THE AOS FOUNDATION
As a component Foundation of the Arizona Community Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization, the AOS Foundation was created to help the Arizona Medical Eye Unit (AMEU).
As a component Foundation of the Arizona Community Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization, the AOS Foundation was created to help the Arizona Medical Eye Unit (AMEU).
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A brief history of…
The Arizona Medical Eye Unit (AMEU)
The story begins with the Oddfellows and Rebekah’s, fraternal organizations of fellowship since 18th century England, at a time it was considered odd to aid mankind without the need for recognition. They are non-sectarian and apolitical humanists who approached Harold Cross, M.D. (Director of Ophthalmology U-AZ) in 1974 with the idea of a mobile eye unit. The goal was to improve access to medical eye care in rural Arizona. The Oddfellow’s and Rebekah’s raised funds for an endowment to build and maintain the AMEU. In 1976, Dr Cross enlisted Martin Lian, an ophthalmic technician, to help with trailer design and develop rural Arizona eye clinics. The project was immediately successful requiring additional ophthalmologists. The Arizona Ophthalmological Society (AOS) membership quickly agreed to volunteer their time to help the AMEU allowing the program to expand. In 1978 Greg King, ophthalmic assistant at U-AZ, became Director for AMEU. Greg expanded the eye clinics to include the Indian reservations where diabetic eye disease is common. In 2005, the AMEU including Director Greg King, were transferred from U-AZ to the Arizona Lions Vision Center because the mission better aligned with the Lions goals. The AMEU continues its original mission.
Mission Statement
The Arizona Ophthalmological Society (AOS) Foundation is a 501c3 with the mission to improve access to eye care for under-served populations in Arizona. Through the use of a mobile Arizona Medical Eye Unit (AMEU), the AOS Foundation provides financial support to allow free medical eye exams, patient education/awareness about eye disease and donated eyeglasses. AOS members (ophthalmologists, also known as Eye MD’s) have volunteered their time to staff the AMEU since its inception in 1976 and have pledged to continue their support. The primary focus of the AOS Foundation is to deliver high quality medical eye care for rural and under-served communities that may have limited or no access to an Eye MD. To this end, the AMEU works with local community health centers, health fairs, school vision screenings for children, rural hospitals, homes for the elderly and with multiple Indian Tribal Reservations throughout Arizona. In cases that need medical or surgical follow-up, the AMEU refers to the most appropriate nearby eye care professional. The goal of the AOS Foundation is to ensure all Arizonans have access to medical eye care to reduce the burden of eye disease and improve their quality of life. Since 2008, the Arizona Lions Vision Center (a 501c3) has collaborated with the AOSF to provide support staff, donated glasses, and to help manage the unit. As a component of the Arizona Community Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization, the AOS Foundation was created to continue the mission of the Arizona Medical Eye Unit.
Foundation Goals
Our primary focus is to replace the aging mobile eye unit, which is becoming a danger on the road. The customized trailer, outfitted with the same equipment used in any eye doctor’s office, was built in 1976. The AMEU has exhausted its useful service after 39 years of eye exams across rural Arizona. The current cost to build and equip a replacement trailer is approximately $450,000. The AOS provided seed funding for the Foundation, but cannot fully fund this project. After the new trailer is funded, AOSF will devote funding and resources to expand the project and services. The Arizona Ophthalmological Society (AOS) and Lion’s Vision Center continue to support the daily costs of the program and ophthalmologists volunteer their time performing the exams. We are grateful to all donors, large or small, and will acknowledge any support in our newsletter and website. In addition, we offer naming rights for significant donors that wish to support this project. Thank you for your consideration.
The AOS Foundation (a 501c3) is supported by AOS members through their volunteered time spent on the unit and those who provide individual contributions. The AZ Lions Vision Center also supports the AMEU through staffing, donated glasses, management of the unit and donations. We seek your donation to help us replace the aging AMEU trailer, to expand staffing and grow the program. Please understand that 100% of your individual donation will go to the program. We appreciate your commitment to support our efforts today!
Thank you!
The Arizona Medical Eye Unit (AMEU)
The story begins with the Oddfellows and Rebekah’s, fraternal organizations of fellowship since 18th century England, at a time it was considered odd to aid mankind without the need for recognition. They are non-sectarian and apolitical humanists who approached Harold Cross, M.D. (Director of Ophthalmology U-AZ) in 1974 with the idea of a mobile eye unit. The goal was to improve access to medical eye care in rural Arizona. The Oddfellow’s and Rebekah’s raised funds for an endowment to build and maintain the AMEU. In 1976, Dr Cross enlisted Martin Lian, an ophthalmic technician, to help with trailer design and develop rural Arizona eye clinics. The project was immediately successful requiring additional ophthalmologists. The Arizona Ophthalmological Society (AOS) membership quickly agreed to volunteer their time to help the AMEU allowing the program to expand. In 1978 Greg King, ophthalmic assistant at U-AZ, became Director for AMEU. Greg expanded the eye clinics to include the Indian reservations where diabetic eye disease is common. In 2005, the AMEU including Director Greg King, were transferred from U-AZ to the Arizona Lions Vision Center because the mission better aligned with the Lions goals. The AMEU continues its original mission.
Mission Statement
The Arizona Ophthalmological Society (AOS) Foundation is a 501c3 with the mission to improve access to eye care for under-served populations in Arizona. Through the use of a mobile Arizona Medical Eye Unit (AMEU), the AOS Foundation provides financial support to allow free medical eye exams, patient education/awareness about eye disease and donated eyeglasses. AOS members (ophthalmologists, also known as Eye MD’s) have volunteered their time to staff the AMEU since its inception in 1976 and have pledged to continue their support. The primary focus of the AOS Foundation is to deliver high quality medical eye care for rural and under-served communities that may have limited or no access to an Eye MD. To this end, the AMEU works with local community health centers, health fairs, school vision screenings for children, rural hospitals, homes for the elderly and with multiple Indian Tribal Reservations throughout Arizona. In cases that need medical or surgical follow-up, the AMEU refers to the most appropriate nearby eye care professional. The goal of the AOS Foundation is to ensure all Arizonans have access to medical eye care to reduce the burden of eye disease and improve their quality of life. Since 2008, the Arizona Lions Vision Center (a 501c3) has collaborated with the AOSF to provide support staff, donated glasses, and to help manage the unit. As a component of the Arizona Community Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization, the AOS Foundation was created to continue the mission of the Arizona Medical Eye Unit.
Foundation Goals
Our primary focus is to replace the aging mobile eye unit, which is becoming a danger on the road. The customized trailer, outfitted with the same equipment used in any eye doctor’s office, was built in 1976. The AMEU has exhausted its useful service after 39 years of eye exams across rural Arizona. The current cost to build and equip a replacement trailer is approximately $450,000. The AOS provided seed funding for the Foundation, but cannot fully fund this project. After the new trailer is funded, AOSF will devote funding and resources to expand the project and services. The Arizona Ophthalmological Society (AOS) and Lion’s Vision Center continue to support the daily costs of the program and ophthalmologists volunteer their time performing the exams. We are grateful to all donors, large or small, and will acknowledge any support in our newsletter and website. In addition, we offer naming rights for significant donors that wish to support this project. Thank you for your consideration.
The AOS Foundation (a 501c3) is supported by AOS members through their volunteered time spent on the unit and those who provide individual contributions. The AZ Lions Vision Center also supports the AMEU through staffing, donated glasses, management of the unit and donations. We seek your donation to help us replace the aging AMEU trailer, to expand staffing and grow the program. Please understand that 100% of your individual donation will go to the program. We appreciate your commitment to support our efforts today!
Thank you!