run our acclaimed DeafBlind Retreat, offer DeafBlind Community Classes, in addition to educating elementary school students about blindness.