EYEsee News
EYEsee Supports the January 30-February 4, 2012 Mission to Koh Kong, Cambodia
EYEsee supported the January 30-February 4, 2012 health mission to Cambodia by the Cambodian Health Professionals Association of America (CHPAA) with a donation of 2,000 eyeglasses. CHPAA is a non-profit organization based in Long Beach, California, whose mission is to promote health through service and education. Each year CHPAA sends a team of health professionals for a two-week trip to Cambodia. Working with local organizations and hospitals, CHAPP volunteers attend to the needs of the people in that country whose health is
challenged by poverty and poor access
to health care.
The CHPAA 2012 health mission covered the Cambodian provinces of Koh Kong, Tatai and Takeo. A team of 80 volunteers, both from the U.S. and Cambodia, saw and treated a total of 6,263 patients during the 6-day mission. CHPAA’s dental team treated 736 patients. The demand for health services far exceeded expectations. Crowds of people seeking care would begin to arrive in the early morning hours, stretching for several city blocks. Many of the patients that the volunteers cared for had never seen or could afford to see a doctor in their lives. In line with CHPAA’s health education mission, educational materials written in Khmer and English covering the most common illnesses, developed by its volunteers, were widely distributed.
As an important component of the health mission, CHPAA provided the much needed eyeglasses to their patients. Last year, CHPAA saw approximately 5,000 patients but it was only able to provide 300 eyeglasses due to their limited supply. EYEsee’s support this year enabled CHAPP to give away hundreds of the most sought-after eyeglasses during the mission. CHPAA volunteers set up a station specifically for patients with vision problems where they were tested and fitted for eyeglasses.
For additional info about Cambodian Health Professionals Association of America, contact (562) 491-9292 or mail Cambodian Health Professionals Association of America, 1025 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90813.
EYEsee Supports the May 12-19, 2012 Mission to Port Au Prince, Haiti
EYEsee supported the May 12-19, 2012 health mission to Haiti by the Mission to the World (MTW) with a donation of 300 eyeglasses. MTW is the international mission sending organization of the Presbyterian Church in America. MTW’s mission is to minister among unreached people groups in world-class cities as well as hinterland areas by partnering with national churches and indigenous leaders. MTW sends up to two health missions to Haiti each year. Amy Douglas, R.N., who was the team leader of this mission, reports on the outcome of this mission to the poor in the La Plaine area of Port Au Prince.
Fifteen of us met in the Miami airport shortly before boarding our flight to Port Au Prince. Many of us had never met in person which made this a very exciting time. We came from all over the US (California, Nebraska, Kansas, Maine and New Hampshire) and from many different backgrounds. Some were life-long believers and others were recent converts. What we had in common was answering the call for missions. We knew the Lord had gathered his sheep together to go to Haiti to deliver medical care. What we didn’t know was the Lord would lead us through a wonderful, gospel-centered journey when we gave everything up to Him and allowed him to lead the way.
Our team consisted of five physicians, two nurse practitioners, three nurses and five non-medical people. We set out to work with Pastor Jean Paul and All Souls Ministries (Reformation Hope) in the La Plaine section of Port Au Prince. The ministry includes an orphanage, a school, the church and a seminary. We stayed and worked at the compound that housed each of these ministries. The clinic was set up in the church and we saw patients for five days. In that time we were able to treat and minister to 823 people! Most importantly, Pastor Jean Paul was lifted up in the community. After seeing the doctor, we offered each patient eyeglasses. Patients were assisted by two team members who assessed visual acuity and fit. Many praised God for the ability to now read their bibles and see their grandchildren’s faces.
There were many church members treated in our clinic. However, there were many who were un-churched and did not know the gospel. We were able to minister to them and direct them to Pastor Jean Paul if they wanted to know more. Pastor Jean Paul shared with us that many people who we treated stopped by to tell him that they would be coming to church as a result of our work! We pray they will come!
We were able to offer all treatment and medications at no cost to the patients. This was due to the generosity of the organizations that donated medications and supplies.
