FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
When: Thursday, September 15, 5:30pm-8:30pm
What: Dining in the Dark 2022
Where: Hyatt Regency Buffalo
VIA: VISUALLY IMPAIRED ADVANCEMENT TO HOST ITS ANNUAL FUNDRAISER: DINING IN THE DARK
Buffalo, NY – VIA: Visually Impaired Advancement (formerly known as Olmsted Center for Sight and the Buffalo Blind Association) will be hosting our estimated 500 attendees’ annual event, Dining in the Dark, on Thursday, September 15th, from 5:30-8:30pm at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo. Attendees will enjoy an evening of cocktails, food, raffles, auctions, a keynote speech, and more. Dining in the Dark is our only fundraiser and our signature event where guests face the unique challenge of dining blindfolded. The purpose of this event is to raise both awareness and dollars to support programs and services offered by VIA.
The evening will begin at 5:30pm, with VIA’s cocktail and hors d’oeuvres. During this time, guests can enter to win one of our many silent auction and raffle items, like assorted prize baskets, gift certificates, wine, liquor, and much more.
At 7pm, dinner will be served. Guests will be blindfolded as they are guided by one of VIA’s rehabilitation staff on how to eat their meals. The dinner will feature a guest speaker and videos of clients and employees of VIA. VIA will feature an exciting live auction with large, big-ticket items, including a private cooking class for ten, Cajun dinner for eight, dinner and clay shooting for four, tickets to one of this season’s Bills games, and a signed Josh
Allen jersey.
Join VIA for a night to help educate people on the journeys and experiences of VIA’s clients who live with visual impairments and how VIA helped them find their pathways to independence!
Tickets to the event can be purchased at viawny.org/dd2022.
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About VIA: Visually Impaired Advancement – There is no denying a diagnosis with vision changes or visual loss can present challenges. However, it does not change who you are, what you believe, or what you want to accomplish. For over 100 years, VIA: Visually Impaired Advancement has provided rehabilitation and social services to individuals in Western New York who are visually impaired. We pride ourselves on being a comprehensive resource for people experiencing vision loss or who are legally blind to help them adapt to new ways of independence. Our team of vision professionals will customize services to help you manage vision loss at any age. To learn more, visit viawny.org.
Media Contact:
Samantha Burfiend
Marketing and Communications Manager
VIA: Visually Impaired Advancement
sburfiend@viawny.org | 716-888-4564
Secondary Media Contact:
Dominic Lauricella
Marketing Assistant
VIA: Visually Impaired Advancement
dlauricella@viawny.org |716-888-4636