Dining in the Dark – An enlightening experience
Posted In Categories: In the News
October 25, 2016
DINING IN THE DARK OFFERS AN ENLIGHTENING EXPERIENCE
Vision Forward hosts 9th annual sensory experience to raise awareness of blindness and visual impairment.
Milwaukee, WI – Guests of Dining in the Dark will be treated to an elegant, four-course meal at Milwaukee’s Bacchus restaurant – all while blind folded. The event, which is hosted by Vision Forward Association, a nonprofit organization with a 97 year commitment to supporting people who are blind or visually impaired, will take place on Sunday, November 6, 2016. Proceeds from the dinner will help fund support, training, therapy and education options for children, youth, adults and seniors impacted by vision loss.
“This unique experience calls attention to the challenges people with vision loss face and the adaptations that allow them to be successful and independent. This event also helps raise critical funds that support our mission,” Terri Davis, Executive Director. Vision Forward is the only full‐service organization serving Southeastern Wisconsin; clients travel from as far as northern Wisconsin for the exceptional expertise and programs.
Guests of this year’s event will hear the story of Ian Kloehn, a Marquette biomedical sciences student, intramural soccer player, marathon runner – who has been legally blind since birth. Ian has led an impressive life, but what inspires so many people that meet Ian is his sincere nature to help others, focusing on creating opportunities for youth with vision loss to have equal opportunities.
“I have been proud to partner with Vision Forward. They helped me take my vision of creating a sports camp for youth with vision loss and made it a reality,” stated Ian. With Ian’s determination and passion, Vision Forward launched its first ever Youth Sports Camp in 2015 allowing youth to have the chance to participate in a variety of sporting activities, just like their sighted peers.
Growing corporate sponsor support for Dining in the Dark includes: Cardinal Capital Management, Inc., IB Milwaukee, BMO Harris Bank, Medical College of WI – Eye Institute, Baird, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, PNC Bank, SVA, DentaQuest, MGIC, Professional Construction Inc., Air Technologies, MSI General, Badger Alloys, E2 Retirement Services, R&R Insurance and Vanda Pharmaceuticals.
The numbers surrounding vision loss are unsettling.
- Every 7 minutes, someone in the U.S. permanently loses his or her vision; there is an estimated 314 million visually impaired people worldwide.
- As many as 200,000 people in Wisconsin are blind or visually impaired.
- By 2030, the number of Americans affected by age‐related blindness is expected to double.
- 70% of school-age children who are blind have NEVER participated in any sport or physical activity.
- An astonishing 70% of people who are blind are unemployed.
- Vision Forward is the only organization providing comprehensive vision loss support and programs for people of all ages in Wisconsin.
For more information, call Dena Fellows, Marketing Director, 414.615.0134 or dfellows@vision-forward.org.
About Vision Forward
Vision Forward is a 501C nonprofit organization devoted to empowering, educating and enhancing the lives of individuals impacted by vision loss through all of life’s transitions. Vision Forward offers support, education and training and a full spectrum of programs uniquely designed to build confidence and independence for people of all ages living with vision loss. For more information about our mission, please visit www.vision-forward.org