Dinner in the Dark
Two blindfolded guests talking and enjoying
wine while waiting to be seatedOn Friday, October 23, 2009 we had our first fundraiser at the Yakima Arboretum. It was a “Dinner in the Dark” with silent auction. All guests dined blindfolded to experience what it might be like to live without sight. Guides were on hand to seat them and provide assistance as needed during the meal. Proceeding the dinner was a social hour with free wine, hors d’oeuvres and silent auction.
The event was a big success thanks to all the wonderful and generous support we received from the community. This year we kept the event small as it was our first time to organize such a fundraiser and we knew it would be a learning 
Everybody is blindfolded and seated in the dining roomexperience. Fortunately, we had no problems selling the 64 tickets, we printed. All the guests we talked to told us that they had a great time. Many asked if we will do this fundraiser again next year as they wanted to come again and bring colleagues, family members or friends. That was wonderful to hear!
One of our guests was Erin Snelgrove, reporter for the Yakima Herald Repulic, who published a very nice article about the event on Monday, October 26th. It can be found online.
We are very happy and proud that the event was so well received and would like to thank the following businesses, organizations and individuals, who played a vital role in making it such a big success:
2009 Event Sponsors
Two Yakima Lions Club volunteers are serving
appetizers and wineMain Event Sponsor: Special recognition and thanks to the Yakima Lions Club for sponsoring a major part of the expense of the evening.
Additional Event Sponsor: Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute
Decorations: The Findery, Dave and Donna Brown and Schell’s Produce.
Dessert: Cascade Eye Center
Coffee: Starbucks
Wine: Wine Glass Cellars and Greg Nelson/Elisabeth Tutsch
Non-alcoholic Beverages: Wray’s Thriftway
Program Printing: Abbott’s Printing Inc.
Volunteers
The musician joins the fun and plays his
synthesizer blindfoldedMC: Tricia Eyerly (Services for the Blind)
Decorating Committee: Daphne Martin, Tricia Eyerly, Karla Jessen (all with Services for the Blind) and Donna Brown
Music: Dave Polage on the synthesizer
Event staff: Yakima Lions Club Members: Cindy Card, Richard Elliott, Cheryl Legowik, Jan Larin, Steve Noble, Debbie Poole, Yvonne Schnellbach, Doug Larin, and Linda De Young.
Basket Arrangements: Gayle Downey
Website Advertisement: Danielle Surkatty (Yakindo Web Designs)
Donors to Silent Auction Baskets
(All baskets were handmade and donated by Bill Smedley)
Animal Medical Center, Selah
Ballesteri’s Coffee House
One very generous guest buys lots of 50/50 raffle ticketsBarry Walters, golf pro with Yakima Elks Golf Club
Ben Graf, Central Washington Insurance
Betty King, King Distribution
Bill Carruthers, CIBA Vision
Cascade Eye Center
Carol Young, HOYA Vision Care, Tacoma
Daphne Martin, Services for the Blind
Dave and Donna Brown
Dean Laurvick, RiverRidge Golf Course
Drewbie’ Doghouse
El Rincon Restaurant
Essencia Artisan Bakery
Greg Nelson, JD, Prediletto, Halpin, Scharnikow & Nelson
Gwen’s Place
Guests get to take their blindfolds off after
guessing what's for dessertInklings Bookstore
Jon Kinloch, Apple Tree Golf Course
Lincoln Avenue Espresso
Linda Roth, State Farm Insurance
Martha Alvarez, Hair Café, Union Gap
Mary Jepsen, OTR/L, Memorial Hospital
Maureen Mould, MS, Motivational & Humorous Speaker
Norma Benson and Paul Huffman
Paul Cobleigh, golf pro, Suntides Golf Course
Revolution Cycles
Richard Graf, Graf Investments
Robert Gibbs, Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute
Russell Creek Winery
Sagelands Winery
Sarah Key Storrs O.D., Family Eye Clinics, Ellensburg
and Cle Elum
Guests in the room with the silent auction itemsSelah Vision Clinic
Starbucks
Taj Palace
Team Sales Cycling, Portland, OR
Teresa Cook, Spa Naturelle
Tieton Drive Animal Clinic
Tyler Schultz, WestWood West Golf Course
Unconventional Medicinals, Guadalupe, CA
Valley Cycling & Fitness
Tyler Schultz, Westwood West Golf Course
White Pass, Inc.
Yakima Valley Schwinn
 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 |