Foundation Fighting Blindness

It's World Braille Day! Join us in honoring the remarkable legacy of Louis Braille, empowering the visually impaired with access to education and independence. At the Foundation Fighting Blindness, we honor this legacy by supporting groundbreaking research, raising awareness, and championing innovations that transform the lives of those affected by blinding diseases. Together, we can make a difference and create a world where everyone can access the tools and resources needed to thrive. #WorldBrailleDay Image Description: Dark blue background with text that says "January 4th is World Braille Day" featuring "World Braille Day" in Braille letters.

2025 is just hours away, but there's still time to double your impact! If we raise $150,000 before the year ends, it will be matched to become $300,000 for groundbreaking research, therapies, and treatments. Make your tax-deductible end-of-2024 gift now and double your impact before midnight tonight! https://lnkd.in/ee6JwAqb Image Description: Dr. Esther Biswas-Fiss sitting with one of her colleagues. Lucia and Sarafina Danny smiling at each other. A dark blue background with a green box at the top with text that reads "Countdown to make a difference!" The Foundation Fighting Blindness logo in the bottom left corner with another green box to the right with text that reads "Double your impact today!"

Only two days left to double your impact before the year ends! For the 1 in 53 people globally with blinding diseases, your gift ignites hope for groundbreaking treatments and cures. Dr. Esther Biswas-Fiss at the University of Delaware is one of the dedicated researchers bringing us closer to these life-changing breakthroughs. Your support accelerates her crucial work, bridging the gap from genetic discoveries to then getting treatments. Make your year-end gift today to double your impact and advance even more transformative research now and in the coming year. https://lnkd.in/ee6JwAqb Video Description: Dr. Biswas-Fiss walks to her laboratory and talks directly to the camera, discussing the importance of women in science and the work her team of women is doing for blinding diseases. The end shows the Foundation logo with the text, “Make 2X the impact by December 31. DOUBLE MY GIFT.”

While we can’t wait to ring in the new year, we’re excited to share that all donations made before the end of 2024 will be matched up to $150,000! Your year-end gift can transform lives, just like it has for Lucia and Sarafina Danny. These sisters, diagnosed with Stargardt disease, have found hope and support through the Foundation Fighting Blindness community. By donating today, you can make a significant impact on families like the Dannys and many others. Let's make a lasting difference together. Donate now and double your impact! https://lnkd.in/ee6JwAqb Video Description: Clips of the Danny family sharing their experience of their daughters Lucia and Sarafina being diagnosed with Stargardt disease intermingled with clips of Lucia sharing about her experience and clips of Dr. Esther Biswas-Fiss and her team in their lab discussing the hope and future of research for treatments and cures for blinding diseases like Stargardt disease. The end shows the Foundation logo with the text, “Make 2X the impact by December 31. DOUBLE MY GIFT.”

🌟 A heartfelt thank you to the incredible sponsors who supported our Fall VisionWalks this year! 🌟 Your generosity and dedication are lighting the path toward a future free from vision loss. Together, we’re making breakthroughs possible! 🎉 Special thanks to: Alkeus, Amgen, Apellis, Ascidian, Astellas, Bausch & Lomb, Bhavsar Family, Blue Rock Therapeutics, Braille Institute, Bridgewater Pediatrics, Charles Schwab, Chaska Lions, Cincinnati Eye Institute, Collett & Associates, Colorado Retina, Columbus Eye Surgery Center, Crafted, Crawford Taylor Foundation, Crown Vision Center, Everett & Hurite, EyeKraft Optical, Fox Rothschild, Glaukos Charitable Foundation, Grubbs Family Impact Fund, Hopeless Records, Intact Specialty Solutions, Jill Stone and Family, John & Diane Prewitt Family Foundation, Lovisa Medical Transport, Lynn Tyler Family, Mark & Karen Gergel Foundation, Mass Eye & Ear, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Optime Care, Pacific Northwest Retina, Panasonic Automotive, Panorama Eyecare, Pathstone, Retina Consultants of Minnesota, Retina Consultants San Diego, Rhythm, River Hills/Lake Wylie Lions Club, Scheie Eye Institute, SeeShore Fest, Sound Transit, Spark Therapeutics, The Chung Family, The Hoag Family, The Lawrence Family, The Piedmont Group of Truist Investment Services, The Shaw Family, The Steele and Stymeist Family, Tom Collins, Truist, Twin Cities Eye Consultants, UPMC, Upper Midwest Optical Golf Day, Washington University St. Louis School of Medicine, Waymo, WillsEye/Mid Atlantic Retina. 👏 Thank you for joining us in advancing vision research and hope! Sponsor an upcoming Spring VisionWalk near you today at: www.VisionWalk.org #VisionWalk #BlindnessAwarenessMonth #FightBlindness Video Description: Compilation of video clips from various Fall 2024 VisionWalks. White VisionWalk logo on a dark blue background in the top left corner.

