June’s focus is dedicated to the blind and visually impaired. Below we have listed our top 3 charities. If you have one in mind that’s not on the list, feel free to send us the name so we can look into it to make the donation.
Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired (http://www.miamilighthouse.org/)
Mission: Founded nearly a century ago, through education, training, research, and vision enhancement, Miami Lighthouse provides hope, confidence, and independence to the blind community. As the oldest and largest private agency in Florida, our innovative programs for people of all ages promote self-sufficiency and independent living. We offer unique educational programs for children and adults in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Public Schools: pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first grade and adult basic education and ESL classes. Programs for visually impaired clients include comprehensive vision rehabilitation, vocational and social services, computer and technology training, life enrichment classes such as music and art, and low vision assessments and adaptive aids through our Solutions Center. Comprehensive eye exams and glasses are provided at no cost for low-income children statewide using five mobile eye care units and through our network of 1,100 affiliated optometrists. (www.charitynavigator.org)
Helen Keller International (www.hki.org)
What they do: Founded in 1915 by Helen Keller, Helen Keller International works to prevent curable diseases that commonly cause blindness, such as trachoma and river blindness. They also help manage diabetes symptoms, which is another common cause of blindness. The organization also performs cataract surgeries in countries that can’t access them. In addition, they provide quality education services to blind children across the globe.
What they’ve achieved: Since 1994, Helen Keller International has performed vision screenings on 2 million children and given out 300,000 pairs of prescription glasses in the United States. In France, they screen at least 1000 children each year and provide up to 150 children with free glasses. They also started a vitamin A supplementation program in Bangladesh to eliminate vitamin A deficiencies in the region, a common cause of childhood blindness. From 1982 to 2005, they decreased the blindness rate from 3.76% to 0.04% among children. (www.charitynavigator.org)
Guide Dog Foundation (www.guidedog.org)
Founded in 1946, Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind began as a group of five people who sought to provide guide dogs to blind or visually impaired veterans returning from World War II. They began a guide dog school in New York and trained guide dogs there. Today, they maintain their campus but expanded to include a puppy nursery, kennel, and residence for students throughout the US and Canada. They continue their mission of providing guide dogs at no cost to support the livelihood and independence of blind individuals.
What they do: Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind seeks to train and place guide dogs with blind people throughout the US and Canada. Each year, Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind adds hundreds of new puppies to their program in hopes of becoming future guide dogs. They provide personalized guide dog training for each individual they serve. They also are quite prominent in advocacy and promote education for public understanding, as well as advancing disability and accessibility rights. (www.charitynavigator.org)