Perspectives Winter 2015

A PUBLICATION OF SAVING SIGHT

WINTER 2015

Introducing our New Volunteer Coordinator Sarah Billingsley Trust Champion of Donation Dori Burke Preschooler Treated for Amblyopia Thanks to KidSight Screening Corneal Transplant Enables Local Artist to Continue Making Art

A New Vision for the Kansas City Lab

Leadership Tony Bavuso Chief Executive Officer Byron DeLaMatre Director of Information Technology Jeff Eckert Chief Administrative Officer Annie Kuhl Chief Communications Officer Tina Livesay Chief Operating Officer Shelly Rasley Chief Technical Officer Michala Stoker Partner Relations Director Michael Titus Chief Clinical Officer

Editorial Clayton Clark Communications & Development Specialist Paul Coleman Graphic Designer

Office Locations Columbia, MO 404 Portland St. Columbia, MO 65201 Office: 573-443-1479 Donor Hotline: 800-331-2636 Fax: 573-443-1657 Hutchinson, KS 2 East 12th Ave. Hutchinson, KS 67501 Partner Relations: 620-259-7388 Office: 620-259-7300 Fax: 620-259-7323 Kansas City, MO 10100 N. Ambassador Dr. Suite 200 Kansas City, MO 64153 Office: 816-454-5454 Fax: 816-454-5446 Springfield, IL 400 Chatham Rd. Suite 103 Springfield, IL 62704 Office: 217-679-2987 Fax: 217-670-0800 Springfield, MO 3506 Culpepper Circle Suite D Springfield, MO 65804 Office: 417-882-1532 Fax: 417-882-8206 St. Louis, MO 10801 Pear Tree Lane Suite 170 St. Ann, MO 63074 Office: 314-428-4373 Fax: 314-428-3751

From Our CEO Saving Sight is growing. Consider this: last year, we recovered, processed, and distributed 2,985 corneas for sight-saving transplant surgeries, which averages out to more than 8 corneas per day. And our KidSight program screened a record-breaking 50,408 children for vision problems in 2014. I applaud our staff, volunteers, and supporters for making these programs so successful. But I’m not content to rest on our laurels this year—I expect us to continue to strive and grow.

One of the ways we do that is through improving the technology we use.

By equipping our staff with cutting-edge devices, we are able to work more efficiently and expand the ways we help people. In this issue, you’ll read about our program news, recipients, and partners, but we’ve also highlighted some recent technological advancements here at Saving Sight. These advancements are enabling us to reach even more people by enhancing the way we help others receive the gift of sight.

As you can imagine, these state-of-the-art technology advancements can be costly. But as good stewards of our donors’ gifts, we strive to make smart, judicious investments in our programs today that will lead to changing more lives by saving sight tomorrow. The programs’ results speak for themselves, but there are still thousands of people in our service area who suffer the heartbreak of vision loss. If you have the ability, I encourage you to make a financial gift to Saving Sight this year and renew your commitment to our mission.

Please enjoy this issue of Perspectives. I wish you and your loved ones a prosperous 2015.

Sincerely,

Tony Bavuso Chief Executive Officer

Contact General Information: 1-800-753-2265 Media Inquiries: 800-283-1982 ext. 101 or ext. 115 pr@saving-sight.org

Perspectives | Page 2

Saving Sight is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to change lives by saving sight. Founded in Columbia, MO in 1960, the organization introduced the gift of sight to Missouri. Today, Saving Sight operates vision health programs that serve more than 50,000 people each year, and its offices are located in Missouri, Kansas, and central Illinois.

Introducing our New Volunteer Coordinator Saving Sight is pleased to introduce you to our new Volunteer Coordinator: Sheila Fields. If she looks familiar to you, that’s because she has worked at Saving Sight’s Columbia office for the past 9 years as the Eye Care Assistance Coordinator. In her new role, Sheila will support and communicate with our volunteers so they can change lives by saving sight. “I am very excited about coordinating our volunteers to serve people through our programs,” she said.

