Dining in the Dark | DonationMatch

Dining in the Dark

Gala/Party for Bestwork Industries for the Blind
Oct 02, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Deadline: September 1, 2025

Who's Going
Fundraising Goal $100,000
Expected Attendance 200
Reach 200
Ticket Price $175
Metro Area Philadelphia, PA
Exempt Status 501(c)(3) (IRS Form 990 Filed)
Nonprofit Category J - Employment
Attendee Gender Ratio 50% Male, 50% Female
Potential Item Uses Silent Auction
How Donors Promoted Event Signage Event Program Website Email Blast Facebook
Attendee Ages 25-34 Years 35-44 Years 45-54 Years 55-64 Years 65+ Years
Attendees' Children's Ages Unsure
Special Populations Adults-Only Event (21+ Up)
Description

Awaken Your Senses and Your Perspective

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of Bestwork’s first Dining in the Dark experience that provides guests with a brief glimpse of some of the challenges people with vision loss encounter in their day-to-day lives.

The night will begin with a cocktail reception and provide guests with access to a Meet a Penguin Experience and the Shark Realm.

During dinner, guests will wear blindfolds and learn techniques to navigate their plates from our staff and tablemates who may be blind or visually impaired. This unique dining experience will expand our guests' appreciation of taste, smell, touch, hearing, and vision.

After dinner, we will have live entertainment provided by Jimmy and the Parrots! Plus, we’ll offer a silent auction, raffle prizes, and more!

 

Why Your Support Matters

We are launching an important and transformative initiative at Bestwork Industries for the Blind in Cherry Hill – the Blindness & Low Vision Services Center (BLVSC). This Center will provide care to underserved populations who deserve adequate access to vision services and resources, especially those experiencing vision loss or who are newly blind.

Currently, South Jersey has a limited number of low vision service providers. The state provides minimal free eye screening sites, with limited scheduling times. Bestwork is committed to bridging this gap by providing free eye screenings with flexible scheduling times. In the near future, we plan to establish a full-service Low Vision Clinic, an Assistive Technology Center, and offer Vocational Rehabilitation Services at the BLVSC.

To make this vision a reality, we need your help. Your support will directly aid in setting up a safe and accessible location with flexible appointment availability for these essential services.

To help raise funds for the Center, we are hosting our inaugural "Dining in the Dark" event, which will take place on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, NJ.

This unique experience not only raises crucial funds for the BLVSC but also helps increase awareness about the challenges faced by those with vision impairments. All proceeds from Dining in the Dark will benefit the establishment and operation of the BLVSC.

Adventure Aquarium
1 Riverside Drive
Camden, NJ 08103