Announcing Unite For Sight Fourth Annual Conference - April 14-15 2007 at Stanford University!

When: April 14-15, 2007
Where: Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
Theme: "Innovation, Advancement, and Best Practices in Achieving Global Goals"
Who should attend?Anyone interested in eye care, international health, medicine, healtheducation, health promotion, public health, international service,nonprofits, or microenterprise
Conference Goal: To exchange ideas across disciplines about best practices in public health, medicine and research, and international health and development
Register Today For A Reduced Rate! -http://www.uniteforsight.org/2007_annual_conference.php

More than 100 confirmed speakers listed below: Global Eye Care and Research Speakers & Global Health, International Development, Public Health, Medicine, Health Policy and Advocacy Speakers

Global Eye Care and Research Speakers

Robert Alexander, MPH, PhD, National Eye Institute
R. Rand Allingham, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology; Director, Glaucoma Service, Duke University Eye Center
Thomas Tontie Baah, MD, Our Lady of Grace Catholic Hospital, Ghana
Tom Beggins, MD, Former Medical Director and Surgeon, Lusaka Eye Hospital, Zambia
Sandy Block, OD, Illinois College of Optometry
Harry S. Brown, MD, Founder and President, SEE International
Donald Budenzv, MD, MPH, Professor of Ophthalmology, Epidemiology, and Public Health, University of Miami Miller Sch
James Clarke, MD, Ophthalmologist and Medical Director, Crystal Eye Clinic, Ghana
Pat Cross, PhD, Professor and Associate Dean for Medical Student Research and Scholarship, Stanford School of Medicine
Syril Dorairaj, MD, Glaucoma Service at New York Eye & Ear Infirmary
Gordon Douglas, MD, Medical Director, Orbis International
Peter Egbert, MD, Professor, Stanford Department of Ophthalmology
Ilene Gipson, PhD, Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School; Chair, Women's Eye Health Task Force Executive Committee
Jasvir Grewal, MD, Ophthalmologist, UK
Heskel Haddad, MD, New York Medical College
Andrew Iwach, MD, Glaucoma Research & Education Group, American Academy of Ophthalmology Committee of Secretaries
Vasudev Kanade, MD, St. Raphael's Hospital
Moses Katabarwa, MPH, PhD, Program Epidemiologist, River Blindness, Lymphatic Filariasis, and Schistosomiasis Programs, Carter Center
Murali Krishnamurthy, President, Sankara Eye Foundation
Jacob Kumaresan, MD, MPH, Dr.PH, President, International Trachoma Initiative
Mark Lieberman, MD, Founder and Medical Director, Tibet Vision Project
Michael Marmor, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology, Stanford University
Roger Martin, Allergan/Lumigan Glaucoma Screening Activist
Stephen McLeod, MD, Theresa M. and Wayne M. Caygill Endowed Chair; Associate Professor and Interim Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco
Eydie Miller, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Jennifer Peterson, Country Director, Guinea and Sierra Leone, Helen Keller International
Alejandro Ramirez Magana, Director General, Cinepolis
Gullapalli N. Rao, MD, President, International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness; Distinguished Chair of Eye Health, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute
Hannah Reddick, Guinea Program Assistant, Helen Keller International
Alan Robin, MD, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital
Alfredo A. Sadun, MD, PhD, Floral Thornton Chair ofVision Research, Professor of Ophthalmology and Neurological Surgery, University of Southern California
William Selezinka, MD, Retired Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, UCSD
Richard D. Semba, MD, MPH, Associate Professor, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
T. Senthil, MBBS, Consulting Ophthalmologist, Uma Eye Clinic, India
Chirag Shah, MD, MPH, Wills Eye Hospital
Val Shestopalov, PhD, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
Kuldev Singh, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology, Stanford University
Pooja Sinha, MBBS, Ophthalmologist, AB Eye Institute, Patna, India
Satyajit Sinha, MBBS, Ophthalmologist, AB Eye Institute, Patna, India
Bruce Spivey, MD, President, International Council of Ophthalmology
Bradley R. Straatsma, MD, JD, President InternationalCouncil of Ophthalmology Foundation; Professor Emeritus, Jules SteinEye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Glenn Strauss, MD, Vice President of International Health Care and Programs, Mercy Ships International
Christopher Ta, MD, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Stanford University
Shachar Tauber, MD, Director of Ophthalmology Research, Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Department of Ophthalmologyand Optometry, St. John's Hospital and Clinics
Jeff Todd, MS, JD, Vice President Programs and Public Health, Prevent Blindness America
Ken Tuck, MD, Past President of American Academy of Ophthalmology
R. Venkatesh, DO, DNB, Deputy CMO, Aravind Eye Hospital, Pondicherry, India
Martin Wand, MD, Chairman, American Academy of Ophthalmology National Glaucoma Project
Seth Wanye, MD, The Eye Clinic of Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ghana