Sheila was born and raised in Columbia. At about the same time as she joined Saving Sight, she also became a member of the Columbia Host Lions club. She and her husband enjoy biking and gardening, and they stay very busy spending time with their six grandchildren and a yellow lab named Lucy. Sheila feels motivated by Saving Sight’s mission and looks forward to inspiring volunteers to make meaningful contributions to their communities’ vision. “I have worn glasses since I was seven years old, but it was a struggle for my family to provide me with glasses,” she said. “So it is wonderful that I get to be part of an organization that helps people see.”

If you are interested in volunteering with Saving Sight, contact Sheila at 800-753-2265 x8504 or volunteer@saving-sight.org.

A Lasting Gift of Sight: Remembering the Billingsley Family PDG Floyd “Toby” Billingsley believed in service. A former school teacher and retired farmer, he joined the Clearmont Lions and later served as Governor for District 26-F in 1953-1954. His work as a district governor fueled his passion for the Lions’ mission as “knights of the blind.” When the Lions Eye Tissue Bank was formed in 1960, he became an ardent supporter of the research and transplantation work occurring across Missouri thanks to the Lions’ support. On his promotional tours and speaking engagements, Mr. Billingsley brought the family along for support and company. For his wife, Helen, and only child, Sarah, these were formative trips about the importance of the gift of sight.

Upon Toby’s passing in 1984, he named the Eye Research Foundation as beneficiary of his memorial gifts. Recognition of his intent and support is etched into Saving Sight’s Columbia office library.

Perspectives | Page 3

Sarah accepted the inspiration to serve from her father.

She taught for 33 years at Benton High School in St. Joseph, MO as a business and typing teacher and advisor to several student groups.

With her retirement, she left a legacy of successful students, school service, and service to the state teaching associations. Sarah later returned home to care for her ailing mother, who passed in 2004 and also named the Foundation as a beneficiary.

Tragically, Sarah succumbed to a brain tumor in November of 2012, but the impact of her family’s commitment to the gift of sight endures. Upon her death, Sarah bequeathed her family’s trust to honor the Lions’ mission and her family’s legacy. As one of the largest gifts ever donated to Saving Sight, the generous Billingsley Family Trust will have a lasting effect on people with vision problems while permanently commemorating the Billingsleys’ deep connection to the organization.

Champion of Donation: Dori Burke As the Chief Forensic Investigator and Operations Manager for Boone/Callaway County Medical Examiner’s office, Dori Burke investigates deaths that occur in her service area. She has had many encounters with Saving Sight in her 18 years of service at the medical examiner’s office. For example, a person who has chosen to be a cornea donor is sometimes the subject of a medical examiner’s investigation. Or alternatively, sometimes the medical examiner’s office is able to refer the family of a deceased person to Saving Sight so they get a chance to donate corneas. Accordingly, Saving Sight strives to have a collaborative relationship with Burke, her colleagues, and other coroners/medical examiners in the service area.

Kharim Strayhorn, a Saving Sight partner relations coordinator, works to make sure Saving Sight and Burke’s office are communicating and working well together. And Gary DeLamatre, the eye bank manager in Columbia, ensures that Saving Sight staff provide the medical examiner’s office with the information they need to complete their investigations about eye donors. “The communication is really, really good between us,” Burke said. Strayhorn said the feeling is mutual: “Whenever our medical review team needs some information on donors from Dori, she sends over the information in a timely fashion. Whenever we need permission to procure on a medical examiner’s case, she is always willing to let us do our work.”

Burke’s experience with cornea donation has been personal, too. “My brother-in-law died of cancer, and my sister donated his corneas,” she said. “After the donation, my sister got a letter from an elderly lady who’d received one of the corneas thanking my sister because she could crochet and do other things again. It’s comforting to know somebody’s still getting use out of his corneas.” The combination of her personal and professional connections to cornea donation make Burke a great advocate for the gift of sight in her community. “I wish more people would donate corneas for other people,” she said. “It’s very non-invasive, and it does so much good.”

Perspectives | Page 4

Dori Burke (left) with Saving Sight Partner Relations Coordinator Kharim Strayhorn.

Burke has translated that passion into her role on the Donor Council at the University Hospital & Clinics in Columbia. The council works to increase donation in the hospital and community so people can get the transplants they need. For Burke, the meetings are also a great opportunity to communicate with Saving Sight and Midwest Transplant Network, the organ procurement organization that serves the Columbia area. “We discuss the issues and how we can work better together,” she said. “I can tell them our issues and they tell me their issues, then we try to work things out.”

