Fall 2013 Newsletter - Vision Is Priceless

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Gift of Sight
Justaspaintfadeswithtime,visiongraduallydullsfor
individualswhodevelopcataracts.Attheageof51,
JacksonvilleophthalmologistJeffLevenson,M.D.
personallyexperiencedthiseffectofcataracts.
Dr.Levensonfoundhimselfinneedofthesame
operationhehasperformedalmost20,000times
throughouthis25yearcareer.
Whenitcametimeforhisownsurgeryfouryearsago,
Jeffwasunafraidasthesurgeon’shandwasplacedon
hisforeheadandthelightbeamedintohiseyes.“Iknew
thesurgerywouldclearmysight;whatIdidn’tknow
wastheextentofmyvisionlossbeforethesurgery.”
Althoughhe'dheardhispatientstalkforyearsaboutthe
vividnessofcolorsaftersurgery,hewasnonetheless
shockedashepeeredthroughhisnewlensesatan
explosionofnature’svividblues,greensandafull
rainbowofcolors.
“Mypersonalencounterwithcataractsgavemea
glimpseintowhatpatientsexperiencewhenthey
cannotaffordthesurgery.Feardeepensastheirworld
darkensalittlebitmoreeachday.Theygraduallylose
theabilitytoreadordrive,andtheyfaceincreasing
difficultycaringforthemselvesandtheirfamilies.
Now,morethanever,Iwanttobeinstrumentalin
erasingthatfearbyrestoringtheirsightandimproving
theirlives.”
Withapassionatecommitmenttoprovidefreecataract
surgeryforpatientswhocannotaffordit,Dr.Levenson
wasinstrumentalinestablishingTheGiftofSight
programalmost20yearsago.Theprogram,now
administeredthroughVisionIsPricelessandfundedin
partbyJeffandhiswife,Ilene,hasrestoredvisionfor
morethan200underserved,medicallyindigentFirst
Coastpatients.Another10–15patientswillreceive
theGiftofSightthisyear.
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OnelookatMichaelJarvisanditiseasytounderstandwhychildrenlovetowhisperChristmas
wishesintohisears!AsmuchasthisSantaenjoyedhearing
allaboutthetoys,gamesandbikesthesechildrenwanted,
therewassomethingimportantmissingfromhisexperiͲ
ences.Santahadhisownwish:onceagaintoseeclearlyas
helookedintochildren’sglowingfaces.
Santa’swishwasgrantedinDecember2012,when
Dr.JeffLevensonremovedthecataractfromhislefteye
thathadmadehimlegallyblind.ThankstotheGiftofSight
Program,Santaissuretoshareanabundanceofjolly
chucklesthisholidayseason,ashelooksintothe
beamingfacesofchildrenleaningclosetowhispertheir
wishestohim.
VisionIsPricelessis
gratefulforthe
continuedsupportof
ourcommunity!
Pleaseconsideragift
toVIPthisholiday
seasonbyusingthe
enclosedenvelope,
ordonateonlineat
VisionIsPricless.org.
3ShircliffWay,Suite546
Jacksonville,FL32204
904.308.2020
VisionIsPriceless.org
Florida Blue, Sontag and Riverside Hospital Foundations
Support New Extended Outreach Program
AstheonlyproviderofthefullcircleofvisionservicesforFirstCoastresidents,VisionIsPriceless
recognizedtheneedtoprovideservicesforadditionalcommunities,yettheexistinginfrastructurecould
notsupportanexpansion.Withtheirownvisionsforimprovingthelivesoftheuninsuredandthe
underservedbyincreasingaccesstoqualityhealthservices,FloridaBlue,SontagandRiversideHospital
Foundationsarehelpingfulfillthatneed.ThesegenerousFoundationsarepartneringwithVIPto
provideanExtendedOutreachProgramthatwillserveClay,St.Johns,Nassau,andBakerCounties.
