RYE, N.Y.—Prevent Blindness and the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) held the 1st Annual Westchester Golf Classic on Monday October 2 here at the Westchester Country Club. Originally conceived by these cross-Atlantic sister organizations in 2018 to highlight shared missions and a global connection to vision and eye health, the event was postponed due to COVID. Both organizations each have long and rich histories, with NCBI being founded in 1931 to enable people who are blind and visually impaired to overcome the barriers that impeded their independence and participation in society, and Prevent Blindness, emerging as far back as 1908, with an aim of eradicating avoidable blindness.

“Much of the work we do at Prevent Blindness occurs in partnership,” said Jeff Todd, Prevent Blindness president and CEO. “Our new friendship with the great team at NCBI shines a light on the global impact that vision loss can have; it’s a partnership we hope to expand into the future.”

Around 60 participants enjoyed a beautiful day on the PGA Championship course. The top individual winners received unique golf prizes. After dinner, participants bid on auction packages including tickets with backstage passes to a U2 concert at The Sphere Las Vegas and a trip to play on a world championship golf course in Ireland. All proceeds from the event support the missions of these two collaborative organizations.
   

 
(L to R) Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness; Joe Savarese, president of Jobson Interactive; Chris White, CEO of NCBI; and Prevent Blindness board chair Jim McGrann, CEO of Advancing Eyecare.