Special Stories
Learn More
Saving Kid's Sight
Sight Savers of Alabama provides the following services for
children:
Offers one-on-one personal case care for each child referred to Sight
Savers.
Schedules appointments and transportation for eye exams, eyeglasses, vision
screenings, medication, vision training, surgery, vision aids, and parental
notification at every step in this process.
Coordinates services with an over 300 member volunteer network of doctors,
opticians, and other health care providers. Services are free for families who
can't afford to pay.
Provides technologically advanced sight enhancing devices for children with
low vision or for those who are blind.
FUNDING from the EyeSight Foundation of Alabama, Crippled Children’s Foundation/Monday Morning Quarterback Club, Mr. Hall Thompson, numerous community-based foundations and other contributions supported our growth from one to 24 counties between 1997 and 2004. During that time, the number of children served increased to 5,354 children and our annual budget from $2,000 to $300,000.
STATE LEGISLATIVE FUNDING has now increased Sight Savers’ annual budget to over $1.1 million to include a program that serves more than 12,000 kindergartners and second graders each year. Securing this Education Trust Fund line-item status was a giant leap toward realizing our long-term goal of ensuring that every child in the state of Alabama views the world with his or her best possible vision.
STATEWIDE EXPANSION created a need for more employees to manage the dramatic increase in the number of children referred. Our staff of 14 works together to manage the growth created by this funding. State Headquarters in Birmingham is supported by our South Alabama Office in Mobile, establishing our presence in the state’s two largest metropolitan areas.