Formerly San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind and Vision Impaired

Vibrant Works hosted its annual Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 13, welcoming families for a morning of holiday fun.

Families arrived in cozy pajamas and gathered for fluffy pancakes and hot cocoa as festive music filled the room. Children rotated between craft tables, games and visits with Santa, sharing laughs and photo moments along the way.

A big thank you to our very own Santa, Jeffrey Torrez, and the volunteers who helped make the event possible.

Happy Holidays!

Join us for Dining in the Dark: Unleash Your Senses — a wild and immersive experience at The Ralston, the San Antonio Zoo’s newest event space, on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.

Experience fine dining, sensory discovery and purpose - all in total darkness.

Savor a three-course dinner with curated bourbon and wine tastings while supporting Vibrant Works' mission to empower individuals who are blind or visually impaired. ✨

What inspired you to join the Vibrant Works board?

Although I had officially retired from my position as Senior Counsel at CPS Energy, I still had a burning desire to find fulfilling work where I could use my unique in-house legal expertise for something beyond corporate profit. I also wanted to be part of a successful team and give back to the community in a meaningful way, as it had done for me during my long and enriching career.

I had toured the facilities of Vibrant Works (previously the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind) in the past and remembered being incredibly impressed by the talent and dedication of the team of people who are blind or visually impaired and who were running this incredible manufacturing business just down the street from where I worked. However, it was not until I was contacted by my good friend, legal peer and former Board member John McLeod that my desire to reach out in this fashion would come to fruition.

It was exciting to know I was being considered for a position in the very company that I had so long ago admired and that I could move from merely observing to actively shaping a better future for this community of individuals.

What do you love the most about Vibrant Works?

It allows me to feel deeply about a cause because all who I encounter, from the fellow Board members to the employees, are passionate about the mission and actively contribute to its success and the well-being of the community it serves. Being a part of this organization offers me a sense of pride and purpose, and I am deeply humbled by the experiences that are shared with me on a routine basis by those with visual impairment, as well as by their commitment to overcoming daily obstacles.

When did you join the Vibrant Works board?

I joined the Board in the fall of 2023.

What is a fun fact about you?

I was a competitive swimmer from the age of 8 and swam competitively until graduating from college. I swam on the Texas A&M team from 1974 to 1978, and it was during that time that we won State twice and I received national recognition for my swimming times and records, which remained on the books for several years following graduation.

I have also turned my law school training in "drama and theatrics" into annually performing in the "wild and wacky" Fiesta Cornyation and hosting murder mystery parties at my home when I can find time.  

What is your occupation?

I am a lawyer and graduated from St. Mary's Law School in 1983.