Thank you so much for your donation. I look forward to bringing more EYEsee glasses to Haiti next year.
In Christ,
Amy Douglass, RN
Team Leader for Mission to the World
For additional info about Mission to the World, contact (678) 823-0004 or mail Mission to the World, 1600 North Brown Road, Lawrenceville, GA 30043-8141.
EYEsee Supports the May 18-28, 2012 Mission to Achi, Enugu State, Nigeria
EYEsee supported the May 18-28, 2012 health mission to Nigeria by the One World Health Care, Inc. (OWHI) with a donation of 250 eyeglasses.
Dr. Kanayo E. Ubesie, M.D., president of OWHI, reported that the site for this year’s mission in Nigeria was Achi, Enugu State. OWHI provided medical triage and treatment to indigents in 12 local communities during this mission. A team of 25 volunteers assisted during the mission, seeing and treating 6,500 patients. An experienced optometrist examined patients and distributed the eyeglasses free of charge. In describing the trip experience, Dr. Ubesie reported, “the communities came out in good numbers. They were very appreciative of our help. They cherished the eyeglasses.”
For additional info about One World Health Care USA, Inc., contact (713) 773-0003 or mail One World Healthcare Inc., 7737 Southwest Freeway, Suite 819, Houston, TX 77074.
EYEsee Supports the May 28- June 3, 2012 Mission to Laguna Province, Philippines
EYEsee supported the May 28-June 3, 2012 health mission to the Philippines by EyeCare WeCare Foundation, Inc. with a donation of 1,360 eyeglasses. Dr. James H.Weyrich, O.D., Founder & President, reports on this mission:
EyeCare WeCare Foundation just completed its 6-day mission to the City of Binan and Municipality of Cabuyao in the Province of Laguna in the Philippines and set records in all categories. During the 6-day mission (May 29th through June 3rd), a total of 2,609 people were served, averaging 434 patients per day compared to 325 in previous missions. Also, this mission performed the most cataract surgeries ever performed in one mission—38 surgeries in previous mission compared to 54 surgeries during this mission. On record, the highest prescription ever dispensed was -17.50 diopters but this time there were five people with higher prescriptions than that, setting a new record being -23.00 diopters. The foundation has created a huge impact in the lives of the poor in the Laguna province.
Aside from the people needing eyeglasses and cataracts or pterygium surgeries, many were treated for eye infections. Some were diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, high cholesterol and hypertension, and these patients were directed or referred to local doctors for treatment and evaluation. It was noted that most indigents needing eyeglasses including those with large vision corrections had never in their life owned a pair of eyeglasses. For so many, it was a life changing experience.
One of the many reasons that there was such a drastic increase in patients seen every day was the upgrading of the optical/medical equipment during the mission and also because of the new volunteers’ training programs that have been implemented. Derek Buchanan, a volunteer-optician from Portland, Oregon, streamlined the neutralizing and dispensing of the graded eyeglasses, which improved the system a lot.
The Transition Healthy Sight for Life, The Allegran Foundation and WalMart have contributed to the upgrading of the foundation’s equipment. For now, the foundation is in the process of asking and obtaining an auto-tonometer since the last one that it has been using is battery operated which in the last few missions, had been broken as it is not designed to accommodate 400+ patients a day due to the batteries losing their charge and they cannot be recharged fast enough to keep up with the speed of the process and the number of patients seen per day.
The 27 local volunteers have been a resilient group of individuals. They, once again, had to travel over 50 hours aboard a ferryboat to get to the mission venue. They worked long hours in extreme heat every day. The lodging, many times, required over a dozen of them in one small bed room. But these conditions never dampened their spirits—they can all hardly wait for the next mission schedule. They have witnessed the many people whose lives have been changed when they receive their eyeglasses, surgeries and eye medications. That’s all it takes to inspire them to keep on serving to the best of their capacity.
We now have to gear back up in preparation for the next mission which will be in Olongapo City in the Province of Zambales in January 2013. We hope and pray that we will get the same support that we received from you in the past missions or in previous years. We hope and pray that in the many coming years, you will be with us and will continue to help us achieve our goal for the rural poor in the Philippines.
