Lights Out 2024
Lights Out Dining and Silent Auction
Tennessee School for the Blind
March 7th, 2024
$30 per person
Registration ends February 23rd, 2024
Space limited to 125 guests.
Only cash or checks accepted.
Monies raised will support the class of 2025.
Donations welcome.
5:00 PM Doors open to guests (bring ID to check in)
Take time to visit our experience tables and silent auction.
Experience tables close at 5:45 PM.
5:45 PM After receiving their blindfold, guests will begin moving to the cafeteria to start their Lights Out experience, dinner included!
DONATION FORM without registration PDF WORD
AUCTION ITEMS as they become available
FAQ
Why have dinner in the dark?
“The comic book character Daredevil is unlike any other superhero in the Marvel universe, mainly because his superpowers are the result of a disability: Blindness. Daredevil's vision loss caused all his other senses to intensify to the point where he could rely on them to fight crime. While it may not give you Marvel-level superpowers (remember, Daredevil is fiction), science has shown that the brain can adapt to a change like blindness. One of the ways it adapts is by enhancing the other senses to compensate for the loss.” While donning a blindfold may not permanently enhance your other senses, we hope your dining experience will be elevated and for a brief time, deepen your understanding of the visually impaired community that is right in your own neighborhood.
Reference: Does Losing Your Vision Make Your Other Senses Stronger? (allaboutvision.com)
How much does it cost?
The tickets are $30 per person and are non-refundable once purchased. They must be purchased in advance to plan for the evening. The last day to register is Friday, February 24th. Registration form above.
When and where is it?
Lights Out Dining and Silent Auction will be held on TSB’s campus on Thursday, March 7th with doors opening for guests at 5:00 PM and guests begin moving to the cafeteria around 5:30 PM. By hosting at the school, it allows our students to be part of the evening’s events. TSB (Tennessee School for the Blind) is located at 115 Stewart’s Ferry Pike, Nashville, TN 37214. Make sure to bring your ID to check in with security.
How do I register and purchase a ticket?
Complete the form in the link above. The school does not have a means of online payment. You may either drop off or mail your registration form with cash or check payment to:
TN School for the Blind
Attn: Lights Out Dining
115 Stewarts Ferry Pike
Nashville, TN 37214
No tickets will be sold at the door.
Ticket sales will end on February 23rd, 2024, to adequately plan for the evening.
Where do the proceeds go?
The proceeds will support the class of 2025. Each year, graduating seniors are given a chance to travel in December to Aspen, CO to participate in Challenge Aspen, where they learn to ski. For many of our students it is the first time they have flown, been skiing, or traveled outside of TN. These proceeds will offset the costs of the trip as well as provide for the 2024 Junior-Senior prom held in May. For more information about Challenge Aspen, click here. For an article on previous ski adventures, click here.
What will you be auctioning?
There are a variety of items from local attractions and restaurants. We hope to update the items weekly on this site as they become available. Go To Auction Items
How can I bid on the items and when will I get them?
The auction will be open in the reception area from 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM before dinner begins. Winning bids will be announced following dinner and dessert at the end of the evening. Payment will need to be in the form of cash or check made out to TSB. If you believe that your local business would be able to donate for the silent auction, please reach out to Al Roberson, [email protected], who is serving as our donation chair.
Can I donate?
There will be opportunities for cash and check donations at the reception and at the end of the meal. We will have a donation form for you to fill out if you choose to donate. If you are unable to attend and would like to support this event, you can mail a check to TN School for the Blind, Attn: Lights our Dining, 115 Stewarts Ferry Pike, Nashville, TN 37214. The donation form can be found above.
What will I be eating?
Dinner will be catered by a local restaurant. We would like to keep that a secret until you have been seated and are ready to enjoy your meal. We hope that this will enhance your lights out experience when dining. The meal will include meat, vegetables, bread, drink, dessert, and coffee.
How dark will it be?
You will be given a new blackout mask as you leave the reception area and head to the dining area being escorted by our students and staff. Our servers, which will include some of our students, need the LIGHTS ON so the LIGHTS OUT will come by wearing the blackout mask. A reception area will be available prior to the meal and the lights will be on during this time.
What can I expect to do when I am there?
When you arrive, you will be greeted by students and staff volunteers. You will need to check in with security so please bring your ID. You will then be escorted to a reception area where you can enjoy light refreshments and will have time to view and bid on auction items, and can visit the experience tables where you will interact with TSB students while learning a little more about braille, orientation and mobility, assistive technology, communication, adaptive sports, and other areas of interest for students with visual impairments.
We will ask our guests to put on their blindfolds prior to being escorted to the dining room starting at 5:30 PM. Dinner will be served from approximately 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. We will then give you an opportunity to take off your blindfolds and survey your surroundings while enjoying coffee and dessert provided by local businesses. We would love to hear from you as you share your experience. There will be a time of meet and greet with our students and staff at the end of the evening as well.
What should I do if I still have questions?
Reach out to Andy Joiner ([email protected]) or Christy Williams ([email protected]) for more information. They are classroom teachers and will get back in touch with you as soon as possible.
EVENT SPONSORS
Alumni Association of Tennessee School for the Blind
AUCTION ITEMS (To be listed)