A Look Inside: The Seeing Eye Dinner Party & Auction

A close-up of the table arrangements. Center pieces consisted of a photo of a Seeing Eye puppy and bright spring flowers.

The 2022 Seeing Eye Dinner Party was held at The Ryland Inn in Whitehouse Station, N.J. on Tuesday, May 3. Approximately 200 guests dined on five courses prepared by New Jersey's top chefs, played with Seeing Eye puppies, and bid in a live and online auction.

The host for the night was Emmy Award Winning Television Host John Elliott of CBS New York. Elliott's passion for The Seeing Eye was contagious. He interviewed brothers Pat McKenna, a Seeing Eye graduate, and Brian McKenna, the Wohler's Family Foundation Master Instructor and Senior Manager of Instructor Training. Auctioneer Bob Milligan returned once again, masterfully conducting a competitive live auction.

This was the first time the online auction was combined with the Dinner Party, and the generosity of our supporters resulted in the two events to raising more than $260,000 in support of The Seeing Eye mission.

The appetizers and five courses were prepared by Executive Chef Christopher Albrecht of The Ryland Inn, Executive Chef David Felton of Hudson House in Jersey City, Executive Chef David Drake of The Stone House in Warren, Chef De Cuisine Crawford Koeniger of Ferry and Main in New Hope, PA, and Head Pastry Chef Kir Rodriguez of The Ryland Inn.

Photos by Alicia Savoly, Peach Photography.

Photo collage: Pat and Brian McKenna with their wives, John Elliot gets licked by a chocolate Lab pup, an image of a place setting with spring flowers, a plated course on the dinner table.

Photo collage: Pat and Brian McKenna with their wives, Sital and Peggy; John Elliott gets licked by a chocolate Lab pup; an image of a place setting with spring flowers; a plated course on the dinner table.

Photo collage: Deb Morrone-Colella thanks the Chefs; a group photo of Anthony Bucco, John Elliot, Peggi Howard, Thomas Kean, Tom Duffy; a plated meat course; Anthony Bucco smiles as he looks at the chocolate Lab puppy he is holding.

Photo collage: Director of Donor & Public Relations Deb Morrone-Colella thanks the Chefs; a group photo of NJ Senator Anthony Bucco, John Elliott, Interim President & CEO Peggi Howard, The Honorable Governor Thomas H. Kean, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Tom Duffy; a plated meat course; Anthony Bucco smiles as he looks at the chocolate Lab puppy he is holding.

Photo collage: Pat and Brian McKenna at the podium, speaking to the room; a close up of the Ruff Red Sangria in glasses on a serving tray; guests picking up their goodie bag on the way out; a close-up of the fish course.