The Optical Vision Site

Fresh Air Fund- Giving Back To Inner City Kids

Fresh Air Fund

Fresh Air Fund is an organization that sends inner city kids to host families or camps so they can experience country life. If any one of our readers would like to host an inner city kid, please contact them or click the links for more information.

In 2009, The Fresh Air Fund’s Volunteer Host Family program, called Friendly Town, gave close to 5,000 New York City boys and girls, ages six to 18, free summer experiences in the country and the suburbs. Volunteer host families shared their friendship and homes up to two weeks or more in 13 Northeastern states from Virginia to Maine and Canada.

The Fresh Air Fund relies on donations to provide memorable summers to NYC children.

The Fresh Air Fund needs hosts for the summer of 2010.

More than 65% of all Fresh Air children are reinvited to stay with their host family, year after year.

Thanks to host families who open up their homes for a few weeks each summer, children growing up in New York City’s toughest neighborhoods have experienced the joys of Fresh Air experiences.

Fresh Air Fund Host Families

“It is rewarding to see the smile on our Fresh Air child’s face as she enjoys the simple things we take for granted…”

Friendly Town host families are volunteers who live in the suburbs or small town communities. Host families range in size, ethnicity and background, but share the desire to open their hearts and homes to give city children an experience they will never forget. Hosts say the Fresh Air experience is as enriching for their own families, as it is for the inner-city children. There are no financial requirements for hosting a child. Volunteers may request the age-group and gender of the Fresh Air youngster they would like to host. Stories about real Fresh Air host families and their New York City visitors are just a click away!

Click here to learn more about becoming a host or call (800) 367-0003!

Fresh Air Children

“We made s’mores and hot dogs over the fire. I’ve never cooked outside before!”

Fresh Air children are boys and girls, six to 18 years old, who live in New York City. Children on first-time visits are six to 12 years old and stay for either one or two weeks. Youngsters who are re-invited by the same family may continue with The Fund through age 18, and many enjoy longer summertime visits, year after year. A visit to the home of a warm and loving volunteer host family can make all the difference in the world to an inner-city child. All it takes to create lifelong memories is laughing in the sunshine and making new friends.

The majority of Fresh Air children are from low-income communities. These are often families without the resources to send their children on summer vacations. Most inner-city youngsters grow up in towering apartment buildings without large, open outdoor play spaces. Concrete playgrounds cannot replace the freedom of running barefoot through the grass or riding bikes down country lanes.

Fresh Air children are registered by more than 90 participating social service and community organizations located in disadvantaged neighborhoods in the five boroughs of New York City. These community-based agencies are in close contact with children in need of summer experiences in rural and suburban areas. Each agency is responsible for registering children for the program.

www.freshair.org http://freshairfundhosts.com/

Tax Information for Haiti Relief – The Vision Council

The Vision Council provided this useful tax information for Haiti Relief which we would like to pass on to our optical and vision care readers as there are some important details you might not be aware of:

New Law Allows Donations to Haiti to be Claimed on 2009 Taxes

On January 22, 2010, President Obama signed into law the “Haiti Assistance Income Tax Act” which allows individuals who make charitable contributions to aid Haitian earthquake victims to claim an itemized charitable deduction on their 2009 tax return, rather than wait until filing their 2010 tax return.

The claim applies only to Haitian relief contributions made in cash (including by a personal check and a charge against a credit card or debit card) after January 11, 2010, and before March 1, 2010. The contributions must be made to a U.S. charity that is assisting Haiti. Contributions made to the American Red Cross under the firm’s matching gift program qualify for this treatment. The law does not apply to goods, services or other non-cash contributions.

For more information from IRS on this law, please click here.

Eyes Of Faith Partners With RestoringVision.org

Kudos to Eyes of Faith for taking the big step of not just partnering with the non-profit organization RestoringVision.org but to do so with such a generous and major commitment.

Cathy and I were at the same presentation as Jim Schneider, during The Vision Council Winter meeting last month,  and we were very impressed with Restoring Vision’s

RestoringVision.org

achievements and goals. It is wonderful to see an eyewear company step up to help so quickly and generously.

“Eyes of Faith Optical is thrilled to announce our new partnership with RestoringVision.org,” says Jim Schneider, Director of Purpose, Eyes of Faith Optical. “For every pair of Eyes of Faith frames that are sold through our business partners, Eyes of Faith will donate a pair of reading glasses to faith-based mission groups. There are so many people in developing countries that can’t work or read their Bibles because they simply can’t see. RestoringVision.org has already touched the lives of 925,000 people with reading glasses or sunglasses. Together, we can change many lives by giving the gift of sight with Eyes of Faith.”