Global Health, International Development, Public Health, Medicine, Health Policy and Advocacy Speakers

Nancy Aossey, President and CEO, International Medical Corps
Ann Banchoff, MSW, MPH, Program Director, Office of Community Health, Stanford University School of Medicine
Daniel Bausch, MD, MPH, Associate Professor, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
Donna and Philip Berber, Founders, Glimmer of Hope
Terry Blaschke, MD, Professor of Medicine and Molecular Pharmacology, Stanford University
Susan Blumenthal, MD, MPA, Former US Assistant Surgeon General, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Georgetown School of Medicine and Tufts University Medical Center
Araceli Castro, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Social Medicine; Program in Infectious Disease and Social Change, Harvard School of Medicine
Stephen L. Cochi, MD, MPH, Senior Advisor, Global Immunization Division, National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Brenda Colatrella, MBA, Senior Director, Office of Contributions, Merck & Co. Inc
Sunita Dodani, MD, MS, FCPS, PhD, Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh
Michael Doyle, President and CEO, CHF International
Kamran Elahian, MS, Chairman, Co-Founder, Global Catalyst Partners; Co-Founder, Global Catalyst Foundation and Schools Online
Christopher Elias, MD, MPH, President of PATH
Ulrick Gaillard, JD, CEO of Batey Relief Alliance
Gabriel Garcia, MD, Professor of Medicine, Associate Dean of Medical School Admissions, Stanford University School of Medicine
Adrienne Germain, President, International Women's Health Coalition
Maren Grainger-Monsen, MD, Senior Research Scholar, Center for Biomedical Ethics, Stanford School of Medicine
George Guimaraes, President and CEO, Project Concern International
Jessica Haberer, MD, Research Advisor, Clinton Foundation
John Hammock, PhD, The Alexander N. McFarlane Associate Professor of Public Policy, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and The Fletcher School, Tufts University; Former Executive Director, Oxfam America; former Executive Director, ACCION International; Founder and Former Director, FeinsteinInternational Famine Center, Tufts University; Consultant, Women's World Banking and USAID
Lindsay M. Harris, Managing Director, A Bridge for Africa Foundation
Polly F Harrison, PhD, Director, Alliance for Microbicide Development
David Heymann, MD, MPH, Former Executive Director for Communicable Diseases, World Health Organization
Amreen Husain, MD, Assistant Professor of Gynecologic Oncology, Stanford University
Evaleen Jones, MD, Founder, President and Medical Director, Child Family Health International; Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford School of Medicine
Judith Justice, PhD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medical Anthropology and Health Policy in Residence, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UCSF
Mark W. Kline, MD, President, Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative; Professor of Pediatrics and Head, Section of Retrovirology, Baylor College of Medicine
Jamie Mclaren Lachman, Project Njabulo Director, Clowns Without Borders
Ana Langer, MD, President and CEO, EngenderHealth
Brian Lehnen, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Village Enterprise Fund
Jane Maxwell, Editor, Hesperian Foundation
Robert Metcalf, PhD, Professor Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento; Treasurer, Solar Cookers International
Mini Murthy, MD, MPH, MS, Assistant Professor of Practice, New York Medical College School of Public Health
Thomas Novotny, MD, MPH, Director of International Programs; Professor in Residence, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UCSF School of Medicine
Bjorg Palsdottir, MPA, Consultant, Co-Founder and Associate Director of the Center for Global Health at New York University
Philip Pizzo, MD, Dean of Stanford University School of Medicine
William W. Rankin, PhD, President, Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance
Farshad Rastegar, MD, President and CEO, Relief International
Ian Rawson, Hopital Albert Schweitzer Haiti
William Reese, President and CEO, International Youth Foundation
George Rupp, PhD, President and CEO, International Rescue Committee
Lisa Russell, MPH, Filmmaker, Obstetric Fistula
Scott Sasser, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
Karen Sendelback, President and CEO, Friends of the World Food Program
Harshad Sanghvi, MD, Medical Director, Maternal and Neonatal Health Program, JHPIEGO
Robert David Siegel, MD, PhD, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Program in Human Biology, and Center for African
Lilit Simonyan, MPA Candidate; Founder, Former CEO, International Director, Stepanavan Youth Center NGO Armenia
Cathy Skoula, Executive Director, Action Against Hunger-USA
Jim Smith, Executive Director, American International Health Alliance Inc
Landry Tsague, MD, William H. Foege Fellow, Department of Global Health at Emory Rollins School of Public Health
Paul Volberding, MD, Professor and Vice Chair, UCSFDepartment of Medicine; Chief, Medical Service SF Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Co-Director, UCSF-GIVI Center for AIDS Research
Karen White, MBA, MPH, Senior Researcher, Institute for Global Health, UCSF
Tanya Whitehead, PhD, University of Missouri - Kansas City
Elliott Wolfe, MD, Consulting Professor of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine
Derek Yach, MBChB, MPH, Director of Rockefeller Foundation's Program on Global Health

