In 1982, Sharon and her mother travelled to Ghana to meet up with their old friend. During that visit, they were made family members.

“I just always found the people very welcoming,” Sharon says. “I really enjoyed talking with people and learning about their experiences.”

When Sharon heard that we were launching a new campaign to raise funds to screen 23,000 schoolkids in Ghana for eye conditions, her interest was piqued. Beyond her personal connection to the country, Sharon had another reason for taking interest in child eye health – she too has struggled with refractive error since she was in grade school.

“I’ve been wearing eyeglasses since I was nine years old,” she says, “and I studied visual arts during my undergraduate degree. So, vision is a huge thing for me.”

Sharon has generously decided to make a $10,000 contribution towards our Ghana School Eye Health project. She says that as a longtime donor, she has confidence in Operation Eyesight’s approach to community eye health.

“I like the fact that Operation Eyesight contributes to things like cataract surgery and also the delivery of education around good healthcare practices to avoid blindness and eye diseases,” she says, adding, “I also like how it trains locals to go out and educate people in their own communities.”

We are so grateful to Sharon for kicking off our Ghana School Eye Health campaign with her donation. We invite you to join her in transforming young lives!

The post Childhood friendship fuels hope for 23,000 kids in Ghana appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

Although both are no longer with us, their legacy of giving continues today. When Gwendolen passed in 2020, she left our organization a generous gift in her will. It was a decision she and John, who passed away in 2019, had thoughtfully made together.

Born in Leicester in the United Kingdom in 1931, Gwendolen (or Gwen, to her friends) was known for her lively spirit and love of performing. She and John moved to Canada in 1957, settling in Vancouver where she became a mainstay in the area’s theatre scene, acting, singing and directing for various theatre companies, all while working full time at CIBC and later at the BC Children’s Hospital. One of her favourite roles was dressing up as Mrs. Claus, with John playing Santa, for the kids at Vancouver’s Ronald McDonald House.

“She liked to laugh, she liked to bring joy to people,” says Gwen’s close friend, Jane Marynowski. “And I think this whole thing about her charities that she was so attached to, was she knew she was bringing joy to other people’s lives. That was important to her.”

In her late sixties, Gwen took a trip to India to see some of our projects in person. She travelled with Marilyn Gullison, daughter of Dr. Ben Gullison, whose work in India inspired our founder Art Jenkyns to start Operation Eyesight.

Although she was already a world traveller, the trip had a profound effect on Gwen.

“I think she found travelling in India to be a little different than her usual travels,” says Jane, who heard a lot of stories about that trip from Gwen, even decades later. “I think that really strengthened this attitude of gratefulness that she had. What she saw over there really did have an impact.”

Today, Gwen and John continue to make their own impact on people across the globe with their generous final gift, which will help us prevent blindness and restore sight for years to come. We are grateful to Gwen and John for their thoughtful, loyal support over the years!

Have you ever considered making a donation in your will? Learn more about Legacy Giving.

The post A lifetime and legacy of giving appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

When my kids were younger, it seemed like as soon as spring rolled around, we had a birthday party to go to every weekend. It was difficult to find time to shop for presents between work and running the kids around. And even when I did manage to slip out to the mall, it was hard to find that perfect gift for a child who probably already had more than enough Lego and colouring books, or an adult who likely had everything they needed.

Fortunately, Operation Eyesight can help take the stress and guesswork out of gift shopping. Have you ever heard of a tribute gift? It’s when you make a charitable donation in the name of a friend or family member. It’s a unique way to celebrate someone’s birthday (or other occasion) while at the same time help someone in need.

When you give a tribute gift to Operation Eyesight, you can request to have a greeting card or eCard sent directly to the recipient. Or, you can choose to have the card mailed to you so you can give it in-person or attach it to a smaller present.

A personalized card and a bottle of nail polish is a nice gift idea for a tween sleepover party. And a tribute gift goes great with a bottle of champagne for those milestone birthdays. Browse our Gift Guide to find the perfect virtual gift today!

If you’re hosting a party yourself, consider asking guests to make a donation to Operation Eyesight in lieu of gifts. It’s easy to create a fundraising page online or collect donations when guests arrive. Check out our Fundraising Toolkit to get started, or contact us toll-free at 1-800-585-8265 for more information.

Spring may be a busy time of year, but with a little help from Operation Eyesight, you can be a hit at all those parties. And best of all, you’ll be giving others the greatest gift of all: their vision! Thank you for your support.

The post You can be the hit of the party! appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

American journalist and historian Henry Adams once said, “Teachers affect eternity; you can never tell where their influence stops.” The teachers of Edmonton Public Schools have taken that statement to another level with their Charity Trust Fund.

A generous supporter of Operation Eyesight for more than 25 years, the Edmonton Public Teachers’ Charity Trust Fund’s mandate is to support Edmonton children and their families, as well as to provide general community support and reach out on an international basis. “It’s a wonderful way for our members to give back to their community,” explains Nels Olsen, a teacher and chair of the donations committee. “Our members find the Charity Trust Fund payroll deductions a convenient way to donate to local and international charities.”

The Charity Trust Fund was established more than 40 years ago and distributes donations to about 35 agencies each year. Operation Eyesight, the only internationally-focused recipient for many years, gained the Charity Trust Fund’s support for a couple of simple reasons: “The committee felt that the organization had a very large impact for what amounted to a modest donation, and Operation Eyesight uses the money we give so effectively.”

Donating internationally helps to give their students perspective about supporting community both at home and abroad. “It also shows our members that they have impact far beyond Edmonton and Canada,” says Nels.

In fact, their impact is international and reaches some of our world’s most vulnerable people. By supporting projects like community development in India and hospitals and outreach programs in Africa, countless children, women and men see a brighter future, thanks to the compassionate members of Edmonton Public Teachers Local No. 37.

The post Thanks to you: Edmonton Public Teachers’ Charity Trust Fund appeared first on Operation Eyesight.