(Lakeland, Tenn.) October 7, 2002 - Belz Factory Outlet World - Lakeland, in
conjunction with Vision Quest, a community-wide coalition of agencies, organizations
and professionals serving the needs of the blind and visually impaired, will host a
"Blindness Awareness Day" event at the outlet mall on Saturday, October 12th. From
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., representatives from area agencies will be on hand at booths
throughout the mall walkways to increase public awareness of agencies and services
that assist persons with vision limitation. There will also be a "Sight Van" parked
in front of the main mall entrance to give free eye exams to shoppers throughout the event.
Among the services offered by participating community agencies are: rehabilitation
and adjustment counseling; skills training for coping with the demands of everyday life;
job placement counseling and vocational training; orientation and mobility instruction;
low vision evaluations; recreational activities; and peer support and advocacy services.
"Even the most technologically-advanced medical procedures may not fully restore lost
sight," said Andrew J. Groveman, President of the Factory Outlet Division of
Belz Enterprises. "These services can help improve the quality of life for affected
individuals. We urge everyone to attend this important event and learn more about the
extensive resources available to the community."
Located at 3536 Canada Road in Lakeland, Belz Factory Outlet World is open Monday
through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
With headquarters in Memphis, Belz Enterprises is a multi-faceted real estate company
with more than 30 million square feet of developed property including over 40 shopping
complexes, ranging from community shopping centers to regional malls. Belz developed and
manages Factory Outlet Worlds in Lakeland and Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Las Vegas, Nev.,
St. Augustine, Fla. and Orlando, Fla., where the company also operates the
Belz Designer Outlet Centre. In 2001, the firm opened Belz Factory Outlet World-Puerto Rico,
the first enclosed factory outlet mall on Puerto Rico. In addition, Belz operates the
100 Oaks Mall in Nashville, Tenn. The company has also developed and owns a group of
premier hotels, including the flagship Peabody Hotels in Memphis and Orlando and the
recently opened Peabody Hotel in Little Rock, Arkansas.