(PRESS RELEASE) GOLDEN, CO — Optometry Giving Sight awards $50,000 in COVID Relief funds to nine nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and three in Canada.
In an effort to support North American organizations and to further enhance their national presence, Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) awarded 12 organizations with grants up to $5,000. The funding will support their work in providing eye exams and glasses to individuals in underrepresented communities, special project funding to build 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 who started in June. “It was a quick turnaround and I’m so appreciative that my team and our Board of Directors supported this endeavor,” she added.
One of the recipients, Healing California, will continue their work on 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, OD, who is on the Board of Healing California.
The Vision Institute of Canada plans on using their award 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. 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,” says Dr. Lois Calder, Clinic Director.
A complete list of funded projects can be found here. OGS plans on continuing to support domestic and international projects.