“We are very excited to have a partnership with Eyes of Faith,” says RestoringVision.org Director Mark Sachs. “Working together, we can transform lives by helping people experience clear vision.”

Since their brand identity launch at Disney’s Night of Joy, the Eyes of Faith line was unveiled at Vision Expo West in Las Vegas in October. The official product launch will kick off at SECO International next week in Atlanta. Coming soon are appearances at the Texas Optometric Association in Austin, and then it’s off to Vision Expo East in New York.

For more information on Eyes of Faith Optical, the Eyes of Faith Foundation and the new Eyes of Faith eyewear line, visit eyesoffaithoptical.com.

For more information about how you can help donate reading glasses, visit RestoringVision.org.

Living Your Vision

Living Your Vision – By Leonard Bertoli, O.D.

As a practicing optometrist for 20 years, I’ve made vision my life. My career has been dedicated to helping my patients see their best, make the most of their vision and understand the impact that eye health can have on their quality of life.

Outside of my optometry practice, I’ve always had an interest in photography – an interest that was elevated about a year ago when I received a digital SLR camera as a gift. Since then, I’ve immersed myself in photography as a hobby, reading instructional books, listening to podcasts and experimenting with different techniques. While I love what I do as an eyecare professional, it doesn’t often offer the opportunity to be creative. I found that photography filled that void, making me appreciate my work as an optometrist even more. When I heard about Transitions Optical’s ‘Live Your Vision’ photo contest, I thought that entering it would be the perfect way to merge my passions for vision care and photography – and use my creative outlet to help promote eye care.

The contest asked participants to submit a photo and caption that demonstrated how they “live their vision,” – or how healthy eyesight is important both in everyday life and in reaching your goals. For my entry, I wanted to show the patient’s perspective, and demonstrate how my work as an eyecare professional changes how my patients see the world – literally through vision correction, but also in the sense that healthy vision can open their eyes to a realm of possibilities. I was thrilled to learn that I had won.

“I live my vision through the eyes of my patients, transforming the way they experience the world by providing them with exceptional eye care and recommending the products that best meet their vision needs.”

In addition to my own prize, I was given the opportunity to pass my vision on to others by designating a charity to receive a $10,000 donation through the Transitions Healthy Sight for Life Fund. Keeping with the theme of the contest, I wanted the donation to go to a sight-saving charity so that I could help as many people as possible live their vision.

Through my search for an appropriate charity, I made a realization; one that I feel is valuable for all eyecare professionals. As practitioners in a developed country and a commercial setting, we tend to forget how important even routine eye care can be. When I looked at the work d

one by international charities to help those who are victims of preventable blindness because of a lack of access to routine eye exams, I felt a deepened sense of pride in my work as an

optometrist and the impact my work has on my patients. I chose Helen Keller International because of the organization’s efforts to treat preventable blindness and malnutrition around the world.

It’s important not to take what we do as eyecare professionals for granted, even if eye exams and dispensing eyewear seems routine. Although it can be easy to “lose sight” of how preventive care can save our patient’s vision, it’s a vital message to remember and pass along to patients. Emphasize the need for routine eye care and eyewear to your patients so they can live a healthy, quali

ty life.

Tags: Dispensing, Non-Profits, Optical
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Haiti Relief – Beware of Scams

Cathy and I have decided to donate 10% of The Optical Vision Site’s 2009 Gross Income to Haiti Relief. We were planning on a charitable donation but had not decided on any specific cause. We made the decision to make our donation to Haiti based on the the needs that this nation already faced even before the terrible tragedy of last week’s earthquake there. However, we are very aware of the need to be cautious about Haiti relief scams. Our local paper, the North County Times, published some scam-free sites provided by the Associated Press, which you may be interested in:

Doctors Without Borders - Haiti

• InterAction has a list of agencies responding and how to donate. Find it here: www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti
• To donate $10 to the American Red Cross, text Haiti to 90999. Or go through the website www.redcross.org
• To find out how to help the International Rescue Committee, visit www.theIRC.org
• www.oxfam.org.uk
• To donate to Partners in health, which was already providing health care in Haiti and is now working on relief efforts, visit www.pih.org. the group is also looking for surgeons, nurses and surgical teams who want to volunteer to help.
• To donate to Doctors Without Borders, which is also treating earthquake victims, go to www.doctorswithoutborders.org

Here is some additional information from The Vision Council:

In response to the earthquake that hit Haiti on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, The Vision Council has compiled a list of resources for those who would like to make a donation to help those in need. To view a list of first-tier and second-tier responders that are accepting donations, including vision organizations, please visit www.thevisioncouncil.org/members/haiti.

