PRCC Vision Screening Project Gets Continued Foundation Support

The Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation has continued its support of Sight Savers America with a tenth grant to the Children’s Eye Care Program.

The $55,000 grant will support SSA’s work in meeting the eye care needs of children in Pearl River and Hancock counties through vision screening and comprehensive follow-up for school-age children.

“This support has made a tremendous difference in the lives of thousands of children in this area who didn’t have access to eye care,” said Gwen Camacho-Hughes, SSA chief operating officer and vice president of the Eye Care Program.

Sight Savers America has provided life-changing care for some children while improving quality of life and academic success for most of those involved in the program. The organization plans to expand screening and follow-up care to children in preschools, Head Start and Pre-K centers.

SSA was founded in 1997 to provide comprehensive eye care services from initial screening through diagnosis and treatment. Since then, the organization has provided follow-up care for more than 466,000 needy children.

“Most medical industry experts agree that early detection of a health related issue vastly improves one’s probability of managing or curing the health issue,” said Clyde Dease, foundation president. “This Sight Savers project will continue to demonstrate that if you discover vision problems in children at an early age, it will drastically improve the odds of finding a cure or workable solution to improve the vision in our children. The foundation is happy to participate in this effort.”

*Photo caption:Clyde Dease, president of the Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation, presents a grant check to Jennifer H. Williams, director of Sight Savers America vision and health screening programs. With them is Gwen Camacho-Hughes, Sight Savers America chief operating officer and vice president of the eye care program.