Chancellor Drake Receives Award from Foundation Fighting Blindness

Chancellor Michael Drake and Jim Mazzo, chairman and CEO of Advanced Medical Optics, received the Foundation Fighting Blindness 2008 Visionary Awards in February for their contributions to the field of ophthalmology. The awards were presented at Dining in the Dark, an annual fundraiser that highlights the foundation’s mission of supporting research on retinal degenerative diseases such as macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.

More than 350 guests listened to a performance by the Braille Institute’s Johnny Mercer Children’s Choir, composed of children with visual impairments; and dined in complete darkness with visually impaired servers, providing a unique culinary experience and a better understanding of the challenges of being visually impaired. The award winners and foundation were congratulated in proclamations by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Sen. Barbara Boxer and Newport Beach Mayor Edward Selich.

2008 Visionary Award winners Chancellor Michael Drake and Advanced Medical Optics chairman Jim Mazzo.

Braille Institute’s Johnny Mercer Children’s Choir entertains guests.

Photos by Matt Wechter

Foundation Fighting Blindness
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