From NC Lions Club

A “Night for Sight” dinner and auction to raise funds for the blind and visually impaired will be held at Duck Woods Country Club in Southern Shores on March 23 opening at 5:30 p.m. Tickets for this fundraising event that sold out last year are just $35 per person which includes a sit-down dinner.

Proceeds from this benefit will fund the 36th Annual NC Lions Visually Impaired Persons Fishing Tournament. This tournament provides a three-day event for educational, recreational, and personal growth opportunities to serve North Carolina’s visually impaired persons, and to provide a venue for a national fishing tournament.

Guests will browse the area displaying three sections of silent auction items while enjoying a night of exciting and creative enjoyment. Each of these areas will close at staggered times to allow bidders to watch over coveted items before moving to the next silent auction area. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. A live auction will begin following dinner.

“The local Dare County community and Lions from across the state are donating items that are sure to please everyone and hopefully big bargains can be expected,” said VIP Board President Ron Curtis.

“The real winners of this auction will be the visually impaired that we Lions serve,” Curtis said. “Won’t you please help us make this a big success?”

A few of the items collected include autographed sporting memorabilia from UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke, NC State, the Carolina Hurricanes, a large handmade vase by renowned Seagrove potter Phil Morgan, painting by Thomas Kincaid, accommodations on the Outer Banks and Asheville, trips in this country and abroad, golfing packages, many gift certificates, off shore fishing, an African Safari, and much more. Anyone interested in donating items, sponsoring a table, or buying tickets should call Gwen White, executive director of the VIP Tournament program, at 252-441-4966 or 252-202-2329 or whiteink1@earthlink.net . Tickets to attend are limited.

There is a saying at Jeanette’s Pier that reads, “If you are lucky enough to be fishing, you are lucky enough.” Sighted anglers have little trouble finding that special spot where the fishing is always great. Visually impaired anglers often have to stay put, waiting for somebody to call and offer them a ride to that special place. Although most would argue, we all fish blindly! Thanks to the Lions of North Carolina, this VIP Fishing Tournament provides an opportunity to these people to enjoy the pleasure of fishing. The VIP Fishing Tournament is the world’s largest service project of its kind for the visually impaired, and it is held, here, in our community.