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Orlando Chapter Highlights
Florida Today.com (Orlando, Fla.)
“Brave Satellite Beach Bowler Sees Beyond Blindness”
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110705/LIFE01/107050307/Brave-Satellite-Beach-bowler-sees-beyond-blindness
About the Orlando Chapter
The Orlando Chapter of the Foundation Fighting Blindness was founded in the early 1970s, making it one of the oldest chapters in the country. The chapter began with just a couple of affected families meeting to talk about their common interests and how they might support the newly formed Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation, which was the former name of the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
As new members of the local area joined the group, the chapter efforts led to the first fund-raising event, which was a golf tournament. In the late 1980s, a dinner/dance was added to the fund-raising activities. In the mid-1990s, the chapter switched its focus totally to a single dinner/dance event named "Dancing in the Dark."
When the Foundation launched its Visions 2012 plan Orlando was honored to host the Foundation's first VisionWalk in May 2006. The fundraising goal for this first event was set at $50,000, and thanks to the efforts of many involved people in the Orlando area, the event far exceeded expectations by raising over $100,000 and has continued to raise well over $100,000 annually.
Today, the chapter continues its efforts annually with the VisionWalk event, and reaches out to the greater Orlando area with science presentations and other awareness raising activities. The Orlando Chapter remains a strongly committed team of volunteers who make a significant contribution to the Foundation's mission of restoring sight to those affected by retinal disease.
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