Share the Vision: St. Louis Society for the Blind & Visually Impaired Hosts The Visionary Gala on April 13, 2013

ST. LOUIS, MO, March 14, 2013 (Press-News.org) Join leaders in business, medicine, media, philanthropy and social work as St. Louis Society for the Blind & Visually Impaired (http://www.SLSBVI.org) hosts The Visionary Gala awards dinner on Saturday, April 13, 2013, at The Palladium Saint Louis.

The Society's Visionary Gala will feature a cocktail reception, dinner and wine service, superb desserts, and a presentation of the internationally distinguished Leslie Dana Gold Medal. Music will be provided by Silk Pajamas. Society Visionary Awards for community service also will be presented. Dr. Nicholas and Mrs. Sabra Engelbrecht are chairing the event and are joined by sponsors AT&T, Northern Trust, Bethesda Health Group and Nidec Motors.

Douglas D. Koch, M.D., a foremost scholar, clinician, surgeon and Professor of Ophthalmology who is The Allen, Mosbacher, and Law Chair of Ophthalmology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, will be the 63rd recipient of the distinguished Leslie Dana Gold Medal. The Leslie Dana Gold Medal has been awarded by the Society since 1925 to many of the world's most highly respected scholars and clinicians for commendable service in eyesight research, ophthalmology, vision sciences and social services.

The Visionary Gala will occur at The Palladium Saint Louis located at the revitalized City Hospital complex at 1400 Park Place in Historic Lafayette Square, St. Louis, Missouri 63104. The evening is black tie optional.

Dr. Robert Drews is Honorary Chair of the Visionary Gala. The Society's Drews Low Vision Clinic is named in honor of Dr. Drews and his late father, Dr. Leslie Drews, who helped lead and guide the Society as members of the Board of Directors and Advisory Board for many years. Dr. Robert Drews said, "The Society is a vital community asset that helps children, adults and seniors overcome vision challenges and discover new ways of living, working and enriching their lives."

Society President David Ekin, ACSW, LCSW, said, "The Society is proud of our 101-year heritage of providing programs and services for blind and visually impaired people and their families in greater St. Louis. The Visionary Gala celebrates our nonprofit service tradition."

Chris Pickel, Chair of the Society Board of Directors, added, "The Visionary Gala will be an enjoyable occasion for celebrating the Society's unique role of serving people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired. Presentation of the Leslie Dana Gold Medal to Dr. Douglas Koch will be a great highlight honoring his career as a renowned scholar, teacher and surgeon."

The Visionary Gala begins with a cocktail reception at 6:00 p.m. Dinner and wine follow with presentations of the Leslie Dana Gold Medal Award, the James Butler Award and, the Student of Achievement Award. Charlie Brennan, local radio and television personality, will receive the James Butler Award for his efforts to ensure the State of Missouri maintained a health care program for low income blind individuals. Sierra Gregg, a visually impaired student at Truman State University, will receive the Student of Achievement Award for her efforts in making historical documents from the U.S. Presidential Libraries & Archives digitally accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired.

The Visionary Gala tickets are $175 per person. A portion of the ticket price is tax deductible. Underwriting options that are tax deductible are available.

For reservations or sponsorship information, please call the Society at 314.968.9000 or visit the website http://www.SLSBVI.org.

Founded in 1911, the not-for-profit St. Louis Society for the Blind & Visually Impaired enhances independence, empowers individuals and enriches the lives of people who are blind and visually impaired and their families. Its caring, committed staff provides specialized Vision Rehabilitation, Orientation & Mobility, Adaptive Education, Assistive Technology, Children's Services and Support Services. It provides older adults who are newly visually impaired or blind due to age-related eye conditions with home-based services, specialized agency services and community activities. It also renders services to school-age students in Illinois and Missouri. It is the only agency of its kind serving greater St. Louis, and the second oldest of its kind west of the Mississippi River.

For more information about Society programs and activities, please visit the Society website at http://SLSBVI.org/ or call David Ekin at 314.968.9000. The Palladium phone is 314 799 8886. Media relations contact: Jeff Dunlap at 314.993.6925.

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