Event Information

On May 14, 2008, HKI hosted the third annual Spirit of Helen Keller Gala at the newly-renovated Plaza Hotel in New York. The event raised over $900,000 to benefit HKI's programs that save sight and lives in 22 countries in Asia and Africa as well as in the United States.

HKI was pleased to welcome special guest Governor David A. Paterson, a tireless advocate of the visually and physically impaired, who gave an entertaining and inspiring speech. The organization was also privileged to honor long-time collaborator Richard Clark, Chairman & CEO of Merck, who received The Helen Keller Humanitarian Award. Merck was recognized for the company's responsible and compassionate leadership in fighting onchocerciasis (“river blindness”) through its donation of the breakthrough drug treatment MECTIZAN® for as long as it's needed.

Gordon and Llura Gund were joined by several generations of their family as they received the prestigious Spirit of Helen Keller Award for their tireless work on behalf of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Mr. Gund spoke about the challenges in finding the causes, treatments and cures for retinal diseases and announced that, thanks to FFB-sponsored research, vision was recently restored to three teenagers who have a form of retinitis pigmentosa. Mr. Gund expressed hope that, once cures were found for these blinding diseases, FFB would be working with HKI to deliver them to those in need. The evening ended with a lively live auction conducted by auctioneer Mr. Guy Bennett, International Co-Head of Impressionist and Modern Art, Christie's.

To find out more about why HKI's work matters and how your support could make a difference, please click here to download compelling facts. In the short amount of time it takes you to download the attachment, one child in the world will go blind and four will die from infections linked to vitamin A deficiency.

Photos (l. to r.): Kathy Spahn, President and CEO of HKI, and Dick Clark, Chairman and CEO of Merck; Governor David A. Paterson with HKI Board Trustees Mary Burton, Brad Perkins and Kate Ganz; and the extended family of Gordon and Lulie Gund.