Raising Awareness and Funds for the Retina Foundation of the Southwest

Raising money for the Retina Foundation of the Southwest in Dallas is deeply personal for Dan Hunt, president of FC Dallas and a member of the family sporting empire that owns the soccer team and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Age-related macular degeneration and other eye-related problems don’t run in his father’s side of the family, so much as they race through it, says Hunt. The businessman is the son of the late sports icon Lamar Hunt, and the descendant of oil baron H.L. Hunt.

Personal Connection to the Cause

“I’ve had a number of uncles and aunts who had AMD,” he said in an interview. “My aunt Caroline [Hunt] was effectively blind. My father had his own vision problems. He had severe glaucoma and astigmatism.”

But his late mother, Norma Hunt’s, battle with AMD is why he poured his heart into co-chairing the foundation’s Vision Lunch on May 8 at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.

His mother died in 2023 having given up much of her coveted independence ― and her car keys ― because of her increasingly blurred vision.

A Mother’s Struggle with AMD

“I went through that journey with her and her initial devastation about the thought of her losing her eyesight,” said Hunt, also the younger brother of Chiefs owner Clark Hunt.

“My mother was the most vibrant human being who loved living and doing things. So the deterioration in her eyesight was devastating to her.

“I remember her willingly giving up driving, because she said, ‘I could not live with myself if I hurt somebody driving my car.’”

During the final few years of her life, Norma, the beloved matriarch of the Chiefs, received eyeball injections that arrested but couldn’t reverse the damage done.

“But the decline had stopped. It was static,” Hunt said. “And that was joyful to her.”

Continued Support for the Retina Foundation

His fellow co-chair, Jay Rosser, T. Boone Pickens’ longtime chief of staff, picked up the torch for his late boss, who had advanced AMD and was passionate about finding a cure. The legendary oil tycoon seeded $2.5 million in 2009 to jumpstart research at the foundation.

“Boone would be incredibly proud and grateful for the hundreds of others who have supported the Retina Foundation in the 15 years since his gift,” Rosser said, “But he would be the first to say the work is far from done and desperately needs continued support.”

Raising Awareness with the Help of Celebrity Supporters

The event was headlined by Eric Stonestreet, best known for his Emmy-winning role as Cam Tucker in the ABC sitcom Modern Family, and by his mother, Jamey, who has AMD.

Both Stonestreets live in Kansas City and are ardent Chiefs fans.

AMD runs in their family, too.

“My grandmother Helen, who was my mom’s mother, was a long sufferer of macular degeneration,” Stonestreet said. “My mom thankfully has controlled AMD. We welcome the opportunity to raise awareness for the disease and encourage people to keep regular with their eye doctor.

“We are grateful for the Hunts and all the work they do on behalf of sufferers and to raise awareness.”

The Importance of the Retina Foundation

Dan Hunt summed up his feelings this way: “Sometimes we all take our eyesight for granted. We have this unbelievable institution in Dallas with the Retina Foundation.

“The money that they raise and the treatments they provide for young and old with different eye issues are amazing. Their accomplishments need to be trumpeted even louder.”

Conclusion

The Retina Foundation of the Southwest is a vital institution that provides hope and support to those affected by eye-related diseases. With the help of dedicated individuals like Dan Hunt and Eric Stonestreet, the foundation can continue to raise awareness and funds for research and treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Retina Foundation of the Southwest?

A: The Retina Foundation of the Southwest is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing research, treatment, and support for individuals affected by eye-related diseases, including age-related macular degeneration.

Q: What is age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

A: Age-related macular degeneration is a condition that causes vision loss in older adults, resulting from damage to the macula, the part of the eye responsible for central vision.

Q: How can I support the Retina Foundation of the Southwest?

A: You can support the Retina Foundation of the Southwest by donating, volunteering, or participating in fundraising events. You can also help raise awareness by sharing information about the foundation and the importance of eye health.