Glaucoma Research Foundation
January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- During National Glaucoma
Awareness Month, Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) celebrates its 30th
Anniversary on January 23, 2008, with a gala benefit at the Westin St.
Francis Hotel Tower in San Francisco. The annual event, "Speeding the Cure.
Spreading the Word." showcases recent advances in GRF-funded research. The
Gala includes presentation of the Catalyst Award, GRF's most prestigious
honor, to Cary Rayment, chairman, president and CEO of Alcon Laboratories
in Fort Worth, Texas.
The event begins at 5 p.m. with a scientific overview of recent
research advances presented by the four principal investigators of GRF's
Catalyst For a Cure consortium. Presenters will include David Calkins,
Ph.D., Vanderbilt University; Philip Horner Ph.D., University of
Washington; Nicholas Marsh-Armstrong Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University; and
Monica Vetter Ph.D., University of Utah. With the demonstrated brilliance
of these young scientists' discoveries, this segment is one of the annual
event's most popular activities. A reception follows at 6 p.m. and dinner
commences at 7 p.m.
"We are thrilled to be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Glaucoma
Research Foundation," says GRF's President and CEO Thomas M. Brunner,
"Everyone is vulnerable to glaucoma, from babies to seniors. Only half of
those affected are aware of their condition. The benefit gala is an
important way for us to raise awareness and much needed funds to support
our ongoing educational programs and innovative research to find a cure."
The Gala national co-chairs are Mona and Ed Zander, chairman and CEO of
Motorola. Charles Munnerlyn Ph.D., the father of laser refractive surgery,
and his wife Judy are the event co-chairs. Event committee members include
Board President Deirdre Porter and Bradford Hall, and Wallace and Thomas
Brunner, president and CEO of GRF. The Anniversary Committee is chaired by
GRF co-founders Dr. H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr. and Dr. John Hetherington, and
their wives Ann and Susan, respectively. June Behrendt is chair of the
Auction Committee.
Individual tickets are $300, with tables available at $25,000, $15,000,
$10,000 and $6,000. For information, or to receive an invitation, please
contact Craig Palmer, 415.986.3162, [email protected].
About the Glaucoma Research Foundation
Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness in the United
States. Founded in 1978 in San Francisco, the Glaucoma Research Foundation
is the oldest national foundation working to prevent vision loss from
glaucoma by investing in innovative research, education and support with
the ultimate goal of finding a cure.
http://www.glaucoma.org