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Unite For Sight Third Annual Conference at Yale - A Weekend of Ideas and Enthusiasm

Unite For Sight welcomed more than 900 people from 5 continents to its Third Annual Conference on April 1-2, 2006 at Yale University.The conference began with a dynamic keynote address by Dr. Al Sommer to an overflowing room at 8 am on April 1st. The energy and enthusiasm of the conference audience continued through two days of sessions with 85 speakers. The conference concluded with a glaucoma screening on the New Haven Green by the Lions Club and Yale Department of Ophthalmology.

Conference attendees ranged from undergraduate students and nonprofit professionals from the U.S. to medical students and public health professionals from Rwanda and India, to mid-career professionals with ideas to start nonprofits, to doctors and ophthalmologists from Nigeria and Ghana. Unite For Sight was pleased to welcome several of its partner doctors and ophthalmologists to its Third Annual International Conference. Speakers at the conference included Dr. James Clarke, MD, of Crystal Eye Clinic in Ghana; Dr. Seth Wanye, MD, of Eye Clinic at Tamale Teaching Hospital in Ghana; and Dr. T. Senthil, MBBS, of Uma Eye Clinic in India. In addition to their individual presentations during the conference, the doctors also spoke about eye care barriers and needs in Ghana and India during a panel on April 1st.

The Third Annual Conference brochure can be seen at http://www.uniteforsight.org/2006_conference.pdf
Unite For Sight looks forward to next year's conference to continue the exchange of ideas across disciplines.

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Unite For Sight Grateful To Conference Sponsors

Unite For Sight was very grateful for the support of its conference sponsors on April 1-2, 2006.

The Conference Sponsors included:
Affordable Portables/Morrell
Independent Order of Oddfellows and Rebekahs
Connecticut Eye Bank and Tissue Banks International
Inspire
Ophthalmos Limited
US Vision
Transitions
KBCO

Unite For Sight is also grateful for the significant contributions of time, energy, and materials from the individuals, organizations, and corporations who helped to make the conference possible: 4Imprint, Au Bon Pain, Sabrina Adamski, Jeremy Eden, Koffee Too, Bonnie Lee, Angana Homchaudhuri, Kenberma Awareness Shop, Kraft Foods, National Eye Institute, Erika Reinhart, ScribeStudio, Society of Orpheus and Bacchus, Yale University's Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics and Yale's Undergraduate Bioethics Society

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CALL FOR ABSTRACTS - Unite For Sight Fourth Annual International Health Conference

Unite For Sight's Fourth Annual International Conference will convene more than 1,500 people from throughout the world who are interested ininternational service, global health, public health, eye care, health policy and advocacy, ethics, and medicine. This empowering, energizing conference brings together student leaders and activists,doctors, public health professionals, nurses, Peace Corps volunteers, and others. The conference's goal is to generate an exchange of ideas about best practices to achieve global goals in health and development.

