FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

ST LOUIS SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED FINDS SPARK WITH BOARD MEMBER, ELIZABETH KAUFFMAN AS ITS CHAIR FOR THEIR ANNUAL VISIONARY GALA ON APRIL 15, 2023.

The annual gala is the Society’s major fund raiser. 

St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired will host its annual Visionary Gala on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. Elizabeth Kauffman has been named the Chair of the event.

Elizabeth (Betsy) Kauffman is a Senior Engineer and Associate Technical Fellow at The Boeing Company. She has been with the company for 28 years after graduating from Washington University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA.

She has been a member of the Board of Directors of St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired since 2017. Elizabeth also serves on the Friends Board of St. Luke’s Hospital and Engineering Eliot Society at Washington University in St. Louis.

Elizabeth’s involvement with the Society began after her father was diagnosed with Wet Macular Degeneration and Central Serous Retinopathy. Betsy said, “As he lost a significant amount of vision, he needed help making the most of his remaining vision. The Society trained him in how to use a white cane for fall prevention and how to use various magnifiers to complete tasks, in addition to numerous other techniques. In my dad’s words, ‘They gave me back my independence.’ For this, the family is forever grateful and hopes to help the Society carry on for another 100 years.”

Laura Park-Leach, President and CEO said, “We so appreciate the service Betsy gives to SLSBVI as a member of our Board and we’re honored that she is our chair of the Visionary Gala. She brings positive energy and wonderful ideas!”

The Visionary Gala is the Society’s premier fundraising event, offering live and silent auctions, exceptional raffles, and other items. The gala will once again be hosted by Jasmine Huda of Fox Channel 2 News and the prestigious Leslie Dana Gold Medal will be awarded to Russell Van Gelder, M.D. from the state of Washington. Dr. Van Gelder is a clinician-scientist with strong interests in molecular diagnostics for infectious eye disease as well as in vision restoration technologies. Sponsorships and volunteer opportunities are available. For information on sponsorships and the 2023 Visionary Gala, contact Megan Connelly, Director of Development at development@slsbvi.org or call 314-968-9000.

About St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired 

Since 1911, Society has been enhancing independence, empowering individuals, and enriching the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired. Caring, qualified staff provide low vision medical exams and therapy, daily living adaptations, assistive technology, travel training, social work, and support services to nearly 1,200 people every year.  

For further information on St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired, please visit their website at https://www.slsbvi.org. 

They are also on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.