TheExtendedOutreachProgram(EOP)willcollaboratewithfreemedicalclinicsandotherorganizations
servingtheuninsuredandunderservedinthenewcounties.VisionIs
Pricelesswilltrainappointedvolunteersfromthefreemedicalclinics
anditwillbecomearegularpartoftheclinics’services.ThevolunͲ
teerscreenerwillprovidedataresults,includingreferrals,tobe
processedthroughtheVIPoffice.VisionIsPricelesswillprovidecase
managementforthereferredclientstoensurefollowupcare.These
vitalpartnershipsmakeitpossibleforVisionIsPricelesstouseand
maintainitsprovenbusinessmodelforthissustainableprogram,
whileexpandingvisionservicesforresidentsinadditionalareas.
Valuablepartnershipswitheyecareprofessionalsgrantaccesstoqualityhealthrelatedservicesforthose
whoneedreadingglasses,fulleyeexams,prescriptioneyeglasses,
andspecialtycare.Newlyrecruitedvisioncareprovidersagreeto
offeraspecificamountofdonatedservicesannuallyfortheir
counties.Iftheneedforfulleyeexamsismorethanthedoctorscan
handleintheirindividualpractices,afreevisionclinicwillbeprovided
similartothecurrentVIPclinicsinClayandDuvalcounties.In
addition,VisionIsPricelesswillnegotiateagreementswithsurgery
centersandhospitalstoprovidevisionsurgeriesineachcounty.
We thank the Florida Blue, Sontag
and Riverside Hospital Foundations
fortheirtremendoussupport,makingitpossibleforVision
IsPricelesstooffertheExtendedOutreachProgramtothe
uninsuredandunderservedinClay,St.Johns,Nassau,and
BakerCounties.Theirgenerosityisenhancingthelivesof
thoseserved.
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Extended Outreach Program in Action
InJanuary2013,VisionIsPricelessbeganimplementingthenewExtendedOutreachProgram(EOP)thatwill
providemuchneededvisionscreeningandfollowupcareforuninsuredandunderservedresidentsinClay,
St.Johns,Nassau,andBakerCounties.AsVisionIsPricelessprogramsareunduplicatedinTheFirstCoast,
theseindividualspreviouslyhadnowheretoturnforcomprehensivevisioncare.
InFebruary2013,VIPvisionscreenersbegantrainingvolunteersatTheWayFreeMedicalClinicto
conductthescreenings.Todate,thepartnershipwithTheWayFree
MedicalClinichasprovided:91visionscreenings,76referrals,57eye
exams,40prescriptionglasses,andeightspecialtyexams.
InMarch2013,theEOPexpanded
intoSt.JohnsCounty,through
VIP’sestablishedpartnershipwith
TheWildflowerClinicin
St.Augustine.Incollaboration
withTheWildflowerClinic,servicesprovidedwithinthesefewmonths
include:71visionscreenings,64referrals,25eyeexams,
21prescriptionglasses,andfourspecialtyexams.
WeareexcitedtowelcomeRoweFamilyEyecareandTheEyeCenterofSt.AugustinetotheEOP,asthey
haveestablishedvolunteercontractswithVIP.
OurvisionisclearlysetonexpandingtheEOPwithTheBarnabasCenterinNassauCountybyearly2014.
OurfocusincludesengagingeyedoctorsinBakerCountyandexpandingtheprogramtherebymidͲ2014.
TheExtendedOutreachProgramissuccessfullymeetingvisionneedsbecauseofpartnershipswithclinics
andeyedoctorswhoshareourgoalinproviding:BetterVision,BetterLife.
GiveandGoPartnershipaSuccess
VisionIsPricelessparticipatedinthe2013GIVEandGO100Program,a
collaborationbetweenTheNonprofitCenter,TheJacksonvilleJaguars,TheJackͲ
sonvilleJaguarsFoundation,TheDuBowFamilyFoundation,andWeGive.org.Theprogramallowedlocalnonprofits
tosellexclusivediscounted2013Jaguarticketsandearnmoneybackforeachticketsold.
Weareproudtohavesoldover100ticketssofar,affordingVIPtheabilitytonowearn$30foreveryticket
purchaseddirectlythroughVIP.YoutoocansupportTheJaguarsandVisionIsPricelessbypurchasingyournext
gamedayticketthroughVisionIsPriceless.org.