Those interested in presenting a poster or oral presentation may submit their abstract at http://www.uniteforsight.org/2007_conference_posters.php Abstract deadline is July 15, 2006.

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SPONSOR Unite For Sight Fourth Annual International Health Conference

Register To Be A Sponsor At www.uniteforsight.org/2007_conference_sponsor.php

Why Sponsor or Exhibit?
The Unite For Sight Conference offers an unparalleled opportunity tobuild relationships with individuals and organizations committed toimproving health globally. Conference participants will be looking forproducts and services that will help them better care for their patients and their communities. Sponsorship will position you as asupporter of objective, noncommercial education. Sponsorship andexhibiting provides an excellent way for corporations and nonprofits toraise awareness about their products and services.

Come on board today to take advantage of the recognition available onall Conference materials that are currently in development. All proceeds from this conference will benefit Unite For Sight'sinternational eye care programs.

Early Bird Sponsor Deadline - Submit Payment By November 1, 2006

Speaker Welcome Reception Sponsor - $ 6,000 (first come, first serve)
Sponsor welcome reception for 150 world-renowned speakers
Logo displayed prominently during reception
Logo and name billing on front of conference materials
Four complimentary registrations to attend speaker welcome reception and conference
Recognition on Unite For Sight Website, which receives 40,000 unique visitors per month
Recognition in Unite For Sight E-Newsletter, which is distributed to 16,000+ worldwide
Approved material may be placed on distribution table at conference

Gold Sponsor - $ 2,500
Logo and name billing on front of conference materials
Recognition on Unite For Sight Website, which receives 40,000 unique visitors per month
Recognition in Unite For Sight E-Newsletter, which is distributed to 16,000+ worldwide
Includes exhibitor table space for 2 days
Approved material may be placed on distribution table at conference

Silver Sponsor - $ 2,000
Logo and name billing on front of conference materials
Recognition on Unite For Sight Website, which receives 40,000 unique visitors per month
Recognition in Unite For Sight E-Newsletter, which is distributed to 16,000+ worldwide
Approved material may be placed on distribution table at conference

Food Sponsor - $ 1,500 (first come, first serve)
Name billing on back cover of conference materials
Logo billing in conference schedule next to food break description

General Sponsor - $ 1,000
Name billing on back cover of conference materials

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Connecticut Eye Bank Donates Gift of Sight to Medical Advisory Board Member in Ghana

The Connecticut Eye Bank & Visual Research Foundation Inc. presented 4 donated corneas to Dr. James Clarke, a member of Unite For Sight's Medical Advisory Board and an ophthalmologist in Ghana. Dr. Clarke, who is the only ophthalmologist in Ghana who provides cornea transplants, received the corneas at 10 a.m. Monday, April 3 at the Eye Bank's offices at New Britain General Hospital.

This is the first time the Connecticut Eye Bank has donated corneas to patients in Africa, according to Executive Director Allen Brown. The donation was made through the Eye Bank's affiliation with Tissue Banks International, Inc. of Baltimore, MD.

Ghana ophthalmologist James Clarke, MD, accepted the corneas and toured the Eye Bank, along with New Britain General Hospital President Laurence A. Tanner and Eye Bank Medical Director Alan Stern, MD, who has performed transplants of donated corneas at the hospital.

Dr. Clarke is Ghana coordinator for Unite For Sight, a non-profit organization that promotes eye care and health education in developing countries. He visited Connecticut as part of Unite for Sight's Third Annual International Health Conference. The Connecticut Eye Bank was a conference sponsor.