This collaborative spirit has led to more people being able to give the gift of sight. Most people who donate have passed away in hospitals, but Burke comes in contact with people who pass away outside of hospitals. When she notifies Saving Sight, Saving Sight then follows up on that referral by contacting the family to offer donation.

In the end, more people get the chance to give the gift of sight who might not have otherwise. As a result, more donor tissue is available for sightsaving corneal transplants. “The recipients—that’s why we do it,” Burke said. “It’s sad that somebody has to die, but to me that’s a wonderful gift.

Someone gets to see again because of a donor.”

Dori Burke is a Champion of Donation in her community. Saving Sight is honored to partner with her and her team at the Boone/Callaway County Medical Examiner’s office. We look forward to many more years of working together to change lives by saving sight.

Corneal Transplant Enables Local Artist to Continue Making Art Anne is an artist who resides in Gladstone, Missouri, a municipality in the Kansas City area.

Now retired, she focuses on creating artwork for her friends and acquaintances, and she is active in her community as the planning commissioner.

In 1980, however, Anne was diagnosed with a hereditary eye disease that causes vision to get worse as an inner layer of the cornea deteriorates.

“I went to see my eye doctor for my yearly exam,” Anne said, “and I was diagnosed with Fuchs’ corneal dystrophy, which, if left untreated, would have blinded me in the left eye.”

For some time, Anne was able to continue her work, both as a teacher and an artist, by keeping routine appointments with her eye doctor.

Together, they could retain her vision by regularly updating the prescription of her glasses. By 2007, however, her doctor finally recommended her to a corneal transplant specialist to fix her vision once and for all. Dr. Tim Cavanaugh of the Cavanaugh Eye Center conducted the operation, replacing the diseased portion of her cornea with corneal tissue donated by a generous donor and their family.

The transplant was a success. “I had to stay still for a day or two after surgery, but my vision in the left eye was 20/30 afterward,” Anne said. “It was a very easy procedure to go through.” Furthermore, the benefits of the surgery have continued for Anne. “I ordered new glasses after the surgery, and I am still wearing those glasses,” she said. “My sight has changed so little in seven years that new lenses are not necessary.”

Today, Anne continues to make art, including the cover art for Saving Sight’s 2014 holiday card (pictured at right). She is very thankful for the opportunity the transplant has afforded her, both personally and professionally. “I owe so much to the donor, my doctors, and Saving Sight,” she said.

“Thanks to the cornea transplant, I can not only see but also continue as an artist.”

Perspectives | Page 5

Saving Sight recently invested in renovations to its Kansas City office. The construction included an updated and expanded processing suite where the majority of Saving Sight’s donor corneal tissue is evaluated and prepared for transplantation.

As a result, Saving Sight is better able to serve patients suffering from corneal diseases.

The renovations were chosen to prepare Saving Sight’s facilities for expected changes in eye bank processing practices and capabilities. Specifically, Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) is a procedure that is expected to become common practice among corneal transplant surgeons. “DMEK is the newest iteration of lamellar keratoplasty,” said Chief Clinical Officer Michael Titus. “From everything we can tell from our research, the DMEK procedure will be better for many patients – better visual results, better recovery times.”

Different patients need different types of tissue for their surgeries, so Saving Sight prepares tissue for the most common corneal transplant procedures, including Descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) and penetrating keratoplasty (PK). Saving Sight technicians prepare these tissues under a laminar flow hood, which is a device that cleans the air to prevent contamination of the tissue. But preparation of DMEK tissue requires an operating microscope, which means it cannot be conducted under a flow hood.

To ensure that DMEK tissue is prepared safely outside of a flow hood, the new processing rooms include highefficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration systems. The HEPA filtration system purifies the air in the room, which prevents contamination of the tissue being processed. Consequently, DMEK tissue can be safely prepared in the open under the new operating microscope.

So what’s next? Preparing tissue for DMEK is complex, and at present, it is completed by hand. Accordingly, Saving Sight is developing its internal procedures to be able to offer DMEK tissue in the near future. This includes teaching clinical staff in the Kansas City office how to prepare tissue for DMEK and then giving them lots of opportunities to practice. “We’re figuring out what’s the best way for us to proceed,” said Titus.

