Thank you to everyone who helped make this year's Dining in the Dark a success! Your generosity supports our mission. Special thanks to our premier sponsors IBM and Harding Brooks, keynote speaker John Bramblitt, Holiday Inn Binghamton, Bass & Brown music, and Van Zandbergen photography.
The night kicked off with reception in the Carousel Room. Guests were able to bid on various silent auction items such as a grill, tickets to local shows, autographed sports memorabilia, and much more. There was also an opportunity to purchase mystery bottles of wine of varying price points from our Wine Wall. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres were offered to guests and music was provided by Bass & Brown.
After the reception, the night moved to the Triple Cities Ballroom where guests were welcomed by Board Chairs Lou McKeage & Karen McMullen, followed by a video presentation showcasing employment at AVRE. After that was dinner, where guests had the opportunity to eat blindfolded in order to better understand the difficulties that blind and visually impaired individuals experience in their daily lives.
After dinner, our keynote speaker John Bramblitt presented. John is an incredibly talented artist from Denton, Texas whose art has been sold in over 100 countries and he has appeared internationally in print, TV and radio. He told us his story about losing his sight and how he discovered painting, using touch to distinguish colors and raised lines to guide him around the canvas. While telling his story, John was actively painting a portrait to be aucitoned off later in the night.
Following our keynote speaker, the night moved to the Live Auction, where a Solo Stove and the painting from John's presentation were auctioned off. This was followed by closing remarks from Board Chair Lou McKeage and AVRE CEO Kenny Fernald.
Because of your generosity, we were able to raise $47,000 to help fund our mission. If you still would like to make a donation and help us reach our $50,000 goal, please click here.
Thank you to the following contributors:
AVRE’s Dining in the Dark Committee
AVRE’s Vision Rehabilitation Staff
AVRE’s Board of Directors
AVRE’s Foundation Board of Directors
Ad Elements
Alecia Lashier
Bark Box
Beer Tree Brew
Binghamton Black Bears
Binghamton Philharmonic
Binghamton Rumble Ponies
Broome Steam
Broomes of Broome
Cheesecake Factory
Chris and Lori Brown
Cider Mill Playhouse
Corning Glass Museum
Cortese
Crystalline Concepts By Michele
Dickin Memorial Animal Hospital
Endicott Auto Zone
Energizer Basket
Greater Binghamton Limo
Hoffmans Car Wash
Holiday Inn Binghamton
Just Smash & Madd Splatter
Libby Murphy
Luigi and Lori DiRusso
Meowbox
Midway Lanes
Mountain Top Clambakes
NY Giants
Pleasant Valley Wine Co
Seneca Lake Wine Trail
Shear Heaven
Splash Car Wash
Strange Brew
Ti-Ahwaga Community Players
Tint Conditions
Tioga Downs
Tom’s Coffee Cards and Gifts
UHS Foundation
Vera Bradley Purse and Blanket
Vestal Walmart
Xcite Wrestling
Ziebart
and all of our wonderful sponsors, supporters and friends!