"The Connecticut Eye Bank has been at New Britain General Hospital for over 35 years," Tanner says. "We're proud of this longstanding relationship with an organization that has given the very precious gift of sight to thousands of people throughout Connecticut and the world."

The non-profit Connecticut Eye Bank, sponsored by the Independent Order of Oddfellows and Rebekahs, works to procure human eye tissue for corneal transplantation; increase public awareness about eye banking and donation; and educate the public and healthcare professionals throughout Connecticut. The organization also participates in research programs to improve methods for sight restoration. The organization often distributes corneas to patients in Connecticut and other states and in Asia, Indonesia and the Middle East.

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2005 Volunteers of the Year Announced At Third Annual Conference

Unite For Sight 2005 Volunteers of the Year were recognized at Unite For Sight's Third Annual Conference for their remarkable dedication to the organization. These individuals are representatives for all of Unite For Sight's energetic volunteers who selflessly devoted millions of hours during 2005 to improving eye health.

Sabrina Adamski for her dedication of hundreds of hours as an Executive Assistant Intern

Samuel Baharestani for his eye care advocacy and promotion of Unite For Sight's mission to the American Medical Association and NY-American College of Physicians

Rob Cleaton for his development of Unite For Sight's DVD entitled "It's In Your Court: Prevent Sports-Related Eye Injuries"

Alex Columbus for his leadership of Unite For Sight initiatives in Sierra Leone, including a 12-mural eye health public awareness campaign

Cathy Deluca for her tireless work writing press releases

Jeremy Eden for his devotion of many hours daily - and thousands of hours yearly - to maintain Unite For Sight's website, create administrative online tools, and create new Unite For Sight sites for teens, parents, and teachers.

Valda Boyd Ford, MPH, MS, RN, for her incredible work to eliminate preventable blindness at Buduburam Refugee Camp in Ghana, Taiama Refugee Camp in Sierra Leone, and Galle District Refugee Camps in Sri Lanka. She also initiated Unite For Sight's chapter at University of Nebraska Medical School, where she is on faculty, and coordinated a joint Pfizer-Unite For Sight "Glaucoma and You" Church Tour.

Jay Gladis, JD, for his dedication to advising Unite For Sight on legal needs and beyond.

Catriona Gregory for her dedication of hundreds of hours as an Executive Assistant Intern for more than 2 years.

Ernesto Guevara for his impressive graphic design work for Unite For Sight's website.

Julie Harris, PhD, for her 6 months of service as Unite For Sight's Ghana Program Coordinator and volunteer at Buduburam Refugee Camp in Ghana

Karrus Hayes, Joe Muhlenberg, and Habib Kamara for their devoted leadership of Unite For Sight's chapter at Buduburam Refugee Camp in Ghana

Angana Homchaudhuri for her dedication of hundreds of hours as an Executive Assistant Intern, as well as service as Vice President of Unite For Sight's chapter at New York University (NYU)

Michael Hyams, MD, for 2 months of service in Ghana, where he provided hundreds of surgeries to patients in Accra and Tamale. He plans to return regularly to work with Unite For Sight's partner eye clinics in Ghana.

Sachin Jain, for his perseverance as Unite For Sight's Director of North America Initiatives

Angela King, for her superb volunteer work in Thailand

Yasha Modi, for his dedication to directing Unite For Sight's international education chapters

Sally Ong, for her continuing service to Unite For Sight, including her third Unite For Sight trip to Buduburam Refugee Camp in Ghana. She also worked with her faculty advisor and Unite For Sight's Medical Advisory Board Member Dr. Herndon to assess glaucoma needs in Ghana, which is leading to the implementation of a glaucoma initiative by Unite For Sight in Ghana.

Joanne Pedro, for more than 2 years of impressive service as a graphic designer

Rohit Ranchandani, MPH, for her tireless work initiating and leading chapters of Unite For Sight in Canada

Erika Reinhart, for more than 2 years of amazing service as Unite For Sight's print graphic designer

Bernard Sakran, OD, for his dedication to providing optometric services to communities worldwide. Having participated in 2 previous Unite For Sight programs, Bernard will be providing eye care in Thailand for 6 weeks this summer.

