Acknowledgements

VIA Visually Impaired Advancement Board of Directors

Mai Agro

Stephen Cardarella

Phillip Catanese

Kevin Cross

Stephen Cross

Jason Daniels

Melissa Keith

Lisa Kirisits

John Kremer

Paul Lee, MD

Martha Lamparelli

Althea Luehrsen

Dennis McCoy

Eric Recoon

Raymond Reichert

Sandra Sieminski, MD

Ken Sullivan

Lamont Williams

This Evening’s Emcee, John Di Sciullo

John Di Sciullo is the Promotion and Production Manager for WBBZ-TV, Your Hometown MeTV Station, seen widely on Cable 5 (Ch67.1 on-air) in all of WNY where he hosts many programs on the station including the popular game show “Bragging Rights,” “Innovations In Health,” and many special presentations.

A longtime veteran of Buffalo television, John worked for 29 years at WKBW Channel 7 starting in 1983 as producer for “AM/Buffalo,” later becoming Promotion, Program, and News Director over the years.

John, and business partner James Gillan, created the nationally syndicated Saturday night program “Off Beat Cinema” in 1993, and will soon begin production on their 30th season.

In 2008, John was inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasting Hall of Fame. John believes in Buffalo, hosting and producing events, notably the annual Variety Kids Telethon to benefit Oishei Children’s Hospital.

Keynote Speaker, Alex Prine

Alex Prine is the Assistant Supervisor for VIA’s switchboard operations at the Buffalo VA Hospital. He was born with Leber’s Optic Neuropathy, which affects the optic nerves connecting the eyes to the brain. Alex discovered VIA in 2019, when he began looking for employment. Before being accepted for a switchboard position, he began his career with VIA as a Quality Assurance Tester.

This year, in recognition of his work, he was nominated for the Employee of the Year Award from National Industries for the Blind which honors employees who excel at NIB-associated agencies. Alex’s interests include reading, walking, playing with his kids, and participating in church activities. He graduated from Houghton College in 2015 with a BA in Religious Studies. He is married with two children.

Keynote Speaker, Ray Zylinski

Ray Zylinski began his relationship with VIA at age two. He was born with bilateral retinoblastoma, more commonly known as cancer of the eyes. Ray underwent various surgeries and although the cancer was eradicated, he lost his vision.

Ray was enrolled in VIA’s Preschool, and later went to Public School in Hamburg, where he was taught braille by his Teacher of the Visually Impaired and white cane travel by his Orientation & Mobility Instructor. In 2013, he was hired at the Statler Center, VIA’s nationally recognized hospitality training program as an assistant, and soon after promoted to lead instructor.

Ray is currently VIA’s Vision Education Specialist, where he helps others experiencing vision loss to see what’s possible, and he presents to organizations and businesses throughout the community about the capabilities of people who are blind.

When not working, you’ll find Ray at Bills games, sampling some of Buffalo’s finest craft beers, listening to live music, and preparing for his upcoming wedding in October!