I thank you for everything. It takes so many people, organization, time, resources and faith to make one of these many missions possible, and you are truly one of them. You, your family and your organization have always been part of changing the lives of those who need it most. If you would like to go with us and join us on a mission, or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. God bless you more.
Warm regards,
James H. Weyrich, O.D.
President/Founder
For additional info about EyeCare WeCare Foundation, Inc., contact by phone (360) 593-2353 or mail EyeCare WeCare Foundation, Inc., 304 N. Talbot, Montesano, WA 98563.
EYEsee Supports the 2012 ‘Seeing Clearly’ Program in the Philippines
Physicians for Peace addresses the overwhelming needs for vision care in underserved areas, including the Philippines. Through its ‘Seing Clearly’ Program, Physicians for Peace created the first eyeglass bank in the Philippines in 2004, and an optometry clinic in 2006. Physicians for Peace uses this program and facilities to train local medical professionals to address the issues of cataracts, glaucoma and errors of refraction. Its volunteers train local professionals to use sophisticated equipment to determine the prescription strength of donated eyeglasses and to provide comprehensive eye exams to patients.
Like many developing countries, the Philippines is faced with a crisis in health care. Spread over 7,100 islands, access to decent medical care is almost non-existent for a large percent of the population. When care is available, people have to travel hundreds of miles to receive. Yet, in most cases, a standard vision exam and access to prescription glasses is all that is needed for a patient to see clearly, often for the first time in his or her life. Physicians for Peace works with local teams to restore the eyesight of patients. Year-round, it deploys teams to remote areas in the Philippines , where patients have limited access to healthcare providers and resources like prescription glasses. These teams provide comprehensive eye exams, conduct eye surgeries and provide free prescription eyeglasses. EYEsee donated 2,295 eyeglasses to support this year’s ‘Seeing Clearly’ Program in the Philippines.
For additional info about Physician for Peace, contact by phone (757) 625-7368 or mail Physicians for Peace, 500 E. Main Street, Suite 900, Norfolk, VA 23510.
EYEsee Reports on Worldwide Health Missions it Supported in 2011
EYEsee supplied recycled eyeglasses to the various health missions by its partner organizations in 2011. EYEsee also responded to the requests by other mission-directed organizations for help with their overseas health missions in 2011. All these health missions were conducted in some of the poorest areas of the world’s populations. The patients seen during these missions don’t have much, they simply cannot afford the vision care and eyeglasses they desperately need. They were very grateful for the medical care and the eyeglasses they received during these missions. Together, EYEsee and its partners are making a remarkable difference in alleviating global poverty.
2011 Health Mission to Surigao del Sur Province, Philippines
EYEsee supported the Physicians for Peace’s Seeing Clearly Program with a donation of 3,000 recycled eyeglasses in 2011. Physicians for Peace has volunteer healthcare teams in some of the world’s most desperate regions. In 2011, they deployed 159 volunteers on 48 missions to 16 countries in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and Central America. Their volunteer healthcare teams have provided free life-changing care to hundreds of patients around the world.
Seeing Clearly program was founded in 2006 to address the overwhelming need for vision care in underserved areas, including the Philippines, where more than half a million people are blind and many more are visually impaired. This program helps people who cannot afford vision care and the cost of eyeglasses.
On July 16-27, 2011, a team of Physicians for Peace healthcare volunteers conducted a health mission in Tandag, the capital of Surigao del Sur Province in the Philippines. 813 patients received free vision care, with 80% receiving recycled or pre-made eyeglasses. Over 100 eye surgeries were performed during this mission.
The patients’ gratitude was clear. Pastor Roberto (seen on left of the photo) had corneal scarring which the Physicians for Peace team could not treat, but he thanked the volunteers profusely for the eyeglasses that would allow him to read his bible again. He lives "uphill" and had traveled several hours to get to the hospital. After lunch on that day of the mission alone, there were over 70 patients in line waiting for eyeglasses.