Dave Southwood, for his development of Unite For Sight's Film "An Eye Opener in India." He traveled to Chennai, India to film eye camps in Chennai and devoted hundreds of hours in the following months to creating an extraordinary film.

Keith Tauro, for his volunteer service in India and his work to secure free airline tickets from Emirates Airlines so that eye doctors can participate in Unite For Sight's programs in Thailand.

Blanchard Vagba, for his prodigious leadership of Unite For Sight's chapter in Cote D'Ivoire.

Arion Wong, OD, for coordinating a team of 9 optometrists to participate in Unite for Sight's programs in Thailand, and his continued eye care service in Singapore.

Yanan Zhang, for her astounding leadership of Unite For Sight's initiatives in China.

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Unite For Sight Debuts Its Film at Unite For Sight Conference

Unite For Sight's documentary film An Eye Opener in India, which is now available on DVD, debuted on Saturday, April 1st at Unite For Sight's Conference. The film is the story of Unite For Sight's eyecare program in Chennai, India. By partnering with Vision Foundation and Uma Eye Clinic, Unite For Sight touches the lives of poor people by providing them access to comprehensive eye care facilities, including eyeglasses, medication, and cataract surgeries. Unite For Sight is bringing a brighter future to some of the world's poorest people by preventing blindness, enabling blind people to see again, and helping adults to once more work to support their family.

Since 2005, Unite For Sight's program with Uma Eye Clinic and Vision Foundation has helped screen more than 5,000 patients and referred 300 patients for cataract surgery. Uma Eye Clinic has been ranked as one of the top five eye care facilities in Chennai, and Vision Foundation is a trust formed by Uma Eye Clinic to provide eye care for the poor and underprivileged.

Dave Southwood directed and produced Unite ForSight's first documentary film as a pro bono venture. David had the dedication and passion to spend two weeks filming with Unite For Sight in Chennai villages to make a moving documentary. He then signed up a number of world-famous recording artists from the USA and UK, including Mariah Carey, Eva Cassidy, Katie Melua, Ennio Morricone and Lucie Silvas, to provide the background music.

David is the director of his own record company, StyleRecordGroup.com, and for many years wanted to produce a documentary for a charitable organization. Having viewed films made for other charities, he said that he felt that he could improve upon them by showing the emotions and feelings of people afflicted by preventable blindness and so, after speaking to Jennifer Staple about his plans, the project was born.

The film derives from Dave's motivation to make the world aware of need, and he hopes that this powerful medium will have a moving and compelling effect on those who might be able to assist. He says "I hope my film will make a world of difference to Unite For Sight."

Jennifer Staple, Founder, President and CEO of Unite For Sight, said of Dave's generous donation of energy, brilliant talent, and expertise, "It is a privilege to now have a film about Unite For Sight. Dave Southwood's extraordinary dedication to Unite For Sight's mission is an example of the power of volunteerism."

Dr. Senthil, MBBS, Unite For Sight's Chennai Program Coordinator and Consultant Ophthalmologist at Uma Eye Clinic, said of the film: "It's wonderful and I am thrilled. I don't have words to explain how happy I am."

Since its debut on April 1st, the film has also been shown at Rutgers University and at Stanford University, with additional screenings planned. Those interested in ordering the film can contact JStaple@uniteforsight.org

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High School Student Joins Forces With Celebrities To Fundraise For Unite For Sight

Bonnie Lee, a high school senior at Greens Farms Academy who will be a freshman at Yale University in the Fall, was instrumental in fundraising $ 300 for Unite For Sight's international eye care programs. Bonnie, a volunteer with Unite For Sight since Fall 2003, was successful in requesting signatures on a baseball from baseball superstars Roger Clemens, Derek Jeter, Paul O'Neill, Kenny Lofton, and John Smoltz. She also had a golf tournament program signed by Phillip Bailey of Earth, Wind and Fire, Lawrence Taylor, Jason Taylor, Rollie Fingers, Flex Alexander, Aidan Quinn, Dan Jansen, Cedric the Entertainer, and Charles Oakley. Bonnie also had Steiner Sports donate a case for the ball and a frame for the program. The signed baseball and program were auctioned at Unite For Sight's Third Annual International Conference for $ 300.

