History of Unite For Sight
When was Unite For Sight founded? How has it grown so quickly?
Jennifer Staple founded Unite for Sight in 2000 as a sophomore at Yale University. For three years, Unite For Sight coordinated eye screening and education for the medically underserved population of New Haven, Connecticut. In that time, a model program emerged. To reach more people in need, Unite for Sight started contacting university premedical advisers and student affairs offices with an invitation to start Unite for Sight chapters. Responses flooded in from students throughout the United States. Unite for Sight accepted chapter applications, provided training and manuals, and guided the growth of new chapters to implement vision screenings and education programs throughout North America and, eventually, four other continents.
What started with a single volunteer has now grown to a force of over 4,000 volunteers working through 90 chapters, based at universities, medical schools, corporations, and high schools worldwide, and delivering eye care screening and education programs to over 400,000. Unite For Sight has sponsored 17195 sight-restoring cataract surgeries to date and anticipates reaching 12,000 by the end of 2007. Working with our partner ophthalmologists, we have also provided thousands of people with treatment for infections, glaucoma, pterygium, and refractive error.
What does Unite For Sight do?
Unite For Sight implements vision screening and education programs in North America and in developing countries. In North America, patients are connected with free health coverage programs so that they can receive an eye exam by a doctor. In Africa and Asia, Unite For Sight volunteers work with partner eye clinics to implement screening and free surgery programs.
Unite For Sight also organizes an annual international health conference for the exchange of ideas about eye care, international health, and social innovation. Open to the public, an audience of 900 from 5 continents attended the Third Annual Conference at Yale University in April 2006. The Fourth Annual Conference will be held on April 14-15, 2007 at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Has Unite For Sight been recognized for its achievements?
Because of our overwhelming success mobilizing youth volunteers, In recognition of our outstanding contributions to global public health, Unite for Sight has also secured financial support from the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins Cure Glaucoma Foundation, Alcon Foundation, US Agency for International Development (USAID), Gary Bialis Fund of El Adobe Corporation, Exxon Corporation, JP Morgan, and we have received a Healthy Vision Community Award from National Eye Institute.
