The Foundation Fighting Blindness, a national nonprofit dedicated to sight-saving research, hosted its 2nd Annual ‘Una Visión Para El Futuro’ (A Vision for the Future) on Thursday, Jan. 17, at Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows Park. Nearly 600 supermarket industry leaders came together to honor the accomplishments and community involvement of Key Food Chief Executive Dean Janeway, who was presented with the Foundation’s Visionary Award. The event raised critical awareness about retinal degenerative diseases and $450,000 toward research into preventions, treatments and cures.
Chairing the event for the second year was Jason Ferreira, of New Hyde Park, NY, a Foundation national trustee and first-generation Dominican American whose family owns a group of Met Foodmarkets. His young son JJ was born blind due to a rare genetic form of RP called Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). Determined to help advance research toward treatments and a cure, Ferreira has been a passionate Foundation advocate since JJ’s diagnosis in 2010, raising hundreds of thousands for innovative work that could save his son’s sight.
“We’re thrilled to recognize the support and leadership of Dean Janeway,” says Ferreira. “Progress in gene therapy and stem cell-based clinical trials gives us hope for a brighter future for JJ and the 10 million other families in America affected by blinding retinal diseases. Leaders coming together for this important cause is a true testament to the giving spirit of our industry.”
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Ferreira’s co-chair was Amie Kreisberg, of Manhattan, who is motivated in the fight against blindness because her stepson, Jeremy, has retinitis pigmentosa (RP), an inherited disease that progressively robs peripheral vision. Her grandfather was President of Key Food in Brooklyn, and her father Lawrence Mandel currently serves as chairman of the board. Emceeing this year’s event was special guest, the reigning Mrs. World, April Lufriu, who is devoted to vision-saving research and awareness because she and her two children are also affected with RP.