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Youngest Volunteer Collects Eyeglasses For Ghana

Unite For Sight's youngest volunteer, 13-year-old David Kreshpan of Newtown, Connecticut, collected hundreds of eyeglasses at Reed Intermediate School and Newtown Middle School for Unite For Sight's international eye care programs. David brought his collection of eyeglasses to Dr. James Clarke and Dr. Seth Wanye of Ghana at Unite For Sight's Third Annual Conference at Yale University. Dr. Clarke and Dr. Wanye brought the large box of eyeglasses back to Ghana with them at the conclusion of the conference.

Dr. Wanye, an ophthalmologist in Tamale, Ghana, said of David's impressive dedication to international eye care: "The people that Dr. Clarke and I stand in for would like to thank this young boy for what his heart is directing him to do for the least privileged people of the world."

David was also selected by Newtown Middle School and Newtown Rotary Club as an outstanding 7th grade student for his personal achievement and service.

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Benefit Concert Raises Funds For Eye Care in Ghana

Unite For Sight's Annual Conference at Yale featured a benefit performance by Yale University's Society of Orpheus and Bacchus. The all-male a capella group utilizes a diverse repertoire of music and comedy that captivates and engages audiences.

The Society of Orpheus and Bacchus, whose travels often take them around the globe, visited 21 U.S. states last year. Their many performance venues included the Clinton Presidential Library in Arkansas and The Pyramidin Memphis, Tennessee.

Staying at home in Connecticut, the group generously offered their talents to the nonprofit Unite For Sight, and the hometown crowd's response was equally generous. Though the concert was short-lived, the impact will be long lasting for themore than 50 patients in Ghana who will receive sight-restoring eyesurgery as a result of the funds raised.

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Unite for Sight Supports Cataract Surgery For 154 People

Source: Kalinga Eye Hospital, http://www.nysasdri.org/whatnew17.htm

Unite for Sight (UfS), a US based international non-profit organisation that empowers communities worldwide to improve eye health and eliminate preventable blindness, supported KEHRC in sponsoring 154 sight restoration cataract surgery and four diagnostic eye screening camps. Through four diagnostic screening camps, at Bamu, Angul; Satya Sai Seva Ashram, Jajpur; Balipata, Angul and Pingua, Dhenkanal KEHRC provided medical treatment to 557 people, out of which 154 were identified with cataract. The Cataract affected persons were provided free surgery at the base hospital, free of cost, sponsored by Unite For Sight. All the patients were provided free medicines and or dark glass, as per need.

UFS has also deputed its energetic and highly efficient volunteers in this hospital. These volunteers by devoting their time have contributed their skill and expertise to the hospitals initiatives.

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Emirates Airlines Donates 10 Flights To Unite For Sight Eye Doctor Volunteers

Since Summer 2005, Unite For Sight has worked with Kwai River Christian Hospital and Dada's Boys Home to provide eye care in Sangklaburi, Thailand, which is a region that previously received eye care by a visiting ophthalmologist for only 6 days per year. Unite For Sight sends eye doctors to volunteer in Sangklaburi year-round, and Emirates Airlines is significantly aiding this effort by donating 10 airline flights to Unite For Sight eye doctor volunteers.

"Emirates Airlines is enabling Unite For Sight to provide Sangklaburi with much needed continuous eye care services," said Jennifer Staple, Founder, President and CEO of Unite For Sight. "We are very grateful for their generous donation of the airline tickets, which will allow us to continuously send volunteer optometrists to the region. Due to the support of Emirates Airlines, there will not be 1 day through the end of 2006 when Sangklaburi will not have an eye doctor."

Optometrists and ophthalmologists interested in applying to participate in Sangklaburi for 6-8 weeks may contact JStaple@uniteforsight.org Eye doctors interested in volunteering for a shorter duration may also apply, though without travel sponsorship.

