Nov. 12, 2020 — Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) has awarded $50,000 in Covid-19 relief funds to nine nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and three in Canada.
With the gifted funding (up to $5,000 per organization) OGS aims to support these organizations and their work in providing eye exams and glasses to underrepresented communities, project funding to launch sustainable vision care efforts, and opportunities to provide diversity and inclusion training to staff, volunteers, and board members.
"I am grateful that we were able to provide funding to such a diverse group of worthwhile organizations who are doing critical work within their communities," says Anne Marie Hand, executive director of OGS. "It was a quick turnaround and I’m so appreciative that my team and our Board of Directors supported this endeavor."
One of the recipients, Healing California, will use the funds to continue its work providing mobile vision clinics.
"The OGS Covid fund will allow Healing California to supply our staff, volunteers, and patients with the PPE and supplies we need to resume our mobile vision clinics throughout California during the pandemic," says Greg Pearl, O.D., Healing California board member.
The Vision Institute of Canada will utilize the award money to purchase new equipment.
"The Pachymeter helps me diagnose glaucoma in its earlier stages to facilitate treatment and reduce both vision impairment and low vision," says Lois Calder, O.D., clinic director at the Vision Institute of Canada. "It is a key diagnostic tool I always take with me when I make on-site visits to my patients in long-term care homes."
U.S. Grant Recipients:
- Healing California
- Lawndale Christian Health Center
- Mezu International Foundation Inc
- Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry
- Prevent Blindness
- RestoringVision
- Sight & Sound
- Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity/International
- VOSH Nebraska
Canadian Grant Recipients:
- Canadian National Institute for the Blind
- Downtown Eastside Eye Clinic
- Vision Institute of Canada