Passing on the Gift – Non Optical Charity to Consider

It is almost the end of 2009 and time to give to charities if you want the tax write off for this year. So, do you just pick Optical and Eyecare causes or how do you choose? There are so many charities and so many people that need help. Optical choices aside this is one I would like to bring to your attention, Heifer, a non optical charity to consider. I read about Heifer and Passing on the Gift just recently and I really like their philosophy of passing on the gift.  I have not had any personal experience with Heifer but here is some information from their catalog and website:

Heifer’s mission is…

To work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth.

Heifer’s strategy is…

To “pass on the gift.” As people share their animals’ offspring with others – along with their knowledge, resources, and skills – an expanding network of hope, dignity, and self-reliance is created that reaches around the globe.

Heifer’s History

This simple idea of giving families a source of food rather than short-term relief caught on and has continued for over 60 years. Today, millions of families in 128 countries have been given the gifts of self-reliance and hope.

“Passing on the Gift” means recipients agree to share the offspring of gift animals with others in need, making them equal partners with Heifer in the fight to end world hunger.

• Environment and Sustainable Development is taught to our project recipients to help them achieve sustainable agricultural production.

• Animal Well-Being guidelines are strictly reinforced with professional veterinary training staff.

• Disaster Rehabilitation, with long-term, sustainable development the goal of Heifer’s rehabilitation projects.

• How We Measure Success shows how people’s lives have permanently changed since Heifer came along.

A typical Heifer project consists of three essential components:

• Livestock and other material goods
• Training and extension work
• Organizational development, which includes planning, management, record keeping, passing on the gift, reporting and evaluation.

And it all starts in a community. First, Heifer helps a community group analyze their situation. Heifer CommunityThey ask: What do we need? What are our resources? What would we like to see happen in five years? Then, they plan specific activities to achieve their goals. At this point, the Heifer “living loan” becomes reality. Farmers prepare for their animals by participating in training sessions, building sheds, and sometimes planting trees and grasses. Then the livestock arrives – bringing with it the benefits of milk, wool, draft power, eggs and offspring to pass on to another farmer.Finally, the group evaluates its progress, and the cycle repeats as the group moves to more and more ambitious goals, each time visioning, deciding, implementing and reflecting.

Passing on the Gift – Every family and community that receives assistance promises to repay their living loan by donating one or more of their animal’s offspring to another family in need. This practice of “Passing on the Gift” ensures project sustainability, develops community and enhances self-esteem by allowing project partners to become donors.

This is Heifer’s sustainable approach to ending hunger and poverty – one family, one animal at a time. It’s not temporary relief. It’s not a handout. It’s securing a future with generations of people who have hope, health and dignity.

Source: www.heifer.org

Zyloware’s Jamie Shyer- ‘Dawg’ Rescuer

When you first meet Jamie Shyer of Zyloware and the Randy Jackson Eyewear Collection (You Dawg! )  he will ask if you have met his dogs. He then pulls out a picture of his family and the 7 dogs he has rescued. Yes, 7 dogs, that he takes care of along with his wife and kids. Ask him where he gets them, tearfully he tells you about the time he picked up an abused dog from the side of the street, how mistreated these animals are, he just can’t seem to let abused animals live without a good home.

Jamie Shyer of Zyloware Kids and Rescued Dogs. Note these are big dogs that shed!

Jamie is one of few who rescues the 3-4 million dogs and cats who are euthanized (not even counting the animals that are just let go) each year in the USA. He knows that there is limited space at shelters and staff have to make hard decisions to to euthanize animals who are not adopted.

And More Dogs!

Coming into the holidays and gift- giving time, What would Jamie Say To Give? Give the Gift of a Good Home to Rescued Animals. The number of euthanized pets would be reduced dramatically if more people would adopt than buy a new pet. The benefits are numerous:

1.) Save you money: Rescued animals cost less than new, and by rescuing animals you will save taxpayer money.

2.) Save the life of 2 animals: The one you adopt and the one that has to be euthanized to make room for others.

3.) Pets are good for your health: They bring a smile, can lower cholesterol levels, reduce blood pressure,  dog walking and grooming is good exercise and they are good friends. You can’t have too many good friends.

