March 2026 Newsletter

Lighthouse of Collier welcomes ONE new board member and ONE new employee to our team!

Dr. Carolina Lucia Mercado is an ophthalmologist and Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Bascom Palmer, owned by University of Miami Health System, is ranked Best in Ophthalmology by U.S. News and World Report.

Dr. Mercado practices in Naples, FL, and specializes in corneal and ocular surface diseases. She is actively involved in clinical research that is focused on corneal transplantation, ocular surface tumors, and innovative treatments to restore corneal blindness. Dr. Mercado completed advanced fellowship training at Bascom Palmer and is passionate about advancing eye care through research, education, and mentorship.

Dr. Mercado says she is honored to serve on the Board of Directors at LOC and is committed to supporting its mission of fostering independence and enhancing the quality of life for individuals who are blind and visually impaired. She will also provide some great insight into LOC’s social media and marketing efforts. 

Welcome on board, Dr. Mercato!

Sead Bekric is our new Assistive Technology Assistant! He was born in Bosnia and moved to California as a teenager. He lost his vision in 1993 when he was one of several victims in an explosion in Bosnia that left many dead and wounded. He says a mortar shell severely damaged his face and cost him his vision.

However, Bekric didn’t let this horrible incident define him. He became a youth speaker for Red Cross volunteers in America. Bekric says he also worked with Princess Diana and former American Red Cross President Elizabeth Dole on the Landmine Project.

Bekric later went to college and moved to Naples in 2019. He has a wife and two sons. Bekric operates a vending machine business at an Alligator Alley rest area. He will be at The Lighthouse on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. He is looking forward to meeting new clients and helping them be successful!

Blind Inspirations podcast

LOC staff member Rick Hart encourages everyone to watch Blind Inspirations on YouTube. It's about a man named Bobby Carr who shares his personal story on living with vision loss. His first episode recounts the countless retinologists he visited when he noticed his eyesight declining. Carr ultimately learned he had Usher's Syndrome Type II. Bobby addresses how his whole life changed. He had to stop driving and could no longer read.

Carr refused to give up. He relied on long walks and AI to help him. He invites others who are living with vision loss to share their own personal stories with him. Carr also emphasizes the importance of prioritizing progress over perfection. You can watch his first episode by clicking on this link.

An unsung hero at Lighthouse of Collier is our employee of the month! Receptionist Maggie Saldana is the first person you interact with when you walk through our door and the last person you say "Bye" to when you leave. She is responsible for calling and emailing all our clients about upcoming events/appointments. Maggie is also visually impaired and relies on technology to get her job done. She started out as a client 10 years ago. She began volunteering in 2018 and became our full-time receptionist in 2022. She helps Rick with Spanish-speaking clients who want to learn JAWS.

Maggie is originally from Bolivia and was a professional makeup artist at Dillard's before she lost her vision. Her resilience and strength don't go unnoticed. She always has a positive attitude and a smile on her face!

Maggie credits LOC for positively changing her life. She comforts those who are coming to terms with their vision loss and is always willing to tell her story.

Clients filled the room to listen to LOC Program Director Kerry Birchall and LOC Teacher of the Visually Impaired Dani Gonzalez talk about different smart home technology devices.

Birchall and Gonzalez showed clients how to do voice commands on Alexa.

Students in our Children's Program had a blast during spring camp! They did different STEM activities, baked cookies, and went on a couple field trips to the Naples Airport and a local fire station. These sorts of activities help our students with their orientation and mobility skills.

First: Alyssa practices her orientation and mobility skills by brushing plastic teeth on a table.

Second: Layla crushes baking soda and citric acid in a plastic bag.

Third. Juan and Jimmy come up with a mischievous plan.

Volunteer Curt Gillespie dedicated part of his afternoon teaching kids how to make cookies from scratch.

Layla practices her baking skills by putting cookie dough on a baking sheet.

Students in our spring camp stopped by for a tour at the Naples Airport. They saw the inside of a training plane used in pilot school.

Layla tried on a firefighter jacket on her tour at the fire station.

Kayaking Excursion

Kayla and Jimmy smile for a photo while kayaking.





Everyone who participated in the kayaking excursion smiled for a group photo. Thank you to our amazing volunteers for spending part of their Saturday with us!

Our students, volunteers, and staff members paired up to go kayaking at Paddle Naples on Big Hickory Island in Bonita Springs on March 14. Participation in physical activities gives people who are visually impaired the opportunity to build confidence, stay active, and create connections.

Outreach events this month

LOC Fund Development and Public Relations Manager Victoria Scott answers questions after giving a presentation at the Everglades Lions Club meeting March 12. Thank you LOC Program Director Kerry Birchall for taking the photo!







Victoria Scott poses for a photo with Everglades Lions Club members after Lighthouse of Collier was awarded a generous check. We are so grateful for their support. Thank you Kerry Birchall for taking the photo!





2026 NCF Grant Award Ceremony at The Ritz-Carlton, Tiburon

Lighthouse of Collier was invited to attend the 2026 NCF Grant Award Ceremony on Monday, March 16. LOC is part of NCF's Vision Initiative. Close to $2.8 million will be allocated to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Florida Lions Eye Clinic, and Lighthouse of Collier from 2026-2029. Lighthouse of Collier CEO Robin Goldstone Garcia and Victoria Scott represented LOC at the event.

Naples Orchestra Community Concert

Several LOC clients attended the Naples Community Orchestra Concert on March 21. Thank you NCO for the tickets!

We are ALWAYS looking for new volunteers! Please email Kristen Butler at kristen@lighthouseofcollier.org if you're interested in volunteering at LOC.

Transition Club Event

April 4 at LOC

Time TBA

Auditory Easter Egg Hunt

April 18 at 10 a.m.

Location TBA

Tuesday Talks

April 21

Check our website for additional details as they become available.

We hope this month brought you good luck!