For additional info about Physician for Peace, visit www.physiciansforpeace.org or contact by phone (757) 625-7368 or mail Physicians for Peace, 500 E. Main Street, Suite 900, Norfolk, VA 23510.
2011 Health Mission to Batangas Province, Philippines
EYEsee supported the EyeCare WeCare Foundation’s medical missions to the Philippines with a donation of over 2,000 recycled eyeglasses in 2011. On June 1-6, 2011, EyeCare WeCare held their medical mission in Lemery/Tall, Province of Batangas in the northern island of Luzon, Philippines. This mission set a record for the number of lives changed: 1,703 received free vision care, 1,688 were fitted with free graded eyeglasses, and over 70 were scheduled for eye surgeries.
Two volunteer optometric physicians (Dr. Mark Bernardo and Dr. Yin-Yin Aung) and a volunteer optometry student (Ed Barilla) assisted during this mission. Their work allowed EyeCare WeCare to identify more pathology than past missions. EyeCare WeCare was able to dilate suspicious eye condition and perform more ophthalmoscopy and biomicroscopy on more patients during this mission. All the doctors conferred with each other as to the needed further treatment and all agreed as to what would be the best avenue of treatment and referral. Also assisting in the mission was Derrick Buchanan, an optician from Portland, Oregon, who was in charge of selecting the closest prescription for the patients from the EyeCare WeCare large supply of recycled eyeglasses.
For additional info about EyeCare WeCare Foundation, Inc., visit www.eyecarewecare.org or contact by phone (360) 593-2353 or mail EyeCare WeCare Foundation, Inc., 304 N. Talbot, Montesano, WA 98563.
2011 Health Mission to Ebeye Island, Republic of Marshall Islands
EYEsee supported the Canvasback Missions’ health missions to the Republic of Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia with a donation of 500 recycled eyeglasses in 2011.
In October 2011, Canvasback conducted a health mission in Ebeye Island, a tiny atoll in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean, where residents go without access to eye care, even if it means that they go blind. This island has a population of more than 15,000. Over 50% of the population is estimated to be under the age of 18. With crowded living conditions, an inadequate school system, and scarce clean water, Ebeye has been known by the unofficial title of "Slum of the Pacific." Physician volunteers performed 207 eye surgeries, which mean 207 Ebeye Islanders now have the gift of sight. Other people received improved vision from the free eyeglasses they were fitted.
For additional info about Canvasback Missions, Inc., visit www.canvasback.org or contact (707) 746-7828 or mail Canvasback Missions, Inc., 940 Adams Street, Suite R, Benicia, CA 94510
2011 Health Missions to Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, Uganda and Bunagana, Congo
EYEsee supported the PeopleWeaver’s medical mission to Uganda and Congo with a donation of 100 recycled eyeglasses in 2011. PeopleWeaver is a non-profit organization established to provide economic assistance, such as microcredit loans, to impoverished women in developing countries. Currently, their efforts are focused on the women refugees living in the Kyangwali Refugee Settlement in Uganda.
In May 2011, PeopleWeaver traveled to Uganda in May and distributed some of the eyeglasses during their annual microcredit meeting. The meeting was attended by the women who have received loans, women who hope to receive loans, project leaders, community members, and community leaders.
PeopleWeaver then traveled for the first time to Bunagana in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to explore the possibility of giving microcredit loans there. This is the area many of the Kyangwali refugees they work with are from. They took about 20 pairs of glasses to Bunagana. They did not announce they had the glasses, but after giving a pair to one person, the word spread quickly and people started showing up at our door each morning and throughout the day. They were told people were coming days after they left.
For additional info about PeopleWeaver, visit www.peopleweaver.org or contact (303) 870-7125 or mail PeopleWeaver, 4295 Niblick Drive, Longmont, CO 80503.
