Local activities / news/ events
A STAR Giving Sight: Star of Broadway’s Grease, Laura Osnes, launches the World Sight Day Challenge for Optometry Giving Sight
Star of Broadway’s GREASE, Laura Osnes, wants all optometrists to join Optometry Giving Sight’s World Sight Day Challenge to help give sight to the estimated 300 million people who are blind or vision impaired simply because they do not have access to an eye exam and a pair of glasses.
“My father is an optometrist and so I grew up appreciating his role in giving sight – and I know how important good vision is to our quality of life. It would be difficult, if not impossible, for any of us to learn, read, do our jobs or support our families without our vision,” said Laura, who officially launched the World Sight Day Challenge at Vision Expo East on April 11.
The World Sight Day Challenge invites all optometrists to donate their eye exams fees to Optometry Giving Sight on World Sight Day (October 9, 2008) to help fund projects which will provide vision care, local training and infrastructure development in countries that lack basic eye care services.
Register for the World Sight Day Challenge
Read full press release
Victor Connors, O.D. appointed Chair of the Optometry Giving Sight National Committee in the United States
Optometry Giving Sight has appointed Victor Connors, O.D. as Chair of the global fundraising organization’s National Committee in the United States.
Dr. Connors is currently a member of Optometry Giving Sight’s Global Board; is the Immediate Past President of the World Council of Optometry; and is a Past President of the AOA and the Wisconsin Optometric Association.
Dr. Connors replaces Dr Barry Weiner, who has served as Co-Chair with Professor Brien Holden since 2005. Both will now become Deputy Co-Chairs.
Thank you to Dr. Weiner for his fantastic leadership and support in the launch and early days of Optometry Giving Sight in the U.S.
Stars Giving Sight:
Optometry Giving Sight and Laura Osnes, Star of Broadway’s Grease and daughter of Optometrist, to Launch the World Sight Day Challenge at Vision Expo East
Optometry Giving Sight and Laura Osnes, Broadway star of Grease, winner of NBC’s hit show “Grease: You’re the One That I Want” and daughter of Minnesota optometrist, will launch the 2008 World Sight Day Challenge on Friday, April 11 at 4:30 pm at a special reception at Vision Expo East.
To attend the reception, optometrists are being asked to join the World Sight Day Challenge by committing to donate fees from their eye exams on World Sight Day (October 9, 2008) or sign up to a regular monthly donation. Current donors are also invited to attend. Stop by the Optometry Giving Sight Kiosk located in the Continuing Education Area on Level 1 at Vision Expo East to pick up your ticket or email us for more information.
To see the poster about the event click here.
Hundreds of Practices took the World Sight Day Challenge!
We had hundreds of practices including staff, patients and students participating and contributing. Thank you for supporting “Our Vision for Children” by helping to give sight to the estimated 13 million children who are blind or vision impaired simply because they do not have a pair of glasses. Because of your support, nearly $150,000 was raised in the month of October in North America.
Corporate Sponsor Vision Source provided tremendous support and leadership throughout the World Sight Day Challenge. Vision Source Administrators also played an important role in the WSDC by challenging and matching contributions of doctors in their local groups. Above, Vision Source Administrator Dr. Jennifer Planitz with her staff at Rio Rancho Eyecare. The practice invited patients to give in October and continues to make a regular monthly gift throughout the year.
Together with Dr. Dylan Belt and the rest of his staff at Albany Eye Care, Dr. Jerry Prchal worked to raise awareness of the need for sustainable eye care in underserved communities. The practice raised over $1,700 in patient, exam fee and vendor donations. Dr. Prchal and Dr. Belt appeared on the local WALB-TV program several times throughout September.
At the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, AOSA trustees Aleem Jiwa and Anjani Kapoor organized 4 first and second year students as permanent ambassadors to Optometry Giving Sight. The 6 students made presentations to their classes throughout the month of October with the result that more than 50 students signed up for a donation.
Illinois College of Optometry students raised $1,300 led by the enthusiastic efforts of AOSA Trustee, Natalka Manastersky (far right) who placed donation boxes around the college, set up a table and actively solicited student sign-ups and donations as well as t-shirt sales. Students at the Oklahoma College of Optometry and Indiana University College of Optometry
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Save the date for World Sight Day Challenge October 2008! |
Optometry Giving Sight welcomes new national sponsors
AllAboutVision.com has joined as a National Supporter of Optometry Giving Sight. AllAboutVision.com was launched in January 2000 to provide consumers with an independent source of trustworthy information on eye health and vision correction options.
“We hope that our support leads to more donations from consumers and participation by optometrists in Optometry Giving Sight programs,” said Ron Walker, publisher of AllAboutVision.com
Eye Vis Eye and Vision Research Institute have also joined as a National Supporter of Optometry Giving Sight. Eye Vis Eye is a research organization with a mission of "Giving Sight through Research". Eye Vis Eye specializes in developing and implementing EYE research to improve the quality of VISION.
“My partner in Eye Vis Eye and Vision Research Institute,
Dr. Robert Davis and I are both very excited about the
prospects of helping this wonderful organization bring
vision to those less fortunate. We have numerous
concepts that will bring funds to Optometry Giving Sight
via a portion of our research proceeds, sponsoring
various charity events, and by helping spread the word
about the good work done by Optometry Giving Sight to
the eye care community that we interact with both locally
in the Midwest and nationally via our eye and vision
research projects,” said Dr. S. Barry Eiden, Eye Vis Eye.
Upcoming Events
Look for Optometry Giving Sight at the following conferences and meetings:
June 25 - 29
Optometry's Meeting, American Optometric Association Seattle,
Washington
