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The Foundation
Fighting Blindness, a national nonprofit driving
research to save and restore sight, honored footwear
industry icons, Libby
and Sam Edelman, and Cipriani Accessories Founder, Evan
Mittman, with its Visionary Award at the 4th Annual New
York City Fashion Ball. With the theme of 'designing a
brighter tomorrow,' the gala united 250 industry leaders on
Tuesday, May 13, at The Plaza Hotel, to celebrate the
honorees extraordinary accomplishments in fashion. The
event, which raised more than $360,000, benefits
cutting-edge research into preventions, treatments and cures
for retinal degenerative diseases, such as macular
degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. Serving as Master of
Ceremonies was Michael Atmore, editorial director of
Footwear News.
"Our distinguished Visionary Award recipients
have truly left their mark on how people accessorize and
express themselves through fashion," says Dinner Chair, Kay
White, vice president of Dillard's. "We're thrilled to
recognize their major industry impact, while shining light
on the work of the Foundation Fighting Blindness to help the
millions of Americans who are living in darkness and
awaiting a cure."
Visionary Award honorees Libby and Sam
Edelman, of Sherman, Connecticut, have been a dominant force
in fashion for decades, making an indelible impact on some
of the most renowned contemporary footwear brands over the
past 30 years. After making significant contributions to
companies such as Kenneth Cole and Esprit, Sam Edelman and
his wife Libby launched their first company and eponymous
brand, Sam & Libby, in 1987. Later, the Edelmans came out of
retirement when they recognized the need for
fashion-forward, affordable footwear for the everyday woman,
and the Sam
Edelman brand
was launched in 2004. Expanding to handbags, outerwear,
jewelry, and soon, apparel, the Edelman team continues to
create must-have fashions that are seen everywhere from
magazines to celebrities? soles. The Sam Edelman brand is
owned by Brown Shoe Company.
Also receiving the Visionary Award was
Armonk, New York, resident Evan Mittman, founder of Cipriani
Accessories, which offers top brands to customers around
the world. Also a member of the Foundation Fighting
Blindness board of directors, Mittman has lost significant
vision to a rare retinal disease for which there is no cure.
Since being diagnosed at age 19, Mittman overcame the
challenges to build one of the largest companies in the
accessories industry, despite the traditionally visual
nature of the business. He and his family have supported the
efforts of the Foundation Fighting Blindness for many years,
and are now more hopeful than ever thanks to an era of
clinical trials evaluating gene, stem cell-based and
pharmaceutical therapies. Ongoing human studies in gene
therapy have even restored significant sight to dozens of
children and young adults who were previously blind.
About Foundation Fighting Blindness
The Foundation
Fighting Blindness is
a national non-profit organization driving the 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
more than 10 million Americans. Since 1971, the Foundation
has raised nearly $550 million as the leading
non-governmental funder of inherited retinal research.
Breakthrough Foundation-funded studies using gene therapy
have restored significant vision in children and young
adults who were previously blind, paving the way for
additional clinical trials to treat a variety of retinal
degenerative diseases. With a coveted four-star rating from
Charity Navigator, the Foundation also has nearly 50
chapters that provide support, information and resources to
affected individuals and their families in communities
across the country.
About
Brown Shoe Company
Brown Shoe Company is
a $2.5 billion, global footwear company whose shoes are worn
by people of all ages, from all walks of life. Our products
are available virtually everywhere ? in the over 1,200
Famous Footwear and Naturalizer retail stores we operate, in
hundreds of major department and specialty stores, on 14
branded ecommerce sites, and on many additional third-party
retail websites. Through our broad range of products, we
serve three key market segments with our Family, Healthy
Living and Contemporary Fashion brands. For style-conscious
consumers who demand up-to-the-second fashion footwear, we
offer Via Spiga, Vince, Sam Edelman, Franco Sarto, Carlos
Santana and Fergie Footwear brands.
These high-quality, beautifully crafted and authentically
designed shoes keeps fashionistas in step with the latest
trends. At Brown Shoe Company, we inspire people to feel
good and live better... feet first!
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