2011 Health Mission to Campamento, Olancho, Honduras
EYEsee supported the St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church’s June 7-14, 2011 health mission to their sister parish in Campamento, Olancho, Honduras, with a donation of 500 recycled eyeglasses. This mission was St. Philip’s 15th visit with the Santa Parish. Fr. Abelardo Huanaca, associate pastor of St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church, led a group of St. Philip volunteers on this mission. The mission distributed over 650 pair of reading glasses during their visit. Nearly all were sized and handed directly to people in remote and impoverished villages and communities. Both EYEsee and the NW Lions Eyeglasses Recycling Center supplied the eyeglasses for this mission.
Mission volunteers took the eyeglasses with them everywhere they visited—villages, small towns, communities, ‘a spot in the road’, as well as, a local senior’s center. They would find a convenient spot and set up our reading glasses distribution point—sometimes inside a chapel or other building and sometimes outdoors. They used a modified hand-held chart, converted into Spanish with numbers and symbols, to assess their ‘patients’ needs. Some of the volunteers spoke Spanish and they were augmented by several Santa Ana church members.
Mission volunteers formally and informally set up shop around twenty times. As word got out, they also distributed reading glasses from their lodging area on the Santa Ana church property. In some cases they gave 3-4 pair of random sized reading glasses to a wife and for her husband who was working in the fields. The volunteers figured that if he could not use them another family member or an extended family member could use them.
For additional info about the Santa Ana Mission of St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church, contact (770) 478-1542 or mail St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church, 591 Flint Rd., Jonesboro, GA 30238.
2011 Health Mission to Jarabacoa, Dominican RepublicEYEsee supported the Latino Medical Association’s (LMSA) December 18-22, 2011 health Mission to the mountains of Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic with a donation of 405 recycled eyeglasses. LMSA is a non-profit student-run organization at the University of South Florida College of Medicine. This health mission was LMSA’s second annual trip to Jarabacoa.
LMSA’s health missions are run entirely by volunteer physicians and medical students who are all vision screening certified to be able to provide eyeglasses to those patients that have the most need for eyeglasses. Their clinic flow includes a vision screening station where volunteer physicians and medical students provide the best fitting eyeglasses to those patients that truly need eyeglasses.
In 2010, LMSA provided free vision care to 400 adults and children and handed out 150 reading glasses at their mission site of Higos de Hatillo in Jarabacoa. In 2011, they extended their mission trip by another three clinic days in order to serve additional new patients.
LMSA is also dedicated to serving underrepresented populations in the Tampa Bay-area as well as providing mentoring to underserved students in their community. They also seek to promote awareness of Latino health issues to current and incoming health professionals at the University of South Florida College of Medicine.
For additional info about the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) of the University of South Florida College of Medicine, contact (954) 913-1084 or mail Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA), 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC 4. Tampa, FL 33612.
EYEsee Supports June 1-6, 2011 Medical Mission to Lemery/Taal, Province of Batangas, Philippines
Dr. Jim Weyrich, Founder and President of EyeCare WeCare Foundation, Inc., reports on the foundation's 12th mission to the Philippines to Lemery Taal, Province of Batangas. The foundation's 'Clinic on Wheels' reaches patients in rural Philippines. EYEsee has supported EyeCare WeCare’s missions to the Philippines with a donation of 2,000 recycled eyeglasses in 2011.
Every single mission there are new venues, different experiences, great teamwork, many people blessed and we keep in mind that God is present at all time working in us and through us to bring His great gift of sight to the poorest of the poor here in the Philippines. First of all, we know by experience in the mission field, that no matter how well the plans are made in advance they do not always go according to plan. This mission is no different. The first major change came when, after months of negotiations with the ferryboat/shipping company, they cancelled our sail dates (this also happened during our January mission but we were able to move ahead in our schedule and still hit the venue times for the mission). But this time, we could not get there in time for the mission. We had to abort our plans of travel to island hop from Negros to Panay Island, (2 hour ferry boat ride) drive 7 hours to the other end of Panay island, catch a ferry to Mindoro Island (6 hours ferry boat ride), drive 6 hours to the north of Mindoro and catch a ferry to Batangas (a 2-hour ferry boat ride) to make the ferry boat schedules. It took two days to get to the mission (Batangas) and then two days to return from the trip. There was much higher fuel costs of the bus and the 25 volunteers had to try to rest on the ferry boat rides and inside the mobile clinic. It was quite an adventure that never before our volunteers had ever experienced. Then, because of lack of cooperation from the local medical community in the Lemery/Taal area, we had to abort the plan to do the cataract surgeries simultaneous with our medical mission. It is very unfortunate, but now we will transport all of the patients needing surgery to Manila where their free surgeries will be performed.
