2010 Dinner in the Dark

Vision for Independence Center held its 2nd annual fundraiser, a Dinner in the Dark, on October 15th, 2010 at the Yakima Valley Museum. Thanks to the generous support of businesses and community members, the 2010 fundraiser was an even greater success than the one in 2009. 120 blindfolded guests attended our event. They enjoyed a delicious meal while learning and sharing in this unique experience.  What a joy it was to hear the laughter and watch guests master this new challenge of dining without sight. Together we raised over $7,200!

The evening began with hors d’oeuvres as well as wine, which was donated by Wineglass Cellars. Two talented young singers from West Valley High School entertained the guests as they bid on over 50 donated silent auction items. As dinnertime rolled around, guests were blindfolded and guided to their tables by volunteers from Yakima, West Valley, Naches and Naches Sunshine Lions Clubs. Guests enjoyed the beautiful floral centerpieces donated by the Findery.

The funds raised will allow us to continue offering low vision examinations and equipment to people regardless of their finances.  Your support will also help us to reach our current goals of expanding the selection of low vision devices and extending clinic and store hours to better serve our patients and their families.

Two Lions are selling raffle tickets to guests2010 Event Sponsors

Platinum Sponsor (Over $1000)
Yakima Lions Club (downtown)

Gold Sponsor ($750-999)
Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute

Silver Sponsor ($500-749)
Dr. Richard Ehlers, Ophthalmologist
Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital

Guests are enjoying their hors d’oeuvresBronze Sponsor ($250-499)
Cascade Eye Center 

Special Thanks
Abbott’s Printing, Inc.
Ben Graf, Central Washington Insurance
Linda Roth, State Farm Insurance
Market Place Deli
New Hope Industries
Richard Graf, Graf Investments
Schell’s Produce
Starbucks

Guests are being greeted at check-in tableThe Findery
Wine Glass Cellars

Table Sponsors
Bruce Heiser, MorganStanley SmithBarney
Ellensburg Les Schwab Tire Center
Greg Nelson of Prediletto, Halpin, Scharnikow & Nelson
Mountainview Home Health

Volunteers

A Lions volunteer is serving water to
blindfolded guests at tableMC: Tricia Eyerly

Music: Bonnie Blanchard and Anna Wilson with piano accompaniment by Mrs. Danene Knudsen

Event Staff: Members from the Yakima Lions Club, West Valley Lions Club, Naches Lions Club and Naches Sunshine Lions Club

Decorations of Silent Auction Items: Gayle Downey

Website: Danielle Surkatty, Yakindo Web Designs

Donors to Silent Auction Baskets

Two blindfolded guests are having fun
while being guided to their tableAmy Ice, Mary Kay Cosmetics
Ballesteri’s Coffee House
Barry Walters, Elk’s Golf Course
Bill Smedley
Billie DeWilde
Bruce Heiser, MorganStanley SmithBarney
Byron Thomas
Capitol Theatre
Carey Motors
Cascade Eye Center
Daphne Martin, Washington State Services for the Blind
Dean Laurvick, River Ridge Golf Course
Dr. Doran Riehl, DDS
Ed Reeves
Eileen Williams, GCFP, Walkabout: Movement Education
Fritz Glover, Loma Linda Orchards

Lions are blindfolding guestsGaye McCarthy, Felted Wood Designs by Gaye
Glassworks by Babs
Green Baron, Inc.
Inklings Bookshop
Jane Parsons, Creatively Twisted Jewelry
Jill Cunningham, Hands-On Art
Jim & Colleen Collins, Cascade Winery
Martha Alvarez, Hair Café, Union Gap
Mary Kraining and Rosie Steele
Michelle Morris, Jewelry Artist
Norma Benson and Paul Huffman
'Ohana, Memorial’s Mammography Center

Anna Wilson, one of our volunteer singersOlive Garden
Outback Steak House
Paul Cobleigh, golf pro, Suntides Golf Course
Paul Rogers, WestWood West Golf Course
Piety Flats Winery
Patrick Coleman, Desperation Ridge Winery
Portteus Winery
Rexford Retirement Community
Selah Tire Company
Selah Vision Clinic
Starbucks
Taj Palace

Blindfolded guests are concentrating hard
while eating their saladThe Springs, Memorial Rehabilitation
and Occupational Medicine
Tieton Drive Animal Clinic
Tracy Engles
White Pass, Inc.
Windy Point Vineyards
Wray’s, Inc.
Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital

Pictures from the 2009 event

Two blindfolded guests talking and enjoying wine while waiting to be seated	Two Yakima Lions Club volunteers are serving appetizers and wine
One very generous guest buys lots of 50/50 raffle tickets	The musician joins the fun and plays his synthesizer blindfolded
Guests get to take their blindfolds off after guessing what's for dessert	Guests in the room with the silent auction items
Blindfolded guests are having a lively discussion during dinner	A Yakima Lions Club volunteer guides 2 blindfolded guests into the dining room
And another blindfolded guest is guided to her table	The MC is sharing a laugh with a blindfolded guest during dinner while collecting donations for VIC