San Diego CA— Friends of Braille Institute San Diego (FBISD), the nonprofit auxiliary that supports the programs and services of the Braille Institute San Diego, will host its second annual “Eye Candy Car & Bike Show” fundraiser on Sunday, April 30, 2017 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pal Joey’s in the Del Cerro neighborhood of San Diego. Registration costs $30 per car or truck and $20 per bike, and is open to all years, makes and models. This event is free to attend and open to the public. All proceeds will directly fund Braille Institute San Diego’s free programs and services offered year-round.
Car and bike show attendees will enjoy music, opportunity drawings and will be able to vote on many categories of vehicles who will enter the show. Winners in various categories will receive trophies at the event: Student’s Choice, People’s Choice, Coolest Custom, Best Foreign, Bad to the Bone, Heavy Hauler, Mighty Muscle, Coolest Low Rider, Period Perfect, Best Interior, Best Paint, Best Motorcycle, Quickest & Fastest, Best of Show and more.

One of the unique aspects of this car and bike show that designates it from others is that students and guests can touch and/or sit inside many of the vehicles entered in the show. Braille Institute students and guests in attendance will select the cars and bikes that will receive top honors. Nearly 90 percent of Braille Institute San Diego students and patrons have some remaining vision, so they have the ability to identify the shape, color or design of the cars and bikes. For the students who are totally blind, this event is an opportunity for them to use their sense of touch to feel the vehicle’s shape and hear more about its history. This much anticipated event is a favorite of many Braille Institute San Diego students and the community. The inaugural Eye Candy Car & Bike Show was in 2016, and organizers raised more than $6,000 for the Braille Institute San Diego.
“We are looking for a lot of people to come to Pal Joey’s and bring their vehicles to show them off to our visually-impaired students as well as the general public. It is a great event to bring the entire family,” said Jane Carlson, president, Friends of Braille Institute San Diego.
In addition to the cars, trucks and bikes, attendees can also purchase items from vendors as well as artwork created by the students of Braille Institute San Diego. Proceeds from art sales will go back to the individual artist. In 2016, Braille Institute San Diego served approximately 7,500 students at their regional campus. This is approximately 22 percent of the blind and visually impaired population who live in the region.
“We are so appreciative of Mike Miller of Pal Joey’s for hosting this event as well as the automotive enthusiast community for participating and sharing their passion with our students and the general public,” said Jay Hatfield, executive director, Braille Institute San Diego. “Although our students do not drive anymore, many are looking forward to sitting in this year’s entries and enjoying the sensory experience of the day.”