The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Endowment: a leap towards long-term stability for vision research
January 17, 2006
For Immediate Release
January 17, 2006, TORONTO - The Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB) is pleased to announce it’s first-ever endowment fund for vision research, thanks to the generosity of Arthur and Sonia Labatt.
The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Endowment in the amount of $1,000,000, will bring new financial stability to meet vision research needs over the long-term.
The principal of the Endowment will be held in perpetuity and invested. The Endowment earnings will be used primarily to support research in childhood blindness.
“Arthur and I have put a lot of thought into a focus for our donations and have the three criteria of education, health and research,” said Sonia Labatt. “Obviously the FFB fulfills all these categories.”
On the personal side, Mrs. Labatt has had some eye problems (a hole in the macula) and has experienced first hand the anxiety that accompanies visual impairment and sight loss. When she was introduced to the Foundation Fighting Blindness, she was immediately receptive to its cause.
“As I educated myself about FFB, I had three instinctive feelings,” said Mrs. Labatt. “First, that there is such need for research not only in the field of age-related visual problems, such as macular degeneration, but also for the concerns regarding genetic sight degeneration, such as retinitis pigmentosa, which has a great impact on children and adolescents.”
“Secondly, I felt that research was moving rapidly to improve these conditions and that it is just a matter of time before some significant treatment is found. Finally, I thought that more people should be made aware of the Foundation Fighting Blindness.”
“The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Endowment couldn’t have come at a more exciting time, as researchers’ discoveries move from the laboratory to human trials,” said Sharon Colle, National Executive Director. “The Labatt’s commitment to funding vision research means children and future generations will benefit from treatments and cures.”
The Foundation Fighting Blindness encourages everyone to join the fight against blindness. Contact us at info@ffb.ca or 1—800-461-3331 to stay informed of research developments.
About the Foundation Fighting Blindness
The Foundation Fighting Blindness is the only organization in Canada whose sole mandate is to fund Canadian vision research. It is responsible for groundbreaking eye research being conducted in teaching hospitals and universities across the country. Its mandate is to support Canadian research directed at discovering causes, treatments and ultimately cures for eye diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration and related retinal diseases.
The Foundation also advocates for public awareness about retinal diseases, specifically prevention, early detection and treatments. The Foundation was established in 1974 and since then has funded millions in vision research in Canada.
For more information or to make a donation to vision research, contact:
The Foundation Fighting Blindness
Tel: 1-800-461-3331 or 416-360-0060