Elegant cocktail dresses and chic tuxedoes filed into the esteemed Conrad Hotel Saturday, June 26th to partake in Indianapolis’s introduction to Dining in the Dark.  Dining in the Dark is a fundraiser designed to benefit The Bosma Visionary Opportunities Foundation, an organization with the purpose of providing support for programs and services for people who are blind or visually impaired offered by Bosma Enterprises.

During the event, guests perused through a remarkable silent auction as they enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in patient anticipation of the main attraction…a full three-course meal in complete darkness. Dining in the Dark allowed participants the opportunity to experience a meal in the darkness while encouraging them to actively engage in programs and services at Bosma Enterprises. This event is the first of what is to become an annual fundraiser.

1st Impressions
Dining in the Dark has been such a meaningful and educational experience for me. It is my first time participating in a fundraising event in the United States and I am privileged to have attended an event that was such great success.

The event was extraordinary and little details reflected the hard work of the Bosma staff. Among all of the amazing experiences from the evening, the dinner— the actual dining in the dark – touched me deeply.  In the dinner, I had to put a sleep shade on to cover my eyes and all the lights were dim. I remembered that when I was eating my salad, I came across something that was difficult to cut with my knife. It took a long time for me cutting to figure out what it was until, finally, I just used my finger. It was my dinner roll! I then understood how frustrated it must be to adjust or re-adjust to daily life for people who are blind or visually impaired.  Small facets of life like eating, washing dishes, and going to work are big deals for people who are blind or visually impaired. The parts of life that we often take for granted are time-consuming and difficult for people who are blind and visually impaired if they have not received vocational therapy.

 Every day, I am really amazed by what Bosma is doing and how important the Visionary Foundation is. Not only does Bosma provide rehabilitation therapy across the state of Indiana, they also are a source of employment for those who are blind. Bosma’s employees are so optimistic and determined about accomplishing their work. As Bosma’s CEO, Lou Moneymaker, has mentioned, the most important thing is to provide people who are blind or visually impaired with an opportunity to work and they will prove to you how good they are. I believe that Dining in the Dark is just another way that Bosma helps show the community how exceptional people who are blind or visually impaired are.

Watch for upcoming information for the 2nd Annual Dining in the Dark 2011