The Work We Do:
- An optometric intern tested Ariana’s eyes during an event at The Eye Institute.
An optometric intern tested Ariana’s eyes during an event at The Eye Institute.
- Brothers Elijah and Shawn sported their eyewear after testing the perfect pair.
Brothers Elijah and Shawn sported their eyewear after testing the perfect pair.
- Members of TEI’s staff, Debra McReynolds and Cheryl Stinton, stopped amidst the day’s activities for a picture.
Members of TEI's staff, Debra McReynolds and Cheryl Stinton, stopped amidst the day’s activities for a picture.
- Narajee looked cool showcasing her newest accessory.
Narajee looked cool showcasing her newest accessory.
- Joshua was the last of his brothers to select glasses. He liked what he saw.
Joshua was the last of his brothers to select glasses. He liked what he saw.
- Three-year-old Naomi smiled after receiving her specialty lenses.
Three-year-old Naomi smiled after receiving her specialty lenses.
- The Eye Institute Pediatric waiting area.
The Eye Institute Pediatric waiting area.
- Wagner children boarding school bus.
Wagner children boarding school bus after being examined at TEI.
The Eye Institute uses the LOFKs funds in a number of ways. For many years, we have had a strategic alliance with the School District of Philadelphia to provide services to their children. Working closely with the District's school nurses, The Eye Institute deploys vision care teams to schools to provide free vision screenings. For children who fail the vision screening, we work with schools nurses to schedule these children at The Eye Institute for comprehensive vision care. Each year several hundred children are bussed to The Eye Institute for the care they need.
What we were able to accomplish in the last year using the dollars we raised in 2011 was quite impressive. Working collaboratively with School District of Philadelphia nurses, we provided the following services to children in the Philadelphia public schools during the 2011-2012 academic year:
- Vision screenings to 2,389 children (1066 children failed the screening).
- Comprehensive vision and ocular health examinations to 575 children by bussing the children to The Eye Institute’s pediatric service.
- Distributed 860 pairs of eyeglasses to public school children.
Our commitment to providing vision care services and eyeglasses to uninsured children in Philadelphia expanded last year through collaborations with several organizations that provide healthcare and services to uninsured populations. In addition to the Philadelphia public schools, we provide vision care services and eyeglasses to many more uninsured children that are referred to us from the Philadelphia City Health Centers, Delaware Valley Community Health, Inc., and the Greater Philadelphia Asian Social Service Agency (GPASS).
09/18/2012
