St. Louis Society for the Blind & Visually Impaired Celebrates Centennial at Gala Dinner on April 9

March 7, 2011 - PRLog -- St. Louis, Missouri… The public is invited to join leaders in medicine, business, sports, philanthropy, education and local government as they help the St. Louis Society for the Blind & Visually Impaired celebrate its 100th Anniversary with a gala VIP reception and awards dinner on Saturday, April 9, 2011 in downtown St. Louis.

Themed “Celebrate a Century: EnVISION the Future”, the gala will feature a champagne and cocktail reception, gourmet dinner and wine service, sumptuous desserts, a “Box of Air” auction, live music for dancing and, also, presentations of the internationally distinguished Leslie Dana Gold Medal.  Society Legacy Awards for individual commitments to eye research and community service also will be presented.

Don Marsh, veteran TV news anchor and current host of KWMU-FM radio’s “St. Louis on the Air” program, will be the evening’s master of ceremonies. The event will be hosted in the Arch View Ballroom at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark at One South Broadway, St. Louis, 63102.

William O. DeWitt, III, President of the St. Louis Cardinals, is Honorary Chairman of the Society’s 100th Anniversary Celebrations in 2011. Mr. DeWitt said, “The Society is an integral asset for our community that helps thousands of children, adults and senior citizens overcome vision challenges and discover new ways of living, working, and enriching their lives.

“I sincerely look forward to helping the Society celebrate its centennial year at this gala fundraising dinner, and welcome all who can attend,” Mr. DeWitt said.

Sheila Sweeney, Vice Chair of the Society Board of Directors and Chair of 100th Anniversary Year Celebrations, said, “We are very enthusiastic about celebrating the Society’s centennial year with this gala awards dinner. It is a unique and enjoyable event that helps support the Society’s vital service mission of serving blind and visually impaired people of all ages.”

“Celebrate a Century: EnVISION the Future” begins with the champagne and cocktail reception at 6:00 p.m. Dinner and wine service begins at 7:15 p.m., followed by presentations of the esteemed Leslie Dana Gold Medal Award which the Society has awarded since 1925 and, also, Society Legacy Awards. Classic rock dance music by the popular group Jasha and The Sixty Minute Men will begin at 9:00 p.m. Dress for the evening is black-tie optional.

Society President David Ekin, ACSW, LCSW, said, “The Society is very proud of our heritage of providing programs and services for blind and visually impaired people and their families in metro St. Louis since 1911. We are excited about making new friends and celebrating with our patrons at this festive event for people in all walks of life.”

Tickets for “Celebrate a Century: EnVISION” the Future” at $175 per person include free parking, reserved table seating at the reception and dinner, open bar access until 11:00 PM, plus live music and dancing until 11:30 pm. Dinner sponsorships at various levels for corporations and businesses are available.

For reservations or sponsorship information, please call the Society at 314.968.9000 or visit the website http://www.SLSBVI.org.

Founded in 1911, the St. Louis Society for the Blind & Visually Impaired enhances independence, empowers individuals and enriches the lives of people who are blind and visually impaired and their families. Its committed staff provides specialized Vision Rehabilitation, Orientation & Mobility, Adaptive Education, Assistive Technology, Children’s Services and Support Services. It provides older adults who are newly visually impaired or blind due to age-related eye conditions with home-based services, specialized agency services and community activities. It also renders services to school-age students in Illinois and Missouri. It is the only agency of its kind serving greater St. Louis, and the second oldest of its kind west of the Mississippi River.

For more information about Society activities and sponsorship opportunities, please see the Society website at http://SLSBVI.org/ or call David Ekin at 314.968.9000. Media relations contact: Jeff Dunlap at 314.993.6925.

* * *

# # #

Founded in 1911, the St. Louis Society for the Blind & Visually Impaired enhances independence, empowers individuals and enriches the lives of people who are blind and visually impaired and their families. Its committed staff provides specialized Vision Rehabilitation, Orientation & Mobility, Adaptive Education, Assistive Technology, Children’s Services and Support Services. It provides older adults who are newly visually impaired or blind due to age-related eye conditions with home-based services, specialized agency services and community activities. It also renders services to school-age students.