The Chautauqua Blind Association will hold its 10th annual Dining in the Dark fundraiser on Friday, March 27, at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron.

Dining in the Dark is a unique experience of eating without seeing. Starting at 6 p.m., guests are invited to socialize, enjoy a cash bar and bid on silent auction items. Dinner seating begins at 6:30 p.m. where each guest will be blindfolded prior to being led by a sighted guide to their table for a three-course meal.

During the event, the Chautauqua Blind Association will be announcing the Dr. Tim Grace Sight for Success Program.

“The Chautauqua Blind Association has been providing free vision screenings throughout Chautauqua County for over 40 years,” said Lisa Goodell, executive director. “We have historically identified 14% to 16% of the children we screen to be experiencing vision problems and we began to notice that those same children were identified year after year as not passing the CBA Vision Screening and not receiving treatment for their vision problems. To address this situation, we created the Sight for Success Program in 2019. Following the untimely death of Dr. Timothy Grace, many individuals made donations and memorials in Tim’s name, asking that their donation reflect Tim’s passion of improving the eye health of our community. The perfect partnership was formed by combining Dr. Grace’s vision of eye health and the Chautauqua Blind Association’s Sight for Success Program. Therefore, at the 10th Annual Dining in the Dark, the CBA Sight for Success Program will become the Dr. Timothy Grace Sight for Success Program.”

Inaugurated in 2017, the Louise Tefft Award has been given to community members who have supported the Chautauqua Blind Association’s mission of enabling visually impaired people to be active members of their community and to provide education and services to prevent vision loss.

“Louise was a client of CBA for over 25 years and attributes all of the services she received from CBA to the fact that she was able to remain independent, in her home, for her entire life,” Goodell said. “This year’s award recipient will be Kathy and Tim Grace. Kathy supported CBA for many years including being an instrumental part in the Chautauqua Blind Association’s fundraising efforts. She helped CBA get involved with the JCC Occupational Therapy Assistant Program which provided sighted guides since inception of Dining in the Dark. Kathy also conceptualized the idea of the Wine and Art Auction as a second fundraiser and worked tirelessly on both events to make them successful. Dr. Tim Grace has supported the mission of CBA for countless years both financially and through advocacy for the blind and visually impaired.”

Reservations are $65 per person. Dinner options are a six-ounce filet mignon, stuffed chicken breast, miso glazed salmon and vegetable lasagna. Reservations are appreciated by Wednesday, March 18, at chautauquablind.org or by calling 664-6660.

Sponsors include UPMC Chautauqua, HomeTown Insurance, Weber Knapp, Chautauqua Chemical and Ahlstrom Schaefer.

“We are very proud that this annual fundraiser and awareness event has supported our Youth Vision Screening Program,” Goodell said.

“Ten years ago, when I presented this idea to our board of directors, many questioned whether it would be well received. They supported my idea and for 10 years now, it has provided funds to screen over 20,000 children.”

Donations for the silent auction are appreciated and can be dropped off up until the day of the event at The Chautauqua Blind Association, located at 510 W. Fifth St., Jamestown.

All event proceeds will support the Youth Vision Screening Program. In 2019, the Chautauqua Blind Association screened more than 4,000 children under the age of 6. More than 600 of these children were determined to have undiagnosed vision problems. Children are referred to area eye care professionals for further evaluations and/or treatment. The Chautauqua Blind Association’s goal is to provide the program free of charge to area children.

Those unable to attend but who want to support the mission of the Chautauqua Blind Association can make a tax-deductible donation online at chautauquablind.org or by sending a check to the Chautauqua Blind Association located at 510 W. Fifth St., Jamestown, NY.