Eversight works to prevent blindness, restore sight
Eversight is an organization that works to prevent blindness and restore lost sight to those who've lost it, accomplished primarily through providing corneal transplants from donors.
The organization recently held its Gift of Sight Gala fundraiser in Chicago. We contacted Nikita Stange, community relations liaison for Eversight, for more information.
Q. Can you give us a general overview of what Eversight does?
A. Eversight is a 501©3 nonprofit where it is our mission to restore sight and prevent blindness through the healing power of donation, transplantation and research.
Q. How long has Eversight been active? How was the organization founded?
A. Eversight was founded in 1947 as the fourth eye bank in the United States (originally as the Illinois Eye Bank). Our success attracted affiliations with other regional eye banks and we now have the largest network of eye banks in the U.S.
The Eversight network is a unified operation with the goal of delivering the highest quality services to surgeons and their patients and to continue to grow our impact around the world.
Q. Who does Eversight help?
A. Eversight's main focus is helping individuals with preventable blindness see again through the generous gift of sight from a donor. In 2017, 7,915 people across the world received a second chance for sight through corneal transplantation with the help of Eversight.
Q. How does Eversight help people?
A. Our Gift of Sight fund allows Eversight to provide charitable tissue to those individuals who might otherwise not be able to afford a cornea transplant. We are also leading the way in research into other blinding eye conditions like diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
Q. Tell us the story of someone who was helped by your charity.
A. A fishing accident nearly robbed Colton of vision in his left eye, but a cornea transplant saved his sight. The donation meant so much to the 7-year-old, he mailed a handwritten letter to the donor family to say "thank you."
Q. What's your next upcoming event?
A. Sept. 15, 2018, 1-4 p.m. Joy District "Saturday for Sight" rooftop fundraiser with bites, drinks, and a raffle on the beautiful rooftop at Joy District in River North.
Q. What's usually your biggest event of the year?
A. Our Gift of Sight Gala.
The 20th annual Gift of Sight Gala, benefiting Eversight, was held at The Peninsula Hotel Chicago on a perfect evening on June 28. The event welcomed more than 100 people who helped raise much-needed funds to support the restoration of sight.
Attendees sipped on drinks from the "Flamingle" bar hosted by MyEyeDr., enjoyed a delicious assortment of authentic neighborhood food, and danced to music by DJ Apollo Xo. The exclusive silent auction included trips to Shanghai and Hong Kong.
The 20th annual event was co-chaired for the second year by Candace Jordan and Michael Caputo and honored local philanthropist Marco A. Foster, 2018 "Visionary," and renowned cornea surgeon Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, 2018 Gift of Sight Honoree.
Q. What are some of your other events and programs?'
A. We do several fundraisers throughout the year and volunteer and donor family recognition events. We also do community outreach and public education to help educate people about the importance and need for organ donors. To learn more about programs, upcoming events, and how you can help, visit www.eversightvision.org.
Q. How much of your fundraising comes from events?
A. A portion of our fundraising comes from events, but we also rely on donations by recipients and donor families, and grant money.
Q. How can people who want to help out donate or volunteer?
A. People can visit the website at www.eversightvision.org or email Director of Philanthropy Steve Schapiro at sschapiro@eversightvision.org.