On the positive side, however, we had some things that were plusses and not minuses. First of all we had great support from our host/sponsors, Mr. Bayani Diokno and Mr. Cris Cueto. The stay at the private beach resort was donated to the foundation's volunteers by Mr. Cueto's second cousin. It was the very first time that we actually had a place to stay on the ocean and it was much more elegant than what our volunteers are used to. The food was wonderful and the day after the medical mission everyone was bussed to Tagaytay, where we got to see the active Taal volcano in the middle of Lake Taal. It is the shortest of all active volcanoes in the world and from Tagaytay, you actually look down, not up at the crater.
The biggest change and the most beneficial thing that was different about this mission were the volunteer optometric physicians and one Optometry student. Dr.'s Mark Bernardo and Yin-Yin Aung were able to exclusively look for pathology, and our Optometry Student, Ed Barilla, helped also in checking for ocular pathology. We were able to identify more pathology than any other missions because we were able to dilate any suspicious eye condition and perform direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy on all and also a bio-microscopy on all patients. All the doctors conferred with each other as to needed further treatment and all agreed as to what would be the best avenue of treatment and refer. We didn't have to do that with the cataract and pterygium referrals, because they were very obvious. We were again fortunate to have Derrick Buchannan, the optician from Portland, Oregon, have him be in charge of selecting the closest prescription for the patients from our large supply of recycled eyeglasses.
This 6-day mission set Eyecare WeCare’s all-time record: 1,703 indigents receive free vision care, 1,688 received graded eyeglasses, and 70 were scheduled to receive eye surgeries.
For additional info, visit www.eyecarewecare.org or contact EyeCare WeCare Foundation, Inc., 304 N. Talbot, Montesano, WA 98563, phone (360) 593-2353.
EYEsee Concludes ‘2011 Campaign’ with Over 8,700 Eyeglasses Collected
Operating upon the theme that ‘Everyone deserves the right to see clearly,’ EYEsee rolled out ‘2011 Campaign’─its third annual used eyeglasses collection drive in the Chicago-area─on January 22, 2011 with the initial weekend collection drive led by Saint Viator students at Queen of the Rosary Parish in Elk Grove Village. ‘2011 Campaign’ netted over 8,700 eyeglasses and achieved its goal of expanding into new collection areas this year. It also garnered media publicity, including the Daily Herald (April 11, 2011 and April 20, 2011 issues). 
Fifteen churches hosted EYEsee’s weekend collection drives between January 22 and June 5, 2011. They are Queen of the Rosary (Elk Grove), St. Matthew (Schaumburg), St. Edna (Arlington Hts.), Holy Family (Inverness), Mary Seat of Wisdom (Park Ridge), St. Anne (Barrington), St. Raymond de Penafort (Mt. Prospect), Immanuel Lutheran (Palatine), St. Thomas of Villanova (Palatine), St. Isaac Joques (Niles), Church of the Holy Spirit (Schaumburg), St. Peter the Apostle (Itasca), St. James (Arlington Hts.), St. Thomas Becket (Mt. Prospect) and Prince of Peace (Palatine). Thirty-three St. Viator High School students led these weekend collection drives, collective logging 330 service hours.
Six senior homes opened their doors to EYEsee by hosting Saturday collection drives for their residents. They are The Garlands (Barrington), Church Creek Sunrise (Arlington Hts.), The Park at Golf Mill (Niles), Heritage of Des Plaines (Des Plaines), Schaumburg Sunrise (Schaumburg) and Victory Centre (Bartlett). Six St. Viator High School students led these Saturday collection drives, collectively logging more than 40 hours.
