Dr. Kent Cullers, the world’s first blind physicist, who serves as director of research and development with NASA’s Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute, will keynote the 2005 Open Doors Dinner conducted by The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired on Thursday evening, April 21.
The gala event, which will raise funds to open doors to opportunities, choices and jobs for people who are blind or visually impaired, will take place at the Mid-America Club, 200 E. Randolph St., beginning at 5:30 p.m.
In addition to saluting Dr. Cullers, who was portrayed in the 1997 science fiction thriller “Contact,” the dinner will present posthumously the 2005 Beacon of Light Award to Cara Dunne Yates, a blind woman who excelled as an athlete, scholar and advocate for people with disabilities.
Though blind since age five, Ms. Yates became a world-champion Paralympic skier and tandem track cyclist, an honors graduate of both Harvard University and UCLA Law School, and an accomplished lecturer. She succumbed to cancer last fall.
“Thanks to the hard work of this year’s dinner chairs, Tom and Casey Livingston and Ted and Claudia Mazola, the 2005 Open Doors event promises to be an elegant affair to remember and will put all of us in the right framework to kick off our centennial celebration,” noted Jim Kesteloot, president and executive director of The Lighthouse. “My special thanks to everyone who served on the dinner committee and gave of their time and resources.”
Tickets are available at $400 and $250 per person. For further information, contact Naomi Tselepis at (312) 997-3679.
Approaching its centennial in 2006, The Lighthouse is one of the oldest social service agencies in Chicago and is regarded as the most comprehensive agency of its kind in the Midwest and a model agency nationally. |
