Los Angeles. The nonprofit Know the Glow raised over $70,000 to provide parents of children facing one or more of 20 sight-robbing diseases with education and support at their fifth annual fundraiser on May 2nd.
Guests shopped for a cause for two hours at Jimmy Choo in Beverly Hills, where a percentage of all purchases benefited Know the Glow. Donors provided raffle prizes and silent auction items as well, including Universal Studios, Chateau Montelena, The Heritage Resort and Spa, and many others.
Know the Glow was founded by Megan Webber and her friends, Sandra Roderick and Lannette Turicchi, after Megan’s son was diagnosed with Coat’s Disease at the age of five. The nonprofit raises public awareness for glow-related eye diseases and drives action to prevent childhood blindness.
In addition to the three founders, board members include Alison Reilly, Janette Flintoft, Cindy Mays, and Kara Ciocca, and the medical advisory board members include. Jesse Berry, M.D., Chien Wong, M.D., Jonathan W. Kim, M.D., and Bryan F. Shaw, Ph.D.
One in 80 children will display “the glow” in flash photos, called a leukocoria, before age nine. “The glow” could indicate one of 20 diseases. When caught early, 80% of all childhood blindness is preventable or curable.