Charlotte, NC (August 16, 2011) — The Foundation Fighting Blindness, a national nonprofit that drives sight-saving research, will honor NASCAR all-time winner Richard Petty and Speedway Motorsports and Sonic Automotive Chairman & CEO O. Bruton Smith with Visionary Awards at the inaugural North Carolina Dining in the Dark. The unique event will take place from 6-9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 11, at the Ritz-Carlton in Charlotte.
Richard Petty lets Bruton Smith try the hat on for size. - Photo Credit: CMS/Harold Hinson Photography (HHP)
Dining in the Dark is a distinctive sensory awareness experience in which guests participate in an unforgettable dining adventure, in complete darkness. For 30 minutes, attendees will enjoy their entrée using only their senses of smell, sound, taste, and touch, to get a glimpse into the lives of the blind. Visually impaired servers, who are trained specifically for the dinner to use a system of ropes and stanchions, will help guests navigate through this new culinary journey. The NASCAR community will come together at Dining in the Dark to honor two visionary industry leaders for their accomplishments and dedication to advancing blindness research.
Dining in the Dark will benefit the Foundation Fighting Blindness, whose urgent mission is to drive the research that will lead to preventions, treatments and cures for the more than 10 million Americans affected with retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher syndrome and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases.
What: North Carolina Dining in the Dark
Where: Ritz-Carlton
201 East Trade St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
When: Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011
6-7 p.m. Reception
7-9:30 p.m. Dinner & Awards
Cost: $350 per ticket
For more event information, sponsorship opportunities, or to buy tickets, visit www.FightBlindness.org/DiningInTheDark or contact Events Director Jennifer Assaff at JAssaff@FightBlindness.org or 919-781-8014.
- Foundation Fighting Blindness, Press Release
