More than 130 guests toasted the 80th anniversary of Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey at an Oct. 26 celebration, sampling wines paired with music while wearing light-blocking eye shades. Held during Blindness Awareness Month, “Tasting in the Dark” gave guests a brief sightless experience and a better understanding of the fortitude and resilience of people who are blind or low vision.
VLANJ President and CEO Bill Schuldt welcomed guests at the Park Avenue Club in Florham Park “to celebrate a truly amazing milestone for people in NJ who are blind or have low vision.” Schuldt honored what he termed “the pillars” of VLANJ: program participants, staff, instructors, donors and volunteers. They have provided “invaluable contributions to our past success along with their contributions to our future which will see us through the next 80 years,” he said.
As the crowd cheered, Schuldt added, “I’m grateful for all of you, because tonight you are joining the ranks of all of those essential supporters who are pillars of VLANJ.” He thanked the organization’s loyal donors, recognizing those who have included VLANJ in their estate planning and/or made annual or monthly donations.
Schuldt gave a shoutout to Denville couple Bob & Karen Terlizzi, program volunteers for 15 years, and the VLANJ Board of Trustees. After thanking staff, Schuldt recognized Program Director Linda Groszew, who is retiring from her full-time position after 20 years with VLANJ. “No one has demonstrated a deeper dedication to our program participants,” he said. “We wish her happiness in her retirement, and Linda, you will always have a home here at VLANJ.”
VLANJ was started in Newark in 1943 as a social club by people with vision loss looking for camaraderie and to challenge societal biases. As NJ Foundation for the Blind, it opened a summer camp for blind women in Denville in 1955. Efforts expanded in the 1990s to provide year-round, life skills training and wellness programs. Technology classes were later introduced.
The organization’s reputation grew, and in 2016, it became known as VLANJ. Focused on self-sufficiency, VLANJ added occupational therapy and expanded technology training. The nonprofit effectively pivoted to online programming during the pandemic and launched orientation and mobility outings that have boosted participants’ self-advocacy and community awareness.
Today, VLANJ serves more than 200 people and offers center- and community-based programs as well as virtual classes and support groups and in-home training. VLANJ helps more people than ever before, VLANJ Board of Trustees Chair Carl Augusto said. “Simply stated, our services work,” Augusto said. Guest then watched a moving video featuring the reflections of VLANJ participants and staff.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 6 million Americans have vision loss and 1 million are blind. Those numbers are expected to grow as the population ages: While people age 65 and up make made up 17% of the population in 2020, they are expected to account for 22% by 2040.
Two guests with learning shades tasting wine participating in Tasting in the Dark.
The highlight of the 80th anniversary celebration was the sightless wine-music pairing. Hoby Wedler, a PhD chemist and nationally recognized vision loss advocate, hosted the experience.
“Every song will make you experience the wine you’re tasting a little different,” said Wedler, who is blind since birth.
After guests donned their shades, waiters poured each guest wine tastings into four glasses. Wedler then directed guests to sniff and taste the first wine as he played Dave Matthews’ “Walk Around the Moon.” When the song ended, he asked the crowd to guess the wine’s color and type, and describe the flavors.
On the third wine, guests were asked to describe its differences to the second wine, a Sauvignon Blanc. Plenty of guests confidently called out “Chardonnay” and described different flavors, only for Wedler to inform them the two tastings were the identical wine.
Four guests sitting at a table with learning shades participating in Tasting in the Dark.
“I totally thought it was different! ” said Denise Faehner, who listened intently to each song as she sipped. The Mountain Lakes resident confessed she thought the first wine, a Pinot noir, was a white wine.
“It was such a cool experience! They tasted different, very different,” said Colleen Collier, adding that she was fully immersed in the music. Collier is director of US Market Development with Samsara Vision, Inc., a medical device company that develops ophthalmic devices for people with untreatable retinal disorders. VLANJ is currently involved in a Samsara Vision clinical study.
Joe Cicchetti, a longtime VLANJ supporter, said “the experience was a lot of fun — and enlightening.” Cicchetti and his wife, Antoinette, made VLANJ one of their charities of choice years ago because “I can see the true benefit of what they do.”
VLANJ participants served as ambassadors. “Our students are loyal and advocate for us wherever they go spreading the word of what we do and how it has impacted them,” Schuldt said. “Our program participants have been at the center of everything we have done and will continue to drive our efforts.”
Schuldt said VLANJ instructors have shared expertise in an array of areas, from independent living skills, orientation and mobility, cooking, and technology to fitness, meditation, African drumming, and horticulture, among others. Participants “will tell you of the amazing impact these instructors have had on their lives,” he said.
Bill Schuldt, President and CEO and Senator Anthony Bucco holding a proclamation in honor of VLANJ’s 80 years.
During the evening, New Jersey Sen. Anthony Bucco presented Schuldt with a resolution from both the Senate and General Assembly paying tribute to VLANJ for its dedication to New Jersey residents with vision loss. VLANJ “has established a model to emulate and set a standard of excellence toward which others might strive,” it reads in part.
Tasting in the Dark was generously sponsored by: New Jersey Natural Gas; Modera Wealth Management; Samsara Vision; General Vision Services; Thatcher McGhee’s; Carl and Sue Augusto; Kelly and Kevin Bleach; and Hoby Wedler, PhD.
If you missed this year’s Tasting in the Dark, not to worry! You can still contribute HERE.