“We’re processing a lot of tissue and training our technicians so they can perform this complicated procedure with a high amount of predictability and success.”

Thanks to these investments in clinical facilities and staff, Saving Sight will remain a leader in the eye banking industry, providing the types of corneal tissue that people need most to preserve and regain their sight.

Perspectives | Page 6

A

New Vision for the Kansas City Lab

Perspectives | Page 7

New Plusoptix S12 Mobile Screener Helps KidSight Technicians Focus on the Children Thanks to grants from the United Way of Greater St. Louis and the Stafford Family Charitable Trust--in addition to our financial donors’ support-KidSight has gradually updated its screening technology. Most of our KidSight Technicians are now using the Plusoptix S12 Mobile Screener pictured below. As a handheld device, the S12 is far more compact than the previous model. It is also cordless, battery-operated, rechargeable, and highly accurate. As a result, KidSight Technicians spend less time setting up their equipment. Instead, they can focus on the children they are screening and on building relationships with our childcare partners.

Perspectives | Page 8

Preschooler Treated for Amblyopia Thanks to KidSight Screening Colton, a 4-year-old from Florissant, MO, was screened

by KidSight at his preschool. “That day, I got a letter home stating that they believed Colton had astigmatism and was nearsighted,” said Kristina, Colton’s mother. “At first I was concerned it was some sort of business ploy, so I brushed it off. But when I took Colton to school the next day, the teacher said Colton was the only one who received a referral. My heart sunk immediately.” Once she understood the gravity of the situation, Kristina wasted no time in scheduling an appointment to have Colton’s eyes examined by a pediatric eye specialist.

The doctor confirmed the screening results: Colton suffered from astigmatism and nearsightedness, which contributed to bilateral amblyopia, or “lazy eye” in both eyes. “I got tears in my eyes while the doctor explained all of this,” said Kristina. According to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, bilateral amblyopia is best treated with consistent wearing of glasses, followed by regular visits to the eye doctor. And like most childhood vision problems, the earlier the problem is detected, the better it can be treated.

It took Colton a few weeks to start seeing a lot better with the prescription glasses, but he understands that he must wear them all the time. In fact, Colton has said, “These glasses give me x-ray vision. I can see everything now.” Kristina said he enjoys sports and video games, and as the middle child of three boys, his brothers are his best friends. He likes taking care of his younger brother and playing with his older brother.

Because children with vision problems don’t know their sight is poor, they just adapt to it and usually don’t mention anything to their parents. Kristina now recalls how Colton always lay closest to the TV when the family gathered to watch. “I felt like a terrible parent for not realizing this sooner,” said Kristina. “I didn’t know how much he couldn’t see.” But small signs like this are only obvious in hindsight—most vision problems are undetectable to parents. That’s why vision screening and professional eye care recommendations are so useful: vision problems can be found early and children like Colton can get the treatment they need before problems worsen.

Perspectives | Page 9

“It takes this technology to help parents figure out that their children need help,” said Kristina. “I cannot say thank you enough to Saving Sight and KidSight for the impact it has had on Colton. He would have missed out on however many years of not being able to see things properly.”

Thank you to our generous donors: July 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014 Lions Club Giving Lion Sight Saver

Lion Benefactor

Lion Benefactor

Gifts $2000 and more Branson-Hollister Lions Cape Girardeau Noon Lions Concord Village Lions First Capitol Lions Hermann Lions Jonesburg Lions Missouri Lions District 26-M2 Missouri Lions Multiple District 26 Owensville Lions PDG Association of 26-M5 Webster Groves Lions West St. Louis County Lions

Gifts up to $999 Auxvasse Lions Beautfort Lions Bonhomme Lions Brazito-Honey Creek Lions Brookfield Lions Chesterfield Lions Columbia Host Lions Cosby Lions El Dorado Springs Lions Elkland Lions Fairport Lions Gainesville Lions Gentry Lions Graham Lions Green City Lions Higbee Lions Higginsville Lions Higginsville-Lafayette Lions High Hill Lions Hopkins Lions Jefferson City Breakfast Lions Jefferson City Capital Lions Jonesburg Lionesses Kennett Lions Lee’s Summit Lions Madison Lions Malden Lions