AnotherbenefitofthisprogramwasaspecialtailgatepartyhostedbyVIPattheSeptember29Coltsgame.VisionIs
Pricelessinvitedmanyofthevolunteerswhomakeourfreevisionclinicspossible,membersoftheHOLAandSAPNA
employeegroupsatVistakon.Attendeesenjoyedafunfilledmorningfullofpregamefood,drinks,andgames.
AspecialthankyoutoeveryoneinvolvedinTheGIVEandGOProgram.VisionIsPricelessisfortunatetohavehad
thisopportunityandweappreciatethemanyorganizationswhocametogethertomakethisprogrampossible!
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Vistakon®DivisionofJohnson&JohnsonVisionCare,Inc.Sponsors
FreeEyeExamEventforWorldSightDay
Acrucialpartofmaintaininghealthyvisionincludeshavingregular,completeeyeexams,andyetmany
peoplecan’taffordthem.InhonorofWorldSightDay,October10,VISTAKON®DivisionofJohnson&
JohnsonVisionCare,Inc.(JJVCI)sponsoredathreeͲdayvisionclinicsothatunderservedoruninsured
individualscouldreceivethiscriticaleyecareservice.ThroughapartnershipwithVisionIsPriceless,
163preͲqualifiedpatientsreceivedcompleteeyeexamsduringtheevent,heldOctober9Ͳ11.Ofthose
seen,145receivedprescriptionglassesand37werereferredforspecialtycare.
“Everyoneneedsacompleteeyeexambecausethat’showyoupreventblindnessandeyedisease,”said
AshleyMcEvoy,CompanyGroupChairman,Johnson&JohnsonVisionCare.“Even
withperfectvision,youcanstillhaveasightͲthreateningcondition.Multiple
diseasesandconditionscanbeseenintheeyelongbeforesymptomsappear
elsewhere:highbloodpressure,diabetesandmore.Schedulinganappointment
withaneyecareprofessionalisgoodpreventivemedicine,justlikegettinganannualphysical.”
SusanMattox,ExecutiveDirector,VisionIsPriceless,agreesthatannualeyeexamsarecritical.“VIPhas
helpedmorethan34,000peoplethisyearthroughitsscreeningandearlydetectionprograms.Mostpeople
knowwhentheirvisionispoor,butothersaresurprisedtolearnthattheyhavesomethingseriouslywrong.
That’swhyit’ssoimportanttogetacompleteeyeexam.TheexamscanbelifeͲchangingforpeople,and
sometimestheycanevenempowerpeopletoreturntowork,todriveandtoliveindependently.Weare
honoredtohelpprovidevisioncaretothosewhodon’thavetheresources.”
The163patientstreatedduringWorldSightDayareexcitedabout
themanywaystheirimprovedvisionwillassistthemin
beingmoreselfͲreliant.Whenasked,theyindicatedthe
areasoftheirlivesthatwillbeenhanced,andit’seasy
toseebythenumbersthattheimpactwillbe
powerful!
25%
13%
12%
14%
13%
17%
6%
DRIVING APPLYINGFORAJOB
GOINGBACKTOWORK
GENERALEDUCATIONDIPLOMA
JOBTRAINING
LIVINGINDEPENDENTLY
OTHER
VISTAKON®hadanoutstandingvolunteerteamworkingwiththepatients!
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Vision Is Priceless Honors Volunteers at Annual Meeting
TheJune12,2013VisionIsPricelessAnnualMeetinghonoredremarkableindividuals,groupsand
corporatevolunteersthathelpmakeVisionIsPricelessprogramsavailabletothecommunity.
(LͲR)AlKinardwasrecognizedfor30Yearsofgiving
histime,talentanddedicationtoVIP.
BillPiersonwasnamedVolunteeroftheYear.
EdWitt,Sr.wasrecognizedfordedicating
30Yearsofhistime,talentanddedicationtoVIP.
HOLA(HispanicOrganizationforLeadershipandAchieveͲ
ment)atVistakon,FrancesB.KinneAward:Recognizes
faithfulparticipationinsightͲsavingprograms
(LͲR)VIPBoardPresidentRogerGibsonpresentsthe
FrancesB.KinneAwardtoAnnaVargasandJoePerez.
AETNA,Inc.,WillH.WassonAward:Recognizesan
organization’sfaithfulparticipationinsightͲsaving
programs.(LͲR)VIPBoardPresidentRogerGibson
presentstheWillH.WassonAwardtoKhalilahHall
andTomNasbyfromAetna.
