Looking Back on an Unforgettable 2025 Through the Looking Glass Gala

By: Seth Johnson

On Saturday, Sept. 6, the Indiana Blind Children’s Foundation held another successful Through the Looking Glass Gala presented by Eye Surgeons of Indiana, raising a total of $277,000 in support of the foundation’s mission to empower youth who are blind or have low vision.

IBCF board members and staff pose for a photo on the red carpet with Bradford and Bryan Manning of Two Blind Brothers.

Held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Noblesville for the first time, the 2025 TTLG Gala featured the event’s largest attendance to date, welcoming a total of 400 guests to this sold-out event for an impactful night of fundraising and community.

Guests of the Gala kicked off their evening with a red carpet entry and cocktail reception, where they had the opportunity to enjoy a complimentary bourbon tasting from Mike Clayton – Bourbon Afficionado, a complimentary wine tasting from Daniel’s Vineyard, and the event’s signature Limitless Lemonade cocktail crafted by After-Party Lounge Sponsor Moon Drops Distillery. While sipping on drinks and indulging in delicious appetizers, guests were invited to check out the 118 silent auction packages that were on display across categories like The Arts, Food & Dining, Sports & Recreation, and more. In the entryway outside of the reception area, guests of gold-sponsored tables and up participated in a Meet and Greet with 2025 Gala keynote speakers Bradford and Bryan Manning of Two Blind Brothers, who took the time to genuinely connect with each gala patron.

An ISBVI student is seen posing for a photo with the holiday self-portrait ornament she created. In addition to the Gala’s annual Bourbon Pull, guests were invited to take part in a few activations at the cocktail reception as well, including the Shimmer and Seconds Raffle, where they could enter to win a luxurious necklace or watch donated to the event by Diamonds Direct. Unique to this year, guests were also invited to purchase “My Guide Dog” plushies donated to the gala by Two Blind Brothers. Alongside the rack of “My Guide Dog” plushies, there was a Christmas tree with ornaments crafted by ISBVI students. Attendees were invited to Gift a Plushie- $50, Get a Plushie- $50, or Both- $100, ensuring all ISBVI students receive a "My Guide Dog" plushie this holiday season while attendees received a beautiful self-portrait ornament hand-made by our students.

Following a fun-filled cocktail reception, guests migrated into the room next door for the night’s program, which was accompanied by a three-course dinner. After opening remarks from TTLG Gala Committee Co-Chairs Amanda Madore and Lindsey Jordan, guests had the delight of meeting Kathy Nimmer, a graduate of Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ISBVI) who also serves on the Indiana Blind Children’s Foundation board. Guests then heard from current ISBVI senior Jazmine Nelson, who spoke on the importance of the event’s Fund-A-Need (which supported a re-envisioned preschool program and early learning interventions at ISBVI), while also sharing that her dream is to one day be a teacher.

ISBVI student Jazmine Nelson is seen speaking on stage with Indiana Blind Children's Foundation CEO Laura Alvarado standing to her left and ISBVI graduate Kathy Nimmer standing to her right.

After being introduced by Indiana Blind Children’s Foundation CEO Laura Alvarado, 2025 TTLG Gala keynote speakers Bradford and Bryan Manning of Two Blind Brothers (sponsored by Keynote Speakers Sponsor VisionQuest Eyecare) took the stage for an enthralling keynote address that was full of passion, wisdom, and a little bit of laughter along the way. During their keynote address, the Manning brothers made sure to speak on the virtual Entrepreneurial Workshop they had led with ISBVI students the previous day and how the experience left a lasting impact on them.

Bryan and Bradford Manning are seen delivering their keynote speech at the TTLG Gala. “We got to meet some of these unbelievable students. And when we asked them, ‘What do you want to be professionally?’ They said, ‘I want to be a neuropsychologist. I want to be a baker. I want to be an engineer. I want to be a teacher. I want to be a heavy metal guitarist,” said Bryan Manning. “How do you take someone from hopelessness to believing in themselves that that’s where they want to aspire to go? It’s because you believe in them. You educate them. You inform them. You give them the self-confidence, the self-worth, and the self-understanding to know that blindness is just a quality they have and something they can overcome each and every day. I don’t know how you do it so phenomenally well with each and every kid that we interacted with, but it was one of the single most inspiring and hope-filling things I have seen in a very long time.

While sharing the story of how Two Blind Brothers came to be as a clothing brand, Bradford and Bryan Manning also made sure to shed light on the many lessons they’ve learned along the way as individuals who are visually impaired.

“We had parents who told us that everyone in life has challenges,” Bradford said. “This was one challenge that we had, but that we’re all measured in life not by the cards we’re dealt but by how we play the hand.”

Following the conclusion of the TTLG Gala program, attendees took part in a live auction headed up by auctioneer Dan Campbell, who rallied bids on six different auction items, followed by the 2025 TTLG Fund-A-Need. As this year’s Education Match Sponsor at the TTLG Gala, the Terry Lee Foundation matched the first $7500 in donations that were made to the Fund-A-Need to support a re-envisioned preschool program and early learning interventions at ISBVI.

Terry Lee poses for a photo with his late mother, Clara "Ernie" Lee, who worked as a dorm parent at ISBVI during the late '80s. A plaque will be hung in her honor in the new ISBVI preschool classroom once the classroom is completed.

To close out the evening, guests made their way to the After-Party Lounge, sponsored by Moon Drops Distillery, where they were treated to live music from Bourbon Revival and complimentary dessert tastings from Anthony’s Chophouse, Cunningham Restaurant Group, Savor, and The Jazz Kitchen.

The Indiana Blind Children’s Foundation would again like to thank everyone who made this year’s Gala a monumental success, including all of our sponsors, the TTLG Gala Committee, the IBCF Board of Directors, all of our hardworking volunteers, the Embassy Suites hotel staff, and all of the wonderful attendees who came out and showed their support!

Make sure you save the date for next year’s Through the Looking Glass Gala, which will take place on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, at the Embassy Suites in Noblesville, Indiana.

If you attended this year’s Gala and your employer matches donations, please be sure to submit your 2025 Through the Looking Glass Gala donation for a match through your employer to help us raise even more support through this amazing event.

To check out a full photo slideshow from the event, follow this link. Many thanks to M.Rinaye Photography for capturing the magic!