Image from National Eye Institute
Fact Sheet
the eye health and vision
2O18
projects it has supported
This leveraging effect is critical to the success of a
for the past two decades,
variety of far-reaching efforts, as well, with ESFA doing all
from vision screenings for
it can to encourage other funders to support nonprofit
children to summer camps
work aimed at increasing access to eye care for children
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD The EyeSight Foundation of Alabama (ESFA) is proud of
for those with vision impairment to eye care for the
and adults in Alabama. We will continue to bolster the
medically indigent and research into blinding eye dis-
impact of every grant making dollar we contribute by
ease. The foundation began its work in 1997 with an en-
amplifying the work of our grantees.
dowment of about $60 million, derived from the sale of a specialty eye hospital. ESFA holds in perpetuity nearly $50 million which is carefully invested and from which it
continues to award grants. The ESFA Board of Trustees also advises Regions Bank on grants awarded from the Carl and Pauline Buck Trust held at Regions Bank. Counting those grants, as of July 2018 ESFA has awarded $68+ million to 63 organizations and programs in Alabama.
$68,686,260 Awarded/Directed since 1997
AREAS OF SUPPORT ESFA awards grants in the following areas:
eye care and vision screening
Eye care for the medically indigent
Low vision and rehabilitation service
Improved geographical access to general and special-
ty eye care services Education and training of eye care professionals and scientific investigators
nership with the University of Alabama at Birmingham, ESFA is proud that its grants to UAB Ophthalmology’s
Research in the prevention and treatment of eye diseases, disabilities or impairment prevalent in Alabama
*includes $1,525,385 through Regions/Buck Trust Having completed six of a seven-year funding part-
Public education regarding preventive and routine
and the development of effective methods of treatment, surgery or rehabilitation
Basic science research on the visual system.
Vision of Excellence and Research Acceleration Initiative
MISSION
have helped propel the department’s national Blue Ridge
To serve as a catalyst to improve eyesight
th
th
Institute research ranking from 38 t0 6 . Other funders have joined with ESFA in helping advance the breadth and depth of ophthalmology’s research programs, with extraordinary collective results.
through research, education and access to care
VISION Making a difference in the eyes of the world