I just volunteered to raise money for a national non-profit which helps those with failing eyesight/completely blind. Far below is a list of former/current celebrities and politicians with eyesight problems.
Two of the most well-known people today who are active in "vision" causes would be CEO Steve Wynn and actor Ray Romano. (I do not know if their involvement is due to personal vision problems, or "just being nice guys.")
A 5-star answer to this question would be 5-10 well-known people who either have vision problems, or have family members with vision problems. The ideal candiate would be in the "public eye" via Hollywood, politics, business, etc.
My goal is to contact them (through their agents) and ask them to participate in our upcoming awareness campaign in the national media.
All comments greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
ron
Alonso, Alicia
Bocelli, Andrea
Borge, Victor
Braille, Louis
Charles, Ray
Chihulu, Dale
Davis, Jr., Sammy
Duncan, Sandy
Falk, Peter
Feliciano, Jose
Healy, Jeff
Heino
Milsap, Ronnie
Milton, John
Monet, Claude
O'Keefe, Georgia
Runyan, Marla
Shearing, George
Sullivan, Tom
Templeton, Alec
Thurber, James
Warhol, Andy
Wonder, Stevie
I'm glad you are pleased with the information I provided. Here it is again for your convenience:
Table 1. Legally Blind Celebrities
Table 2. Visually-Impaired Celebrities
Learning and Learning Disabilities Website
http://www.west.net/~ger/walterblindceleb.html
******************************
Marty Feldman
"Mike Myers, who plays a deranged trainer of flight attendants, relies
on a literally wandering eye for chuckles. "There's no business like
strabismus," he says, pointing to the offending orb. (His desk bears
photos in which he's hugged by visually impaired celebrities from
Marty Feldman to Sammy Davis Jr.)"
The Charlotte Observer
http://ae.charlotte.com/entertainment/ui/charlotte/movie.html?id=92350&reviewId=11508&startDate=03%2F21%2F2003
******************************
Marla Runyan
"Marla Runyan, born January 4, 1969 in Santa Maria, California, is a
marathon runner who is legally blind."
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marla_Runyan
******************************
Phyllis Diller
When celebrities step out in public this week, fans may have a much
easier time recognizing them. That's because more than 100 actors,
singers, and other notables have donated their sunglasses to a 10-day
eBay celebrity auction to benefit The Discovery Fund for Eye Research.
Actress and comedienne Phyllis Diller joins an eclectic group
including Bill Cosby, Neil Simon, Jimmy Buffet, Clint Eastwood, and
Kathy Bates in the charitable online effort being held May 24-June 2.
The goal of the fund is to prevent, treat, and cure macular
degeneration and other eye diseases.
"I've had two cataract operations over the past year and lost a
quarter of my vision in one eye due to macular degeneration," says
Diller. "But hey, I've been complaining about my appearance for so
long, maybe no one will notice."
USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlight/2001-05-31-diller-vision.htm
******************************
Erik Weihenmayer
"Thirty year old Weihenmayer lives in Colorado and thrives on
challenge. He is a marathon runner, a long-distance biker, a sky
diver, and a well known, highly experienced rock and mountain climber.
He has climbed the highest peak on three of the world's seven
continents and scaled the Nose of El Capitan. He plans to attempt an
ascent of Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, in 2001. Erik
Weihenmayer is also totally blind."
http://www.incrediblepeople.com/people(1999-06-17).htm
Erik is a former middle school teacher and wrestling coach who has
made his way on to the cover of Time, Outside, and Climbing magazines.
He has also been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, NBC's Today, the
Tonight Show, and Nightly News with Tom Brokaw.
In addition to being a world-class athlete, Erik is also the author of
the best selling book, Touch the Top of the World. According to
Publisher's Weekly, Erik's memoir is:
"Moving and adventure packed. Weihenmayer tells his extraordinary
story with humor, honesty, and vivid detail, and his fortitude and
enthusiasm are deeply inspiring."
