FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Jocelyn Hunter
202-454-6422
jhunter@clb.org
Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind to Host 4th Annual Shot in the Dark Golf Classic and Casino Night
Tuesday, May 3, 2016, Washington, DC — On Friday, May 13th 2016, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB) will host its 4th annual Shot in the Dark Golf Classic & Casino Night at Bretton Woods in Germantown, Maryland. The event features an 18-hole golf classic in the afternoon, introduced by Eileen Whelan, ABC 7/News Channel 8, Meteorologist/ Feature Reporter, followed by a night of gaming and other activities.
The mission of Shot in the Dark Golf Classic & Casino Night is to further the reach of Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind by demonstrating that people with vision loss can overcome obstacles to achieve new heights. Anthony Cancelosi, President and CEO of CLB said, “We are honored to continue this classic event and for the community at large to recognize that people with disabilities have many skills and can learn new skills such as golf.”
This year’s event is made possible in large part by sponsors General Dynamics Information Technology’s (GDIT) and Capital Bank. GDIT’s Ray Whitehead and Capital Bank’s Anthony Pica are the event’s co-chairs.
Following the golf classic, golfers who are blind or visually impaired will take part in a golf clinic hosted by nationally renowned blind golfing champions, Phil Blackwell, Mark Arnold and Bruce Hooper. The clinic will cover different techniques and fundamentals like putting and chipping. Later in the evening, Phil, Mark and Bruce will showcase their skills in a longest drive contest.
Phil Blackwell is totally blind and had never played golf as a sighted person. After being introduced to the sport in 1998, Phil won the 2000 Blind Golf World Championship in Scotland. He is also a six-time Masters for the Blind golf tournament winner, a six-time National Blind Golf Champion and has won 24 regional golf championships. He promotes getting out and staying active in spite of any limitation one might have.
Mark Arnold is visually impaired, having approximately 5% of useable vision. He is a National Blind Stroke Play and Match Play Champion. Mark is a co-founder and co-director of American Blind Golf. He says, “The motto of American Blind Golf is to ‘Motivate, inspire and serve all those who deal with the loss of sight’.” Mark’s passion is to raise funds for sight related charities.
Bruce Hooper is visually impaired, having approximately 5% of useable vision. Bruce won the World Blind Golf Championship in 2006 at the 500 Club in Shizuoka, Japan. He is an 8-time National American Blind Golf National Stroke and Match Play Champion, and a three-time Canadian Blind Open Champion. Bruce and Mark Arnold are co-founders and co-directors of American Blind Golf.
Shot in the Dark’s evening of golf challenges like the closest to the pin competition will be illuminated with glow sticks and glow in the dark golf balls. Entertainment for the evening will be facilitated by celebrities, Steve Buckhantz, Washington Wizards TV Play-by-Play Announcer and Andy Pollin, ESPN 980 Sports Director.
To coordinate an interview or photo-op, please contact Jocelyn Hunter at jhunter@clb.org or (202) 454-6422. To register for the event, visit www.www.clb.org.
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About Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB)
Founded in 1900, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind is the only organization of its kind to provide life-changing skills and services to clients who are blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind members of the greater Washington region. Through vision-health screenings, a mobile eye care unit, independent living skills training, community support groups for youth and adults, career counseling and job placement, CLB enables clients to reclaim personal and professional independence by learning to navigate mobility and employment challenges that arise from vision loss. CLB manages 12 government contracts, employing blind members of greater D.C. and has served Washington DC’s blind and visually impaired community with life-changing resources for 115 years. For additional information, visit www.www.clb.org