News

Modernity, Conservation and Vision

March 5, 2020

Posted by New York Social Diary

Lighthouse Guild, the leading organization dedicated to addressing and preventing vision loss, hosted its 12th annual Palm Beach “A Visionary Evening” at Club Colette on February 20, 2020.  A highly anticipated evening in Palm Beach, this year’s event honored well-known philanthropists, Audrey and Martin Gruss.

Pauline Raiff, the immediate past Lighthouse Guild Chair, introduced Dr. Calvin Roberts, a clinical professor of Ophthalmology at Weil Cornell Medical College and former Chief Medical officer for Bausch Health, who is the newly elected President and CEO of Lighthouse Guild beginning April 1. Dr. Roberts welcomed the guests, and thanked Honorary Chair Arlene Dahl, and Dinner Dance co-chairs Grace Meigher and Thomas C. Quick, for their longstanding support.

L. to r.: Andrea and Dr. Calvin Roberts; Harry and Gigi Benson.

After dinner, Dr. Roberts introduced honorees, Audrey and Martin Gruss, and presented them with Lighthouse Guild’s Visionary Award. He highlighted their distinguished accomplishments, including the founding of Hope for Depression Foundation — the leading organization of its kind in the U.S — by Audrey with Martin’s support, in memory of her mother’s struggle with depression. Dr. Roberts also cited the shared concerns between the two organizations surrounding depression and vision loss, saying that individuals with vision loss are three to four times more likely to suffer from depression.

Martin and Audrey Gruss and Dr. Calvin Roberts.

2020’s ‘A Visionary Evening’ drew 150 guests, who enjoyed an elegant evening of dinner and dancing, along with a live auction, conducted by Geraldine Nager, formerly of Sotheby’s, who was assisted by Quick.  The evening’s proceeds will support depression research related to vision loss.

Lighthouse Guild is the leading organization dedicated to addressing and preventing vision loss. We provide coordinated care for eye health, vision rehabilitation and behavioral health as well as related services directed at prevention, early detection and intervention of vision disorders. Reducing the burdens of vision loss is the cornerstone of what we do.

For more information, visit www.lighthouseguild.org, or contact Maureen O’Sullivan at 561-603-5986 or email morepb@aol.com

L. to r.: Peter and Mary Dawkins; Michael James and Susan Lloyd.
Frannie Scaife and Tom McCarter.
L. to r.: Susan Meyers and Vera Serrano; Linda and Gary Talarico.
L. to r.: Lynne Wheat and Tom Peterffy; Ann Thivierge and Pauline Raiff.
L. to r.: Jackie Weld Drake and Bill Beadleston; Renee and Carlos Morrison.
L. to r.: Mai Hallingby and Stephen De Angelis; Marc Rosen and Catherine Adler.
L. to r.: Sondra and David Mack; Scott Synder and Fern Tailer.
Lucy Musso, Tom Quick, and Grace Meigher.
L. to r.: Emilia and Pepe Fanjul; Sharon Sondes and Geoffrey Thomas.
L. to r.: Carol Moran and Campion Platt; Amb Howard and Gretchen Leach.