Gifts up to $999 Maplewood Lions Marceline Lions Marionville Lions Marshall Lions Mayview Lions Mendon Lions Meramec Heights Lions Mexico Noon Lions Miami Lions Missouri Lions District 26-M1 Moscow Mills Lions Old Monroe Lions Paris Lions Past District Governors of District 26-M2 Patton Lions Platte City Lions Salisbury Lions Springfield Host Lions Springfield Queen City Lions St. Joseph South Side Lions St. Louis Downtown Lions St. Louis Harmony Lions Stover Lions Weston Lions Wildwood Area Lions Willow Springs Lions Woodson Terrace Lions

Lion Patron Gifts $1000 to $1999 Columbia Rockbridge Lions Concordia Lions Creve Coeur Lions Hamilton Lions Lemay Jefferson Barracks Lions Mexico Host Lions Rolla Lions Sedalia Lions

Circle of Sight Giving Champion

Defender

Protector

Protector

Gifts $2500 or more Bess Spiva Timmons Foundation Community Foundation of the Ozarks Stafford Family Charitable Trust The Columbia Foundation The Missouri Foundation for Health William J. Brace Charitable Trust

Gifts of $250-$499 PCC Dan & Lion Sally Bernskoetter PDG Wayne & Lion Susan Cunningham Dr. Susan Holley Mrs. Jane Hood Mr. & Mrs. Joe & Annie Kuhl Lion & Mrs. Allen & Ruth Lohsandt Obermark Eye Health Care RSH & Associates, LLC Walmart Foundation

Gifts of $100-$249 Dr. James Crockett Mr. Richard Davis Mr. George Davis Ms. Mae Davis Mr. Robert Duddy Mr. & Mrs. Terry Dunscombe Ms. Aprill Edgeworth Ms. Marlene Ennis Mrs. Barbara Eschenheimer Eskew Mechanical Contractors Ms. Teresa Farmer Mr. & Mrs. Michael & Sheila Fields Ms. Charlene Friedman Mr. Donald Garner Mrs. Patricia Gerstenkorn Mr. Ray Giesler Mrs. Lois Gilham Mr. & Mrs. Larry & Sandra Gough Lions Walter & Kay Green Mr. & Mrs. Rex Gump Mr. & Mrs. Lavell & Linda Hale PDG Walt & Lion Karen Hamer Mr. Ronald Heinz Ms. Leona Henschen Ms. Georgia High Mr. David Jeffrey Ms. Jerri Knight Ms. Alline Leise Mr. Dan Lewis Mr. & Mrs. Lance & Tina Livesay Mrs. Jackie Malling Ms. Dorothy Merrill Lion Reta Nicholson

Gifts of $100-$249 Ms. Tamara Oberbeck Ms. Donnette Oehmke Mr. Joseph Oldham Ms. Caroline Overton Lions Ronald & Mary Pauley Mr. & Mrs. David & Susan Reith Ms. Madonna Riesenmy Mr. Elias Ross PDG Ken & Lion Olivia Schimel Mr. & Mrs. Dan & Miriam Sieve Mr. & Mrs. Donald & Caroline Signor Ms. Effie Simmons Mr. Bruce Simpson Mr. Don Smith Ms. Hannelore Stegenga Mrs. Esther Steinhauer Ms. Shirley Steinmeyer Mr. Joseph Stockbauer Ms. Helen L. Thompson Mrs. Denise Voyles Mr. David Walker Mr. & Mrs. Douglas & Anne Walton Ms. Ila M. Watts Mrs. Toni Webb Mr. & Mrs. Russell & Casey Williamson Mrs. Alice Wisdom Ms. Mary Witt Mr. Edmond Wolfram Mr. Deane Wylie

Leader Gifts of $1000-$2499 Mr. Wayne & PDG Jene Crook MFA Foundation

Guardian Gifts of $500-$999 Alabama Eye Bank Ms Bobbi Bash Mr. Douglas Black Mrs. Eleanor Goodwin Mr. Robert Haupt Kiwanis Club of Hays Inc Mrs. Geraldine Nelson Mrs. Sharon Nicholls Mr. & Mrs. John & Theresa Ollinger Ms. Jane Phillips Dr. & Mrs. Dan & Rhonda Schoenleber Mrs. Jean Sippy Mr. Lewis Southerland PDG Jerry & Lion Judy Young

