On September 10, 2026, Lighthouse Central Florida hosted the third annual Raising Our Sights breakfast event at the Winter Park Events Center. This inspiring morning brought together advocates and friends from across Central Florida to learn more about Lighthouse’s work empowering individuals with vision loss to live, learn, and thrive independently.
The morning began with conversation, coffee, and refreshments before guests gathered for breakfast and the program. Gail Paschall-Brown from WESH2 News served as emcee, guiding guests through a morning filled with powerful stories and meaningful moments. We heard firsthand from multiple speakers all with very different stories and voices but with one thing in common—a deep gratitude for the impact Lighthouse had made in their lives.
Lighthouse was honored to welcome keynote speaker Kyle Coon, a former Lighthouse Works employee and Team USA Paralympic triathlete, who shared his inspiring story of living a life without limits. Kyle completely lost his sight at age six after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called bilateral sporadic retinoblastoma. But what could have been viewed only as a loss instead became part of a journey that pushed him to pursue ambitions far beyond what others thought possible.
Kyle graduated from the University of Central Florida, worked at Lighthouse Works, and later launched his triathlon career, becoming a two-time Paralympian, five-time World Triathlon Para Series medalist, and accomplished endurance athlete. One of his proudest accomplishments though is being the first totally blind person to complete an IRONMAN Triathlon—consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, and 26.2-mile run—in under 11 hours.
A man of many talents, Kyle is also an avid mountaineer and climber, submitting impressive heights across the world like Mt. Kilimanjaro—the tallest mountain in Africa. Outside of his athletic successes, he is a proud public speaker and author of his own book, sharing his personal story to many organizations, events, and audiences with one main message: to encourage people from all walks of life to push beyond limits others may place upon them, and to appreciate the journey just as much as the destination.
Event guests also heard from Katie—the parent of a Lighthouse Central Florida Early Intervention client—who shared just how much Lighthouse has helped their entire family through the diagnosis and journey of her six-year-old daughter. Katie’s story was emotional, powerful, and deeply personal, highlighting the importance of advocacy and sticking up for your child. She described the difficult journey their family went through in learning about their child’s visual impairment—but also the light through the tunnel that Lighthouse gave them by providing support, vison services, and education.
Katie now proudly says, “Because of Lighthouse, our family is a lighthouse.”
The morning also featured a special 50th anniversary video highlighting clients, staff, and employees from across Lighthouse Central Florida and Lighthouse Works, capturing what it means to be part of the Lighthouse community.
Raising Our Sights 2026 was a morning to remember, filled with gratitude, inspiration, connection, and advocacy. Heartfelt thanks is shared with everyone who attended, donated, volunteered, shared the mission, or supported Raising Our Sights. Every contribution helps Lighthouse continue empowering people with vision loss to discover what is possible.