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THE FASHION BALL: DINING IN THE DARK
Celebrates Fashion Visionaries, Benefits
Foundation Fighting Blindness
WHO: Visionary Award
honorees
Rick Darling, President of the world’s leading
consumer goods supply chain management company, LF USA, and
esteemed fashion executive Jill Granoff; Committee
Chair Evan Mittman, Designer Vince Camuto, CEO
of Lord and Taylor Brendan Hoffman, Cosmetic
Executive Carlotta Jacobson, President of Licensing
at Jones Apparel Group Mary Belle, CEO B&G Plastics
Chet Kolton, Principal of Deloitte Consulting
Mitch Katcher, and President of Schifter + Partners
Tim Schifter.
WHAT:
The Foundation Fighting Blindness hosted
THE FASHION BALL: DINING IN THE DARK on May 25th
at the Ritz Carlton Battery Park to honor fashion
visionaries who have supported the organization’s urgent
mission to drive research that will lead to preventions,
treatments and cures for people affected by macular
degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, Usher syndrome, and the
entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases.
Dining in the Dark was a
rare and unique sensory adventure that took guests on a
journey of taste, smell, sound and touch…all in the dark.
For about 30 minutes, attendees enjoyed their entrée using
only these senses, to get a glimpse into the lives of the
blind. Visually impaired servers, who were trained
specifically for the dinner to use a system of ropes and
stanchions, helped guests navigate through this new
experience. It served as a memorable backdrop as the
Foundation Fighting Blindness honored extraordinary
individuals who made a lasting impression on the fashion
community and on the lives of more than 10 million Americans
living with blinding retinal diseases.
“Dining in the Dark
truly heightens awareness about the challenges visually
impaired individuals experience every day,” said Foundation
Fighting Blindness CEO Bill Schmidt. “We’re thrilled to
recognize the contributions of these fashion industry
leaders as we come together to support promising research to
ensure brighter futures for people living in darkness.”
Guests also enjoyed the
musical entertainment of Los Gatos del Barrio, a New York
based Latino band of legally blind musician.
Over the last 40 years, the Foundation Fighting Blindness
has honored the Honorable Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Steve
Wynn, Lee Iacocca, J. Willard Marriot, Jr. and Ross & Margot
Perot.
WHEN:
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
WHERE: Ritz Carlton Battery Park New
York City
About Foundation Fighting Blindness
The Foundation
Fighting Blindness is a national nonprofit driving blindness
research that will lead to preventions, treatments and cures
for retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher
syndrome and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative
diseases that affect 10 million Americans. In its 40-year
history, the Foundation has raised more than $425 million as
the leading non-governmental funder of retinal research.
With a network of 50 chapters, the Foundation also provides
free disease information and low vision resources to
affected individuals and their families. Most recently, a
breakthrough Foundation-funded study using gene therapy
restored significant vision in children and young adults who
were previously blind, paving the way for using this method
to treat a wide variety of retinal degenerative diseases,
and proving a cure is in sight.
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