December 2, New York –
John Patrick Shanley,
award-winning playwright (Doubt), screenwriter (Moonstruck),
and screen director (Doubt) tonight received
The Glaucoma
Foundation’s Kitty Carlisle Hart Award for Merit for
Lifetime Achievement at the organization’s 23rd Annual Black
& White Ball at the Pierre Hotel in New York City.
The award was created in 1999 in recognition of Ms. Hart’s
contributions to the battle against glaucoma and was
presented to Mr. Shanley by the late Ms. Hart’s daughter,
New York physician Dr. Catherine Hart, and son, Chris Hart.
Shanley’s prolific career took a hiatus some years ago when
he was diagnosed with an advanced case of glaucoma,
untreatable with drugs, which required numerous rounds of
surgeries in both eyes and cost him some of his sight. “His
resolve to persevere through adversity has intensified his
voice as an acclaimed
playwright, screenwriter, and
director, says Scott Christensen, President of The Glaucoma
Foundation. “ We applaud his talents and tenacity –
traits that embody the spirit of the Kitty Carlisle Hart
Award.”
Also honored at the December 2nd event was
physician-scientist Paul L. Kaufman, MD, who received The
Foundation’s 2009 Robert Ritch Award for Excellence and
Innovation in Glaucoma. The award recognizes the
contributions of individuals who have played a significant
and unique role in promoting the medicine and science of
glaucoma. Dr. Kaufman is the Peter A. Duehr Professor and
Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public
Health, in Madison, Wisconsin. The award is named in honor
of Dr. Robert Ritch, founder of The Glaucoma Foundation and
its Medical Director, who received the inaugural award in
2008.
Income generated from the Ball supports innovative research
primarily in the fields of optic nerve rescue and
restoration, the genetics of the disease, and applications
of nanotechnology -- three key areas in the pursuit of
improved treatments for glaucoma. Proceeds will also help
sustain TGF's efforts to educate the public about the need
for routine testing to detect the disease in its earliest
stages. Glaucoma afflicts more than 3 million people in the
U.S. and 67 million
worldwide.
The
Glaucoma Foundation
The mission of The Glaucoma Foundation (TGF)
is to fund groundbreaking research and to educate the public
about the disease and the importance of early detection to
prevent blindness. Founded in1984 by Dr. Robert Ritch, TGF
is one of the premier not-for-profit organizations dedicated
to eradicating blindness from glaucoma
through vital research and education.
www.glaucomafoundation.org
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