MarilynLehman:DotMathiasAwardͲRecognizesan
organizationorindividualwhohasworkedinsupport
oftheDuvalCountySchoolVisionScreeningProgram
StarAshley:JaneM.WynnAwardͲRecognizesexcelͲ
lenceinupholdingthemotto,“VisionIsPriceless”
Welcome to Our New Board Members
WewelcomeournewestBoardmembers,JeffreyDavidBrown,O.D.andDianaDeVaul,M.S.W.TheybringenthusiͲ
asm,expertiseandpassionforhelpingotherstoVisionIsPriceless.TheirtermrunsJuly1,2013toJune30,2016.
JeffreyDavidBrown,O.D.,isavolunteerforVisionIsPriceless,lendinghistalentsatseveralvision
clinicsperyear.HeistheownerofJaxVisionCareinJacksonvilleandalsoservesontheBoardof
DirectorsfortheNortheastFloridaOptometricSociety.Dr.BrownbringsawealthofeyecareknowlͲ
edgeandenthusiasmforhelpingotherstotheBoardofVisionIsPriceless.JeffandAmanda
aretheproudparentsofGavin.
DianaDeVaul,M.S.W.,hasherbachelor’sdegreeinpsychologyandgraduatedegreeinsocial
work.SheisadedicatedsupporterofVisionIsPricelessandispassionateabouttheimportanceof
children’svisionscreeningandimprovingthevisionhealthforourcommunity.“Iamamotherof
twoboyswhohavevisionissues.Thankfully,theyarewellͲadjustedandsuccessful,thankstoearly
interventionandaccesstoamazingeyecare.”
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W.W.GayMechanicalContractor,Inc.andMillerElectricCompany
ŽŵŵŝƚƚĞĚƚŽ/ŶǀĞƐƚŝŶŐŝŶƚŚĞŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ
W.W.GayandMillerElectricarewellknownforenrichingliveswithinourcommunity,especiallythosewhoareunderͲ
served.“BillGaylivesbyhisconvictionthattheLord’sblessingscompelusto
givebackandthatthecommunityͲnotthegovernmentͲshouldcarefor
thoseinneed,”saysLarryTurknett,SeniorVP,W.W.Gay.
“MillerandGayhavealwayssponsoredtheBBQ&Westerneventthat
benefitsVisionIsPriceless,becauseweshareaconcernforthosewhocanͲ
notaffordmedicaltreatmenttoimprovetheirvision.Wearecommittedto
makingadifferenceintheirlivesthroughoutreachprogramsprovidedby
VisionIsPriceless,”saysEdWitt,Jr.,SeniorVP,MillerElectric.
“Philanthropyisadyingartwithyoungadults,”saysSusanMattox,ExecutiveDirector,VIP.“Bystayinginvolved,as
theypassthereignstoyoungerleaders,longtimeorganizersBillGay;FrankHouser;BuckAutrey,Sr.;EdWitt,Sr.;and
AlKinard,Sr.areensuringtheBBQ&Westerneventwillcontinuetothrive.”DavidBoree;LarryTurknett;EdWitt,Jr.;
RonnieRoberts;andAlKinard,Jr.arenowonthefrontlinesforplanningandorganizingtheevent,andfordeveloping
eventsponsors.Theyaimtoencourageotheryoungleaderstoimprovelivesbyinvestinginourlocalcommunity.
(PicturedabovewithBillGayare(L)EdWitt,Jr.andLarryTurknett.)
Morethan30yearsago,gratefulheartsspurredW.W.GayandMillerElectrictopartnerwithVisionIsPricelessintarͲ
getingpoorvisionamongNortheastFloridaresidents.ThankfulfortheLord’sblessingsintheirlives,AlKinard,EdWitt,
Sr.,LynwoodRoberts,andBillGaytriggeredthearea’sfirstoneͲofͲaͲkindBBQ&Westerneventasagestureof
appreciationforthemanyvolunteerswhomakeVIP’s
outreachprogramspossible.VisionIsPricelessishonored
thatW.W.GayandMillerElectrichavebeenthe
PresentingBullSponsorseveryyear.
