Foundation To Host Chicago Visions Ball Sept. 22 to Benefit Sight-Saving Research

AutoTrader Group CEO Chip Perry will receive the Foundation’s Visionary Award

Chicago, IL (August 31, 2012) — The Foundation Fighting Blindness, a national nonprofit focused on vision-saving research, will host its biennial Visions Ball on Saturday, Sept. 22, to benefit cutting-edge research toward preventions, treatments and cures for sight-robbing retinal degenerative diseases including macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa (RP), Usher syndrome, and related conditions. Chip Perry, president and CEO of AutoTrader Group, will be presented with the Foundation’s Visionary Award for his accomplishments and support of the fight against blindness. Jimmy Tingle, regarded as one of the top social and political humorists in America, will entertain guests with his stand-up comedy routine. A live auction will feature vacation packages, as well as internships at Mesirow Financial and Leo Burnett.

“We’re thrilled to recognize Chip Perry’s community stewardship and innovation in the online space, as we come together to raise awareness and research funds for blinding diseases,” says Foundation Fighting Blindness Board Member and Event Co-Chair Nancy Pollak, of Hinsdale, IL, whose husband Dale has Stargardt disease. “Progress in gene therapy clinical trials and other areas of research, such as restoring significant vision in over 40 children and young adults, gives hope to the more than 10 million Americans, young and old, who are affected with retinal diseases.”

Visionary Award Honoree Chip Perry laid the foundation for what today is the world’s largest automotive marketplace. Prior to joining AutoTrader Group, Perry was vice president of corporate development for the Times Mirror company and vice president of new business development for the Los Angeles Times, where he launched one of the first major online newspaper services later known as LATimes.com.  

Co-chairing the Visions Ball are Martha and Tom Bernardin, Nancy and Dale Pollak, and Linda and Richard Price, with Ira Schulman serving as Honorary Chair. Each knows the impact of retinal disease: Tom Bernardin, CEO of Leo Burnett Worldwide, is motivated to advance sight-saving research because he has two nieces and a nephew affected with Stargardt disease. Richard Price, chairman and CEO of Mesirow Financial, also has a nephew affected with retinitis pigmentosa.

Individual tickets are available for $500 each and sponsorship packages begin at $5,000. For ticket and sponsorship information, contact Michele DiVincenzo This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 847-680-0100. To request media credentials or coordinate an interview with an event spokesperson, contact Allie Gebhardt at 410-423-0643 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

About Foundation Fighting Blindness

The Foundation Fighting Blindness is a national nonprofit driving research that will lead to preventions, treatments and cures for retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher syndrome and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases that affect more than 10 million Americans. Since 1971, the Foundation has raised more than $450 million as the leading non-governmental funder of retinal research. Breakthrough Foundation-funded studies using gene therapy have restored significant vision in children and young adults who were previously blind, paving the way for using this method to treat a variety of retinal degenerative diseases, and proving a cure is in sight. With a network of nearly 50 chapters, the Foundation also provides support and resources to affected individuals and their families in communities across the country.