He is the recipient of numerous awards, among them the prestigious
Free Spirit Award and the 2002 ESPN, ESPY award.
Most of all, he is a proud husband, and a father to his four year old
daughter, Emma.?
http://www.touchthetop.com/about.htm
******************************
Emily Wharton
Webmaster/Network Administrator, Cane Travel & Computers Itinerant Instructor
"I have been working at BLIND, Inc. in a variety of positions since
1998. I came to work here because going through a similar training
program dramatically changed my life and I wanted to help other people
have that same experience. Prior to training, I spent a large portion
of my life trying to pretend that I wasn't blind. I wasted alot of
time and missed a lot of opportunities because I didn't have the
skills or the confidence to try new things. But since I have come to
really believe that being blind is okay and I don't need to be afraid
or ashamed, I never miss a chance to have a new adventure. It's a
great feeling, and I want to help other blind people to find it for
themselves. Outside of work, I enjoy roller blading, wood carving,
playing basketball, going to concerts and plays, or just hanging out
at coffee shops or the lakes. I really love this city. I can be
shopping downtown, hop a bus, and twenty minutes later I am sitting on
the beach or hiking through a bird sanctuary. You just can't beat
that. My great passion, however, is poetry. I love reading it and I
love writing it. In the fall of 2002, I moved into my current
half-time position at BLIND in order to begin work on a Master of Fine
Arts in writing degree."
Blind Inc.
http://www.blindinc.org/staff.html
There are other people on the above site who may interest you.
============================
============================
The following articles talk about charities aand fundraising and the
celebrities who participated, which I thought may be helpful to you:
"Celebrity Specs is a fundraising and awareness project for the
Prevention of Blindness Society. If you wear prescription glasses,
you know their importance.
(...)
POB has created the Celebrity Specs program as a fun way of making
people aware of the importance of eyeglasses and sunglasses as
something more than just a fashion statement that enhances vision.
Some of the celebrities that contributed to this event are: Loni
Anderson; Scott Baio; Matthew Broderick; President George H.W. Bush;
Meg Cabot; President Jimmy Carter; Dan Castellaneta; Chevy Chase;
Michael Chiklis; Michael Chrichton; Joan Collins; Bill Cowher; Ann B.
Davis; Dame Judi Dench; Phyllis Diller; Matt Dillon; Dale Earnhardt,
Jr.; Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich; Nanette Fabray; Dakota
Fanning; Suzanne Farrell; President Gerald Ford; Annette Funicello;
Willie Garson; Doreen Gentzler; Evan Handler; Tony Hawk; Florence
Henderson; Joe Jacoby; Casey Kasem; Ted Koppel; Emeril Lagasse; Hugh
Laurie; Tommy Lee; Keith Lockhard; Queen Noor of Jordan; Carly
Patterson; Richard Petty; Michael Phelps; Jeff Probst; Nora Roberts;
Al Roker; Willard Scott; Martin Sheen; Marc Summers; Al Unser; Diane
von Furstenberg; Michael Weiss; Dr. Ruth Westheimer; Barry Williams;
and Robin Williams."
Your Eyes
http://www.youreyes.org/specs/
============================
"Money raised will help the DFER conduct primary research into
vision-impairing and blinding eye disorders, as well as offer online
educational programs.
The array of Hollywood collectibles being auctioned ? along with an
autographed photo of the Emmy, Grammy, and Golden Globe-winning Cosby
? includes many celebrities' trademark sunglasses.
The Seeing the Stars online auction ? which ends Sunday, June 2 ?
offers shades from glare-challenged luminaries and the ultra-cool,
including astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Jackson Browne, Edward Burns, Lance
Burton, Neil Diamond, Carrie Fisher, Emmylou Harris, Richard Harris,
John Hurt, Bruce Hornsby, Ashley Judd, and Henry Winkler. Not to
mention Clint Eastwood's sunshades from Space Cowboys."