4.) You won’t be supporting ‘Puppy Mills”: Most dogs raised in puppy mills are in extremely poor conditions, with bad medical care. Parents are labeled as ‘breeders’, no human companionship, and bred over and over again. After they are of no use, yes they are killed, abandoned or sold at auction as ‘dog food’.

I asked him how he balanced his life after all he is the COO of Zyloware a 70 hour a week job,  he looked at me as if I was crazy, his family and dogs are his balance in life. I gotta tell ya, I was impressed with that answer. He has a hard job, he is the son of the founders and has to maintain and grow the Zyloware presence in the optical market and.. and…. and…

We are impressed and if you are interested in giving the Gift of Rescued Animal, contact any of the below listed sites:

Petfinder – ask in advance to see if your giftee really does want a pet, then give ‘em this printable adoption gift certificate – and volunteer to join them when they go to the shelter to pick up their new family member.

ASPCA, Farm Sanctuary, and Humane Society – donate in your giftee’s name.

Conservation International Season’s Greenings – give the gift of helping save lemurs, sea turtles, the bastard quiver tree, and other flora and fauna ($20 and up).

Oceana – adopt a sea creature, and get a cookie cutter or stuffed animal shaped like that creature ($35 and up).

And for fun- here is some Zyloware First’s in The Optical Industry:

• Zyloware launched the first American designer eyewear brand - Gloria Vanderbilt Eyewear – in 1976.
• Zyloware launched the first eyewear collection named for a celebrity – Sophia Loren Eyewear – in 1980.
• Zyloware launched the eyewear collection solely for men: Stetson Eyewear collection in 1982

Tags: Business, Non-Profits, Optical Vendors
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Optician Karen Flynn Volunteers To Work With Homeless

Project Homeless

Robbie Bell (eyecoach.org) sent us this email about his experiences working with Karen Flynn and Project Homeless;

‘Unfortunately, my words do not do this event or even Karen herself, justice. Because of all the services offered during a PHC event, vision care usually tops the list of most needed service, chaos can usually ensue.  Yet, Karen coordinated every little detail and the event ran like clockwork.  This was my second event with Karen and both times I was truly taken by those being helped.  It’s hard to paint all the recipients with the same brush as each is an individual… men and women, boys and girls, old and young, white, black, asian, hispanic, etc… but I can say what touched me the most was the gentleness and the graciousness  that was exhibited by the recipients.  The genuine smiles and ‘thank you’s’ are food for the heart and soul.  Can you imagine the looks on the faces of  just the 3 people walking around without glasses who are a -9.00, a -11.00 and a -13.00, respectively, now being told that they’ll have new glasses within a few weeks?’

Project Homeless Connect (www.projecthomelessconnect.com) is a non-profit organization.   One of it’s many goals is to improve access to much needed services, like vision care, to those experiencing homelessness in San Francisco.  PHC provides this access to those in need, including children and veterans, every few months.  The last PHC event was held on October 28th.  Over 40 volunteers donated their time and talents.  Donations of product were made by Oliver Peoples, InHouse Eyewear, Sonoma Eyewear and RestoringVision.org (www.restoringvision.org) and lab services are being provided by E Eyewear of Berkeley, CA.

Karen Flynn, an optician at Eye Gotcha Optometric in San Francisco, dedicates an exorbitant amount of her time in organizing the Vision Services division of PHC and is responsible for and orchestrates a group of vision volunteers, including optometrists and opticians, to provide vision care to those in need.

Here’s an excerpt from a recent email from Karen:

““Just wanted to say thanks again for all of your help on Oct 28.  We broke an all-time record.  180 comprehensive eye exams, 116 prescription glasses, and over 400 readers.  Two referrals to Lions Eye Foundation for free surgery, and multiple referrals to San Francisco General Hospital for medical follow-up.

Special thanks to the doctors and to all the 40 plus volunteers who worked all the way through without a break!  Once again, I am amazed at everyone’s flexibility in making the chaotic day a success and at these record setting numbers.  What a group!

I don’t think one can underestimate the value of giving somebody sight, whether maintaining, improving or restoring it.””

With heartfelt thanks,

Karen

The next PHC event is on December 9th.  For those companies and/or individuals looking to lend a hand, volunteers and all kinds of donations are always needed.  If you’re in the San Francisco Bay area and would like to volunteer your time and talents, or if you are out of the area and would like to donate product, machinery (phoropters are always in need), services, etc., please contact Karen Flynn at  karenvflynn2004@yahoo.com