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Unite For Sight Chapter Serves Nepal

NEPAL -- The Tribhuvan University chapter of Unite For Sight (UFS) recently conducted a vision screening and eye health education program at a local school in Nepal. The ten-member volunteer force of optometry students and optometrists provided services for about 150 students.

The group of volunteers divided into two groups of five -- the first group provided eye health education in regards to common ocular problems; the second group performed vision screenings, including general check-ups and refraction. Optometrists Jyoti Khadka and Prakash Paudel, who are also faculty members of the university, volunteered their services and were on hand to dispense diagnosis and treatment as needed.

During the screening, 28 patients with refractive error were given retinoscopy and prescribed glasses. Glaucoma was suspect in four patients who were referred to a local hospital for further diagnoses and treatment. In the remaining 55 patients with normal visual acuity, some symptoms of other eye problems were detected -- such as minor headache, itching and burning sensation, convergence insufficiency, and minor allergic red eye.

Tribhuvan University chapter member, Gopal Bhandari, says eye health education is very important in rural Nepal, where much blindness is attributable to lack of information. He also states that many people in remote areas of Nepal remain unaware of sight-restoring cataract surgery.

Funding for the administration of the program was raised by the chapter and the Nepal Association of Optometrists provided a much-needed set of medical instruments. Bhandari notes that the greatest challenge in moving forward to serve more people is the lack of proper medical instruments, such as ophthalmoscope, retinoscope, and trial lens set.

The Tribhuvan University chapter of Unite For Sight is looking forward to demonstrating new and effective methods of delivering their eye health programs. They have already planned their next program to be held at a government school outside of the valley. They hope their recent registration of their project in Youth Action Net will give them the exposure they need to obtain the necessary medical equipment for them to continue their important goal of eliminating preventable blindness.

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Be A Unite For Sight International Volunteer - 2006 and 2007 Positions Available - Volunteer To Make A Difference

What Do Volunteers Do?: Unite For Sight's volunteers range from undergraduate and medical students, educators, nurses, and public health professionals to optometrists and ophthalmologists. The volunteers serve as interns at eye clinics. The eye clinic's eye doctors and Unite For Sight volunteers jointly participate on community-based screening programs. The clinic's eye doctors diagnose and treat eye disease in the field, and surgical patients are brought to the eye clinic for surgery. Unite For Sight funds the surgeries for those patients unable to afford eye care.

How Do I Apply? The application as well as complete details about Unite For Sight's international opportunities are available at http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteer/

Only A Few Summer 2006 Positions Remaining in India and Ghana - Apply Today To Secure A Spot In Unite For Sight's Programs!

Fall 2006 and Spring 2007 Positions Also Available in India, Thailand, Ghana, and Honduras

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Make A Difference With A Gift - Purchase Jewelry and Eyeglass Cases Made By Refugee Women in Ghana

UniteFor Sight promotes the financial success of communities by linking them to world markets. 100% of the revenues support the local community through income generation and eye care projects.

As female heads of household with limited or no income, Esther and Lucy were invited by Unite For Sight to participate in a unique microenterprise program.Esther and Lucy are creating beautiful, vibrant eyeglass cases and jewelry at Buduburam Refugee Camp, and they are earning an income when Unite ForSight buys each piece of jewelry and eyeglass case.

100% of the proceeds directly fundeyecare expenses at Buduburam Refugee Camp. This microenterprise program therefore helps to create a sustainable program in which the local community can fund its own eye care expenses.

Esther says she is happy for the opportunity to help the community and support the eye care. Prior to arriving in Buduburam, Lucy's home was destroyed in the Liberian war, leaving her and her children with nothing. Since her arrival in Ghana, she has been supporting her family by taking in a neighbor's laundry.

"With my new reading glasses, I can see the smaller print. The glasses are helping me to read. The glasses are helping me to keep straighter lines in the sewing," said Esther. "The eye clinic is doing such a good job here. I'm ready to do my best work here sewing, to help them to help my community."

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