USA Toda
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlight/2002/05/30-cosby.htm
============================
CELEBRITIES SET TO TEE OFF FOR CHARITY
LOS ANGELES (May 2, 2005) ? "Celebrities Haley Joel Osment, Joe
Mantenga, Steve Garvey, Ron Masak, Kenny Rankin, Peter Falk, Norm
Crosby and more will tee off for charity at the annual Tom Sullivan
Blind Childrens Center Celebrity Golf Classic presented by infoUSA on
Monday, May 2 at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades."
Blind Center
http://www.blindcntr.org/media_pressrelease0405.htm
The answer to this question may be of help:
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=516429
Search criteria:
celebrities blind OR "visually impaired"
"famous people" blind OR "visually impaired"
Best regards,
Rainbow
Thanks!
ron
Thank you.
ron
Please take a look at the information I was able to compile and let me know if this suffices as an answer to your question.
Table 1. Legally Blind Celebrities
Table 2. Visually-Impaired Celebrities
Learning and Learning Disabilities Website
http://www.west.net/~ger/walterblindceleb.html
******************************
Marty Feldman
"Mike Myers, who plays a deranged trainer of flight attendants, relies on a literally wandering eye for chuckles. "There's no business like strabismus," he says, pointing to the offending orb. (His desk bears photos in which he's hugged by visually impaired celebrities from Marty Feldman to Sammy Davis Jr.)"
The Charlotte Observer
http://ae.charlotte.com/entertainment/ui/charlotte/movie.html?id=92350&reviewId=11508&startDate=03%2F21%2F2003
******************************
Marla Runyan
"Marla Runyan, born January 4, 1969 in Santa Maria, California, is a marathon runner who is legally blind."
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marla_Runyan
******************************
Phyllis Diller
When celebrities step out in public this week, fans may have a much easier time recognizing them. That's because more than 100 actors, singers, and other notables have donated their sunglasses to a 10-day eBay celebrity auction to benefit The Discovery Fund for Eye Research.
Actress and comedienne Phyllis Diller joins an eclectic group including Bill Cosby, Neil Simon, Jimmy Buffet, Clint Eastwood, and Kathy Bates in the charitable online effort being held May 24-June 2. The goal of the fund is to prevent, treat, and cure macular degeneration and other eye diseases.
"I've had two cataract operations over the past year and lost a quarter of my vision in one eye due to macular degeneration," says Diller. "But hey, I've been complaining about my appearance for so long, maybe no one will notice."
USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlight/2001-05-31-diller-vision.htm
******************************
Erik Weihenmayer
"Thirty year old Weihenmayer lives in Colorado and thrives on
challenge. He is a marathon runner, a long-distance biker, a sky
diver, and a well known, highly experienced rock and mountain climber.
He has climbed the highest peak on three of the world's seven
continents and scaled the Nose of El Capitan. He plans to attempt an
ascent of Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, in 2001. Erik
Weihenmayer is also totally blind."
http://www.incrediblepeople.com/people(1999-06-17).htm
Erik is a former middle school teacher and wrestling coach who has
made his way on to the cover of Time, Outside, and Climbing magazines.
He has also been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, NBC's Today, the
Tonight Show, and Nightly News with Tom Brokaw.
In addition to being a world-class athlete, Erik is also the author of
the best selling book, Touch the Top of the World. According to
Publisher's Weekly, Erik's memoir is:
"Moving and adventure packed. Weihenmayer tells his extraordinary
story with humor, honesty, and vivid detail, and his fortitude and
enthusiasm are deeply inspiring."
He is the recipient of numerous awards, among them the prestigious
Free Spirit Award and the 2002 ESPN, ESPY award.
