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The Lighthouse for the Blind celebrated its fifth annual spring benefit, “An Evening Benefiting Lighthouse for the Blind,” on March 24. Guests gathered at Arnaud’s for some exquisite food and cocktails, including shrimp and grits, herb-roasted pork loin with dirty rice, turtle soup and pasties stuffed with boudin. While dining, the Jerry Embree Trio Jazz Band entertained the crowd of more than 100.
Also unique to this celebration was the incorporation of technology demonstrations of new products helping the blind community. Four new technologies, including The Pearl by Freedom Scientific, which allows users to scan a document and instantly turn it into speech and Touch Memo, a talking label system, were on display.
Along with a fabulous meal, chair Adrienne Casbarian and fellow committee members Katy Casbarian, Mathilde Currence, Sara Gootee, Shannon Gunther, Patricia Hall, Ann Irwin, Dr. Jarrett Johnson, Lourdes Keiffer, Andy Romero and Marjorie McKeithen Schlesinger organized a silent auction to generate funds with items ranging from an 18-inch sterling silver Figaro Chain donated by Mignon Faget to a day of relaxing spa treatments donated by Earthsavers.
The Lighthouse for the Blind in New Orleans, Inc. has been serving the community for nearly 100 years. The money raised at the event will support the organization’s free programs and services for the visually impaired including job training and competitive employment.