BillPierson,leadcook,hasastrong30Ͳyearhistoryof
firingupthegrillswiththecooksandspendingtwodays
withthempreparingforwhatisnowamarqueeevent.
(Picturedaresomeofthemenwhohavemanyyearsof
experiencecookingfortheBBQ&Westernevent.)
Thiseventoffersafrolickinggoodtimeforall!The
tantalizingaromaofribsandchickensizzlingonthegrillswaftsthroughthecrowdwithapromiseoftheimpending
feast,andtherhythmofcountrymusicinviteseveryonetohitthedancefloor.Welookforwardtoseeingyouatthe
celebrationonMarch8,2014.
Plan now to attend the 31st BBQ & Western event:
Saturday, March 8, 2014, 5:00 p.m.
St. Augustine Rod and Gun Club.
Tickets are $35 per person
and are available at VisionIsPriceless.org
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A Big Thank You Goes to Each
2013 BBQ & Western Sponsor
VIP OFFICERS &
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RogerG.Gibson
Chair
We appreciate these dedicated sponsors who were responsible
for the great success of the 2013 BBQ & Western!
DawnN.Duss,M.D
Secretary
JeffreyH.Levenson,M.D.
MedicalAdvisor
WilliamJ.Knauer,III,M.D.
MemberatLarge
Capt.TerenceM.McGee,M.D.
MemberatLarge
BrianL.Schwam,M.D.
MemberatLarge
ThomasD.Treece
ImmediatePastChair
BOARD MEMBERS
JanetA.Betchkal,M.D.
JeffreyDavidBrown,O.D.
PatriciaB.Davalt
DianaDeVaul
DharmeshDubey
GreggEffner
W.AnthonyMartin
DavidMeyer
KurtJohnMoody,O.D.
RonaldL.Roberts
RandolphE.Thornton,M.D.
C.DonaldWiggins,D.B.A.
EdwardE.Witt,Jr.
VISIONARIES
W.W.“Bill”Gay
FrancesB.Kinne,Ph.D.
WilliamJ.KnauerIII,M.D.
DorothyD.Mathias
AnneG.McIntosh
EdwardE.Witt,Sr.
STAFF
SusanMattox
ExecutiveDirector
AshleighRobinson
OfficeManager
TriciaRaeDavis
MarketingandDevelopmentAssociate
NancyKuhn
Children'sProgramCoordinator
Children’sVisionScreeners
DenaAttaway
KristineSolms
MelanieKnox
AdultVisionScreeners
JenaGonzales
MitzaMercado
VanillaPittman
CaredVisionCoordinator
Presenting Bulls
MillerElectricCompany
W.W.GayMechanicalContractor,Inc.
Pardner Sponsors
Buck&BettyAutrey
MaryVirginiaTerry
Posse Sponsors
GraybarFinancial
MarcoOphthalmic
NemoursChildren’sClinic
OldDominionInsuranceCompany
WorldElectricSupply
Patron Sponsors
AjaxBuildingCorporation
Bob&SandraCorbett
C.YoungConstruction
DanisConstruction,LLC
Eisman&Russo
GHGInsurance
MajesticMachine&Engineering,Inc.
StellarFoundation
Wrangler Sponsors
AtlanticEyeInstitute
CogburnBros,Inc.
DarscoPlumbingSupply
FerberSheetMetalWorks
FitzhughK.PowellTrustUAD
MarcusDrewa
Please call 904-308-2020 regarding sponsorship opportunities
for the 2014 BBQ & Western.
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NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
JACKSONVILLE, FL
PERMIT NO. 3311
VisionIsPricelessCouncil,Inc.
3ShircliffWay,Suite546
Jacksonville,FL32204
904.308.2020
FAX904.308.2968
9LVLRQ,V3ULFHOHVVRUJ
SameName,NewLook!
VisionIsPricelesshasupdatedourlogo,newsletter,andwebsite.
Wehavealsointroducedanewmottothatsumsuptheorganization’scontinuedmission:
BetterVision,BetterLife.
The new website will be
user friendly, have
up-to-date VIP information
and will also offer an
educational component.
We hope you will visit the
new website and
experience the changes
for yourself.
VisionIsPriceless.org
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