Most of all, he is a proud husband, and a father to his four year old
daughter, Emma.?
http://www.touchthetop.com/about.htm
******************************
Emily Wharton
Webmaster/Network Administrator, Cane Travel & Computers Itinerant Instructor
"I have been working at BLIND, Inc. in a variety of positions since
1998. I came to work here because going through a similar training
program dramatically changed my life and I wanted to help other people
have that same experience. Prior to training, I spent a large portion
of my life trying to pretend that I wasn't blind. I wasted alot of
time and missed a lot of opportunities because I didn't have the
skills or the confidence to try new things. But since I have come to
really believe that being blind is okay and I don't need to be afraid
or ashamed, I never miss a chance to have a new adventure. It's a
great feeling, and I want to help other blind people to find it for
themselves. Outside of work, I enjoy roller blading, wood carving,
playing basketball, going to concerts and plays, or just hanging out
at coffee shops or the lakes. I really love this city. I can be
shopping downtown, hop a bus, and twenty minutes later I am sitting on
the beach or hiking through a bird sanctuary. You just can't beat
that. My great passion, however, is poetry. I love reading it and I
love writing it. In the fall of 2002, I moved into my current
half-time position at BLIND in order to begin work on a Master of Fine
Arts in writing degree."
Blind Inc.
http://www.blindinc.org/staff.html
There are other people on the above site who may interest you.
============================
============================
The following articles talk about charities aand fundraising and the celebrities who participated, which I thought may be helpful to you:
"Celebrity Specs is a fundraising and awareness project for the Prevention of Blindness Society. If you wear prescription glasses, you know their importance. (...)
POB has created the Celebrity Specs program as a fun way of making people aware of the importance of eyeglasses and sunglasses as something more than just a fashion statement that enhances vision.
Some of the celebrities that contributed to this event are: Loni Anderson; Scott Baio; Matthew Broderick; President George H.W. Bush; Meg Cabot; President Jimmy Carter; Dan Castellaneta; Chevy Chase; Michael Chiklis; Michael Chrichton; Joan Collins; Bill Cowher; Ann B. Davis; Dame Judi Dench; Phyllis Diller; Matt Dillon; Dale Earnhardt, Jr.; Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich; Nanette Fabray; Dakota Fanning; Suzanne Farrell; President Gerald Ford; Annette Funicello; Willie Garson; Doreen Gentzler; Evan Handler; Tony Hawk; Florence Henderson; Joe Jacoby; Casey Kasem; Ted Koppel; Emeril Lagasse; Hugh Laurie; Tommy Lee; Keith Lockhard; Queen Noor of Jordan; Carly Patterson; Richard Petty; Michael Phelps; Jeff Probst; Nora Roberts; Al Roker; Willard Scott; Martin Sheen; Marc Summers; Al Unser; Diane von Furstenberg; Michael Weiss; Dr. Ruth Westheimer; Barry Williams; and Robin Williams."
Your Eyes
http://www.youreyes.org/specs/
============================
"Money raised will help the DFER conduct primary research into vision-impairing and blinding eye disorders, as well as offer online educational programs.
The array of Hollywood collectibles being auctioned ? along with an autographed photo of the Emmy, Grammy, and Golden Globe-winning Cosby ? includes many celebrities' trademark sunglasses.
The Seeing the Stars online auction ? which ends Sunday, June 2 ? offers shades from glare-challenged luminaries and the ultra-cool, including astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Jackson Browne, Edward Burns, Lance Burton, Neil Diamond, Carrie Fisher, Emmylou Harris, Richard Harris, John Hurt, Bruce Hornsby, Ashley Judd, and Henry Winkler. Not to mention Clint Eastwood's sunshades from Space Cowboys."
USA Toda
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlight/2002/05/30-cosby.htm
============================
CELEBRITIES SET TO TEE OFF FOR CHARITY
LOS ANGELES (May 2, 2005) ? "Celebrities Haley Joel Osment, Joe Mantenga, Steve Garvey, Ron Masak, Kenny Rankin, Peter Falk, Norm Crosby and more will tee off for charity at the annual Tom Sullivan Blind Childrens Center Celebrity Golf Classic presented by infoUSA on Monday, May 2 at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades."
Blind Center
http://www.blindcntr.org/media_pressrelease0405.htm
The answer to this question may be of help:
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=516429
Looking forward to your clarification.
Best regards,
Rainbow
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