|
SUPERMARKET INDUSTRY LEADERS UNITE TO FIGHT BLINDNESS AT
‘A VISION FOR THE FUTURE’
Key Food Chief Executive Honored; $450K Raised
for Sight-Saving Research
The
Foundation Fighting Blindness, a national nonprofit
dedicated to sight-saving research, hosted its 2nd
Annual ‘Una Visión Para El
Futuro’ (A Vision for the Future) on Thursday, Jan. 17, at
Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows Park. Nearly 600
supermarket industry leaders came together to honor the
accomplishments and community involvement of Key Food Chief
Executive Dean Janeway, who was presented with the
Foundation’s Visionary Award. The event raised critical
awareness about retinal degenerative diseases and $450,000
toward research into preventions, treatments and cures.
Chairing the event for the second year
was Jason Ferreira, of New Hyde Park, NY, a Foundation
national trustee and first-generation Dominican American
whose family owns a group of Met Foodmarkets. His young son
JJ was born blind due to a rare genetic form of RP called
Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). Determined to help advance
research toward treatments and a cure, Ferreira has been a
passionate Foundation advocate since JJ’s diagnosis in 2010,
raising hundreds of thousands for innovative work that could
save his son’s sight.
“We’re thrilled to recognize the
support and leadership of Dean Janeway,” says Ferreira.
“Progress in gene therapy and stem cell-based clinical
trials gives us hope for a brighter future for JJ and the 10
million other families in America affected by blinding
retinal diseases. Leaders coming together for this important
cause is a true testament to the giving spirit of our
industry.”
Ferreira’s co-chair was Amie Kreisberg,
of Manhattan, who is motivated in the fight against
blindness because her stepson, Jeremy, has retinitis
pigmentosa (RP), an inherited disease that progressively
robs peripheral vision. Her grandfather was President of Key
Food in Brooklyn, and her father Lawrence Mandel currently
serves as chairman of the board. Emceeing this year’s event
was special guest, the reigning Mrs. World, April Lufriu,
who is devoted to vision-saving research and awareness
because she and her two children are also affected with RP.
As chief
executive of Key Food Stores Co-Operative since 2008,
Visionary Award Honoree Dean Janeway, of Morristown, NJ,
oversees the company’s 127 supermarkets in Metro New York.
He’s also held leadership positions at The Wm. Wrigley Jr.
Company and The Campbell Soup Company. The evening’s
Visionary Sponsors included Acosta Sales; Advantage Sales
Inc.; Allegiance Retail Services; Anchin, Block & Anchin;
Bozutto’s Inc.; C&S Produce; C&S Wholesale Grocers; CBA
Industries, Inc.; Farmland; Federated; Fresh Express;
Krasdale; Amie and Louis Kreisberg; Man-Dell Food Stores;
Nicotra; Procter & Gamble; RDD Associates Inc.; Ropes & Gray
LLP; Tropicana; and Wright Program Management.
About Foundation Fighting
Blindness
The
Foundation Fighting Blindness is a Columbia,
Maryland-based 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 over $500 million as the leading
non-governmental funder of 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,
and proving a cure is in sight. With a network of nearly 50
chapters, the Foundation also provides support, information
and resources to affected individuals and their families in
communities across the country.
|