Campus Minister Beth Knobbe helped EYEsee run its second annual collection drive at Northwestern University’s Sheil Catholic Center on May 22, 2011. EYEsee also ran its first annual collection drive at The University of Chicago Calvert House with the help of Campus Minister Liz Weigel on April 3, 2011. Four Saint Viator High School students led both drives.
This year’s campaign expanded into public and private offices, which was a significant milestone for EYEsee. The following municipalities hosted month-long collection drives: Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Palatine, Itasca and Elk Grove. Arlington Heights Memorial Library combined EYEsee’s month-long collection drive with its green program.
AT&T signed up for EYEsee’s campaign this year, and is presently winding down their collection drive in the Chicago-area as of press time. Classic Sunglasses in Barrington is EYEsee’s largest donor this year with 1,250 sunglasses donated to the campaign.
EYEsee also received eyeglasses donations from out-of-state donors, namely, East Alabama Medical Center (Alabama), University of the Pacific (California) and Auburn University Athletic Department (Alabama).
Mitch Morton, an Eagle Scout from Buffalo High School, collected 1,057 eyeglasses for EYEsee for his Eagle Award project.
Two optical clinics have continued their support of EYEsee’s efforts with donations to this year’s campaigns. They are Suburban Associates in Ophthalmology Diseases & Surgery of the Eye (Arlington Hts.) and Midwest Glaucoma Center (Hoffman Estates). The University of Chicago Medical Center also donated to this year’s campaign.
Other service organizations that have donated to EYEsee’s campaign this year are the Women’s Club of Arlington Heights and the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women. Many private individuals have mailed their donations of eyeglasses to EYEsee or dropped them off at Saint Viator High School.
EYEsee gratefully acknowledges the generosity of its many donors, sponsors and volunteers. They made possible the success of EYEsee’s ‘2011 Campaign.’
Classic Sunglasses Donates 1,250 Sunglasses to EYEsee’s ‘2011 Campaign’
Classic Sunglasses is EYEsee’s top donor for 2011, with 1,250 sunglasses donated to EYEsee’s ‘2011 Campaign.’ Janice Guzon, Founder and President of EYEsee, picked up the donation at Classic’s main office in Barrington, Illinois, on July 11, 2011.
In handing their donation to Janice, Thomas Longeway, President of Classic Sunglasses, thanked Janice for EYEsee’s work on behalf of the world’s poor and expressed his satisfaction that Classic’s donation of sunglasses will make a difference in the lives of many.
Classics’ donation of sunglasses will supply health missions to Marshall Islands and Micronesia in early 2012. For Pacific Islands people, vision-related conditions such as cataracts are a major public health problem. This is because exposure to sunlight and the high rate of diabetes can cause cataracts to form earlier than they do in the U.S. Sunglasses are a significant help in addressing the vision-related conditions of the people in these tropical islands.
In 2010, Classics donated over 700 sunglasses, which supplied health missions to the poor in Uganda, Honduras and the Philippines.
Physician for Peace’s Lists EYEsee as $25,000+ Gifts-In-Kind Partner on Its 2010 Annual Report
Physicians for Peace is an international non-profit organization that mobilizes volunteer healthcare professionals in the U.S. to assist developing nations with unmet medical needs and scarce resources. Since 1989 their volunteers have conducted medical missions in more than 60 countries. With its headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, Physicians for Peace has programs in 22 countries and offices in the Philippines and the Dominican Republic. Its ‘Seeing Clearly’ program reaches out to isolated communities with little or no access to vision care. Through vision exams and donations of prescription glasses, the gift of sight is restored to those who need it. Since 2009 EYEsee has partnered with Physicians for Peace to help people who cannot afford the cost of a simple pair of eyeglasses in the poorest countries in the world. In acknowledgement of EYEsee’s support of its ‘Seeing Clearly’ program, Physicians for Peace has listed EYEsee under the $25,000+ Gifts-In-Partner category on its 2010 Annual Report. View the 2010 Annual Report HERE.