Foundation Fighting Blindness Receives $400,000 Grant from the W.K Kellogg Foundation for Retinal Disease Awareness

Columbia, MD - February 1, 2011 - The Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB, www.FightBlindness.org) announces it has received a $400,000 grant from the Battle Creek, Mi.-based W.K. Kellogg Foundation to fund public health education and outreach programs related to vision-robbing retinal degenerative diseases. Funded over the next two years, the grant will focus on strengthening the Foundation Fighting Blindness’ nationwide network of chapters to better equip them for local outreach and awareness efforts.

“The generous funding we receive from foundations like the W.K. Kellogg Foundation is critical to providing education and support to the more than 10 million Americans affected by sight-stealing retinal diseases,” said Bill Schmidt, chief executive officer, Foundation Fighting Blindness. “This grant will enable us to enhance local support across our 50 volunteer-led chapters while Foundation-funded researchers are advancing preventions, treatments and cures for these devastating diseases.”

The grant funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation will help sustain the Foundation Fighting Blindness’ Public Health Education and Outreach Program to address the needs of those living with retinal diseases and their families. These vision-robbing diseases are often first diagnosed in infants and children. In addition to overarching chapter development, grant-supported public awareness initiatives include:

• Print and web communications that include disease information, resources and research progress
• Free Vision Seminars for families living with retinal degenerative diseases
• Public service announcements to raise awareness about retinal diseases and available resources

Established in 1930, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation supports children, families and communities as they strengthen and create conditions that propel vulnerable children to achieve success as individuals and as contributors to the larger community and society. Grants are concentrated in the United States, southern Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Foundation Fighting Blindness (www.FightBlindness.org) is the largest source of non-governmental funding for retinal degenerative disease research in the world. The urgent mission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness is to drive the research that will provide preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases.