Restoring Sight International, Inc. Gift of Sight Program
Special to Katipunan-USA
payday loans Restoring Sight International, Inc. (RSI) is responding to the needs of hundreds of thousands of indigent blind children and adults in the Philippines, whose blindness is curable.
Founded in 1996 in the United States as a not-for-profit organization by internationally renowned eye surgeon and educator Dr. Felipe I. Tolentino, RSI’s purpose is to raise funds for its charitable missions worldwide. RSI’s work in the Philippines is in partnership with the Ophthalmological Foundation of the Philippines (OFPHIL).
More than one-fifth of the world’s estimated 4.5 million blind live in the Philippines. Cataracts are a primary cause of blindness in the Philippines. Many remain blind simply because they cannot afford treatment.
The RSI Board of Directors, composed of distinguished Philippine-born professionals and volunteers from throughout the world, is introducing the Gift of Sight program to assist its efforts. While the organization already has successfully treated tens of thousands of indigent Filipinos in hospitals, eye centers and a mobile eye clinic, today some 300,000 of the nation’s poorest desperately need eye surgery.
A contribution of $150 to RSI’s Gift of Sight will sponsor cataract surgery for one person, in effect giving that individual the new ability to support and care for his or her family. Such a donation has the dramatic impact of changing the course of life from permanent disability to becoming a productive member of society.
Donations in any amount are welcome. Each gift of $10 can provide medicine for a child’s eye infection. Adult eyeglasses can be purchased with a donation of $25, and children’s glasses with a $50 donation. A contribution of $500 will be directed to an outreach eye mission in the Philippines. Contributors can sponsor an anonymous person or someone they know in the Philippines who is truly indigent.
Tax-deductible contributions may be made by check or credit card via the website www.rsiofphil.org/donate.html. Checks, made payable to Restoring Sight International, should be mailed to RSI, 9 Hawthorne Place # 16E, Boston, MA 02114. For more information, please call 617 395-0251, or visit www.rsiofphil.org.
