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Foundation Fighting
Blindness To Recognize New York Visionaries At 'Building
Toward A Cure' Gala In Support Of Sight-Saving Research
Late NYC Disabilities Commissioner Matthew P. Sapolin
Honored for Lifetime Achievement
New York, NY - The Foundation Fighting
Blindness, a national nonprofit focused on driving
sight-saving research, will honor Ron Yeffet, president and
CEO, GSR Concrete Tov, LLC; and Karen Holopigian, Ph.D.,
research professor, Department of Ophthalmology, New York
University School of Medicine, with Visionary Awards at
Building Toward a Cure. The event, happening Wednesday,
March 7, at the Plaza Hotel, will raise critical research
funds toward preventions, treatments and cures for
vision-robbing retinal degenerative diseases like macular
degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa (RP), Usher syndrome, and
other related conditions.
"We're thrilled to recognize the
accomplishments of these visionaries who are passionate
about the fight against blindness," said William T. Schmidt,
CEO, Foundation Fighting Blindness. "Their support in
raising awareness and critical research funds gives hope to
the more than 10 million Americans living with
vision-robbing retinal diseases."
The Foundation will also present a Lifetime Achievement
Award in honor of the late Matthew P. Sapolin, who served as
the first-ever commissioner for the Mayor's Office for
People With Disabilities under the Bloomberg administration
from 2006 until he passed away from cancer on November 2011.
Blind from juvenile cancer of the eye, Sapolin's advocacy
for New York City's disabled led to a new mentorship
program, and pushed for more accommodating buildings, taxis
and sidewalks around the city. His wife Candra and their two
children, Trevor and Toscany, will accept Sapolin's Lifetime
Achievement Award on March 7.
Building Toward a Cure Dinner Chairs and
Foundation Fighting Blindness National Trustees Iris and
Rueven Spiegel became involved because their daughter Tali
is affected with RP, a retinal disease characterized by
night blindness and a progressive loss of peripheral vision.
Foundation-funded researchers in Israel have identified the
gene responsible for Tali's vision loss, which opens the
door for potential gene therapy and other treatments. Mr.
Spiegel, president and CEO of Israel Discount Bank, was
honored with the Foundation's Visionary Award in 2010. Also
chairing Building Toward a Cure is Foundation Fighting
Blindness Board Director and Paul Hastings Senior Council of
Corporate Development Daniel G. Bergstein, who has three
generations of family members affected with RP.
The Visionary Award will be presented to Ron Yeffet, a
leader in New York's construction industry who has owned or
managed the development of more than 32 projects over the
last 15 years. Born in Israel and the son of diplomats,
Yeffet has also been recognized by Jewish organizations for
his work in the community. Also being honored is Dr. Karen
Holopigian, whose research into electrophysiological
analysis of retinal disease has greatly contributed to the
field. She was also part of the team involved in Neurotech's
multicenter Phase II clinical trial using Encapsulated Cell
Technology (ECT) for the treatment of dry age-related
macular degeneration and early and late stage RP.
What: Building Toward a Cure, Benefiting the Foundation
Fighting Blindness
Where: The Plaza Hotel
Fifth Avenue at 58th Street
New York, NY 10019
When: Wednesday, March 7, 2012
6 p.m. Reception
7 p.m. Dinner & Awards
Individual tickets are available for $1,000 each and
sponsorship packages begin at $5,000. For ticket and
sponsorship information, contact Events Manager Jennie
Wexler at
JWexler@FightBlindness.org or (212) 244-1470
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. In its 40-year history, 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 wide 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.
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