Thank you to everyone who helped make this year's celebration of our 100-year anniversary at Dining in the Dark a huge success! Dining the dark is an opportunity forpeople in our community who are not blind to pause, share a meal, and experience what it’s like to have vision loss.
The evening kicked off with a cocktail hour reception and the sweet sounds of Los Ciegos Del Barrio reverberating in the background. Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and refreshments while mingling and bidding on various silent auction items such as outdoor cooking equipment, tickets to local experiences, autographed sports memorabilia, and much more. A highlight among the giving opportunities was the Wine Wall, where guests could purchase mystery bottles of varying caliber, alongside a premium whiskey raffle featuring limited-release selections, donated by Chris Maxwell. BeerTree brewery and Clover winery offered tasting stations highlighting their selections and elevating the experience.
After the reception, attendees moved to the Triple Cities Ballroom where guests were welcomed by AVRE Board of Directors Chair Keith Jamba, Foundation Chair Nancy Dorfman and President and CEO of AVRE Kenny Fernald. Continued by a video presentation, AVRE Through the Eras, celebrating our achievements over the last century. Next Allyson, from our Vision Rehabilitation team made a few remarks and offered guests tips and tricks for dining with low vision, including an introduction to continental (UK-style) and cut and switch (US-style) dining etiquette.
Following the opening program, it was time to put on our blindfolds and enjoy a meal shrouded in darkness to better understand the difficulties that blind and visually impaired individuals experience in their daily lives. During the meal, our Vision Rehabilitation Services team walked around to every table, sharing vision rehabilitation tips and tricks to help guests with their meals.
Once the blindfolds came off, guests were given the opportunity to learn more about the services AVRE provides, costs associated with administration, and to bid to offset. Among the other philanthropic features of the evening, the Services Auction was educational and very inspiring. Proceeds from the auction support essential services such as a month of vision rehabilitation or magnification tools.
The evening continued with a keynote address from Lise Pace, Executive Vice President, BOSMA Enterprises. Lise shared her personal journey after experiencing sudden vision loss due to retinitis pigmentosa. With humor and honesty, she described receiving her diagnosis and navigating her departure from the workforce. Following her discovery of BOSMA Lise discovered a wonderful community of people, started volunteering, and was eventually recruited by AmeriCorps VISTA. Over time, she rose to executive leadership and now serves in her current role. Her story is one of resilience, shifting from a world of limitations to one of opportunity and the transformative power of community.
At this time the evening transitioned to the Live Auction. Guests bid on an Ooni Outdoor Pizza Oven Bundle donated by Libby O’Connor and Traeger Pro Series 34 Smoker and Grill donated by Binghamton Agway and QCI Wealth Enhancement, with a surprise bottle of limited-release Penelope Bourbon, donated by Mike Rogers, to sweeten the deal.
Through your generosity, we raised $80,000 in support of our mission, bringing us closer to our $100,000 goal. Most importantly, the evening fostered a deeper sense of understanding, empathy, and connection among all who attended. We are so grateful to our event sponsors and all our donors who supported this milestone celebration.
Special thank you to our vendors, Terry Burke for providing all of our Lighting, Audio and Visual needs for the evening, Van Zandbergen Photography for capturing the night, Vloom Balloons for the wonderful balloon accents and Bloom Wall Events for the gorgeous floral photo wall. We would also like to thank Johnson City Wine and Liquor for providing the table wine for our guests.
If you would like to make a donation and help us reach our goal, please click here. Together, we can continue to empower individuals with vision loss and build a more inclusive community.
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