EyeCare Partners Sponsoring Healthy Eyes Healthy Children
EyeCare Partners Sponsoring Healthy Eyes Healthy Children, a Program of Optometry Cares – The AOA Foundation
ST. LOUIS, MO – June 18, 2019 – EyeCare Partners is proud to sponsor Healthy Eyes Healthy Children, a community grants program administered by Optometry Cares – The AOA Foundation. HEHC will award grants up to $5,000 each for projects that align with HEHC’s goal: to spread awareness and increase vision care to underserved children across the country.
The grants fund collaboration between optometrists and community resources on projects that focus on comprehensive pediatric eye care. “Our hope is to facilitate ongoing collaboration that team optometrists with community resources to meet the eye care needs of children under 18 years of age who are not currently receiving the care they need,” says Carol Marusich, O.D., Optometry Cares Board Member and the co-chair of the HEHC Committee. “This is an opportunity for optometrists to lead the way in helping their community.”
Since its launch in 2017, $130,750 in grants has been distributed to 25 different projects across 19 geographically diverse states. It is estimated that the total number of children that benefited will be nearly 475,000 by the conclusion of the 2018-2019 grant cycle.
Optometry Cares is the charitable foundation of the American Optometric Association (AOA). In addition to HEHC, Optometry Cares manages many other programs as well, such as InfantSEE®, Optometry’s Fund for Disaster Relief, and Student Scholarships. “None of these programs could be sustainable without the generous support of the optometric community,” says Allan Barker, O.D., who serves as a Board Member for both Optometry Cares and EyeCare Partners. “As optometrists, what better initiative could we pursue than awarding charitable grants focused upon improving the vision of tomorrow’s future, our children?”
How to apply
Those who are interested may click here to read more about HEHC’s objectives, past projects and to complete an application. Applications must be submitted by July 2 in order to be considered. Applicants must also obtain letters of support from both their state affiliate and project collaborator(s). Grantees will be notified in August. Interested optometrists may also contact Optometry Cares by calling 314.983.4200 or by sending an email to foundation@aoa.org.
About Optometry Cares® —The AOA Foundation:
As optometry’s premier philanthropic and charitable organization, Optometry Cares–The AOA Foundation is committed to its mission – expanding eye health and vision care access to everyone in the U.S. in order to enhance human performance and quality of life. With strategic ties with the AOA, strong volunteer leadership and generous donors, Optometry Cares is able to manage two community health programs, VISION USA and InfantSEE; administer Optometry’s Fund for Disaster Relief; provide scholarship grants for educational assistance; administer Healthy Eyes Healthy Children (HEHC) grants; and maintain the Archives and Museum for the optometric profession. To make a tax-deductible donation today, visit www.aoafoundation.org. About EyeCare Partners Based in St. Louis, Missouri, EyeCare Partners currently offers comprehensive medical eye care services throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and North Carolina. The doctors of EyeCare Partners serve the eye care needs of hundreds of thousands of patients annually. For more information about joining the ECP team, please contact acquisitions@eyecare-partners.com.
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Contact: James J. Wachter, O.D.
jjwachter@eyecare-partners.com
636.227.2600 x2030