Touching Lives, Saving Sight - 2011 Annual Report

Since 1908, Prevent Blindness America has set its sights on accomplishing a single goal: helping Americans enjoy a lifetime of healthy sight by preventing needless vision loss and blindness. But what does “prevention” mean to an organization that gives the word top billing in its own name?

Prevention is empowerment. At Prevent Blindness America, we fulfill our mission by empowering people. We empower people of all ages–college students, young parents, working adults and seniors– with critical information they need to make the right decisions about health and vision, both for themselves and their families. We empower people to learn about and understand the risks for eye injury and disease and where to turn for support to protect their eyes. We empower teachers, school nurses and volunteers of all kinds to champion vision health in their communities. We empower scientists to advance our knowledge of eye disease and public health experts to integrate vision issues into a comprehensive approach to healthcare.

Vision impairment comes at a terrible cost to patients, families and society as a whole. Yet the word “prevention” symbolizes a unique opportunity for all of us. In partnership with our affiliates, our many volunteers, corporate partners and individual donors, we touch millions of lives. We can help transform our healthcare system from one focused on sickness and disease to one focused on wellness and prevention.

Every prevented eye injury, every successfully diagnosed and treated child with “lazy eye,” every individual who can live without fear of losing sight to diabetic eye disease helps and empowers all of us. Through prevention, we improve our national productivity and individual quality of life, and we reduce unnecessary healthcare spending that impacts all of us in so many ways.

There are few words as powerful or empowering as prevention. With your ongoing help and your generous support, we will continue to touch lives around the nation by preventing blindness and preserving sight.

James E. Anderson
Chair, Board of Directors

Hugh R. Parry
President & Chief Executive Officer