The Foundation Fighting Blindness will be closed from December 25 to January 1 for the holidays. As we look ahead to 2025, there’s still time to make a difference before the year ends! Make your gift before December 31 to take advantage of potential tax benefits this year. 🌟 Ways to Give: 💻 Donate online: https://lnkd.in/ee6JwAqb 📞 By phone: Call (800) 683-5555 (1:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET, 12/26–12/31) ✉️ By mail: P.O. Box 45740, Baltimore, MD, 21297-5933 (postmarked by 12/31) Your generosity drives our mission forward. Thank you for your support! 💙 Image Description: Dark blue background with drawing of houses and decorated trees covered in snow along the bottom. Foundation Fighting Blindness logo in top left corner with text below that reads "Happy Holidays from the Foundation Fighting Blindness! Our offices will be closed from December 25, 2024 through January 1, 2025."

In Episode 78 of Eye on the Cure, Dr. Sheldon Rowan from Tufts University joins host, Ben Shaberman, to dive into the fascinating connection between diet, the microbiome, and retinal health. Discover how the glycemic index could play a role in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and hear about groundbreaking research supported by the Foundation Fighting Blindness. 🎧 Tune in now to learn about potential AMD preventions, including an FDA-approved drug and emerging gene therapy! Learn more about streaming at: https://bit.ly/3WByGM3 Image Description: Dark blue background with Foundation Fighting Blindness logo in the top left and Eye on the Cure Podcast logo in the top right. Teal half circle at the top center with "Ep. 78" inside. Below, text reads, "Listen to the latest podcast episode out now. December 20, 2024." To the left is Ben Shaberman with "Ben Shaberman, Host" beneath. To the right is Sheldon Rowan with "Dr. Sheldon Rowan, Guest" below.

We are proud to celebrate Warren Thaler, a dedicated member of the Foundation Fighting Blindness and RD Fund boards, on his appointment as a Trustee for the National Philanthropic Trust (NPT). Warren’s unwavering commitment to advancing research and supporting innovative solutions for those affected by vision loss has made a significant impact at the Foundation. Now, as a Trustee of NPT, his leadership will help shape philanthropic efforts on a national scale. Learn more about Warren’s new role and the incredible work of the National Philanthropic Trust at: https://bit.ly/3VHZRnp Congratulations, Warren, on this well-deserved recognition! 🎉

We're thrilled to announce that our Landscape Gap Analysis, a key initiative led by the Foundation Fighting Blindness Scientific Advisory Board and shaping our 5-year strategic plan, has been published in Translational Vision Science & Technology (TVST)! This milestone publication is featured in TVST’s special issue, Advances in the Cellular and Molecular Pathology of Inherited Retinal Degenerations; Towards Improving Patient Care. This research highlights both the progress made and the unmet needs in addressing inherited retinal diseases and age-related macular degeneration. We're proud to be at the forefront of this critical work. Read the Landscape Gap Analysis at: https://bit.ly/3VJZRn2

Music duo Andrew & Polly have earned a GRAMMY nomination for their children’s album “Ahhhhh!” while also championing disability awareness and inclusivity. Andrew’s experience with Stargardt disease fuels their advocacy, inspiring others through their music, podcast, and dedication to research and community support. Read their full Beacon Story on our website at: https://bit.ly/41BjD7W Video Description: Andrew and Polly stand in a brightly lit room with a speaker and keyboard in the background while speaking directly to the camera.