Perspectives | Page 10

Protector Gifts of $100-$249 Mrs. Paula Amos Ms. Eva Andres Mr. Gary Bachus Mr. & Mrs. Robert & Jenifer Banks Ms. Margaret Barrow Mr. & Mrs. Tony & Julie Bavuso Mrs. Verdia Beard Mr. & Mrs. Maurice & Mary Benskin Mr. Carl Blunck Mrs. Shirley Boren Ms. Elizabeth Boyce Mrs. Sharon Bryson Ms. Donna Burkemper Mrs. Jonina Buterbaugh Mr. Fredrick Caldwell Mr. William Frazier Conner Ms. Frances Cooper

Thank you to our generous donors: July 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014 Friends of Saving Sight Gifts up to $99

Ms. Annie Adams Mr. Henry W. Allhoff Ms. Virginia Antweiler Ms. Sylvia Armstrong Mrs. Barbara Azzam Mr. & Mrs. Brad & Dorothy Baker Ms. Brenda Barber Mr. Albert Barnett Mr. Donald Barr Ms. Jane Barry PCC Leo & Betty Bauerle Ms. Dorothy Beesley Mr. & Mrs. William & Shirley Beneke PDG Leo Bergeron Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City Mr. & Mrs. John & Linda Bober Ms. Norma Bond Mr. David Borlin Ms. Marcella Burford Mrs. Gloria Burt Mr. & Mrs. James & Anne Campbell Ms. Miriam Carroll Ms. Ruth Chiodini Mr. William Clarkson Mr. Paul Coleman Mr. & Mrs. Paul & Mary Ann Coulter Mr. & Mrs. James & Gayle Cox Mr. & Mrs. Michael Darby Mrs. Luella Davin Mr. Jerry Davis Mrs. Susan Dean Mrs. Ann Dechant Ms. Mary Deill Mr. & Mrs. Leonard & Karen Doorack Mr. James Duitsman Mr. John Dunbar Mr. & Mrs. Joe & Judith Dyke Mrs. Susan Echterling Mr. & Mrs. Jeff & Janet Eckert Mrs. Jo Ellen Elam Mr. & Mrs. Charles & Joyce Embree

Mr. George Estabrook Mrs. Aubrey Farris Mr. Richard Fede Mr. & Mrs. Richard & Mary Ann Felkel Ms. Margaret Finke Mr. & Mrs. David & Lisa Fitzler Mr. Gene Foley Mr. William Forbis Mrs. Betty Fraley Mrs. Constance Fryatt Mr. & Mrs. Ray Goings Ms. Joan Goodwin Mr. Laurence Graham Ms. Mary Guest Mrs. Marguerite Guthrie Ms. Melissa Hale Ms. Donna Harden Mr. & Mrs. John Harper Ms. Bonnie Harty Ms. Darlene Haynes Ms. Stephanie Heater Ms. Edith Hegg Ms. Mary Heide Ms. Amy Henry Mrs. Mary A. Hill Mr. Roy Garey Hodge Mrs. June Huelsmann Mr. & Mrs. Wilmer & Jo Ann Huffman Ms. Joan Jendras Mrs. Eleanor Jones Ms. Lynn Kerrigan Mr. Tommy Kinsch Ms. Mary Kirby Mrs. Betty LaJaunie Ms. Linda Landel Mr. Patrick Leach Mrs. Beverly Lehenbauer Dr. & Mrs. Alan & Vilma Levi Mrs. Dorothy Levy Mr. William Lewis Mr. & Mrs. SA Lodewyck

Gifts in Memory Nelda Irene Aegerter-Herman Chris Anderson Delores Austin PDG Leo Bergeron Lion Kenneth “Bud” Burnham Basil Buterbaugh Gary Campbell Grayson Ceshker PDG Melvin Dale Al & Freda Dunscombe Anthony Dunster, Sr. Jim Eichler Dr. Bernie Esser Minnie Ruth Gola Dale L. Grandorff Marcia Balfour Haupt Lion Don Hegeman Edward Hurst PDG Carroll LaJaunie Lion Chuck Lynch John Calhoun Merrill

Perspectives | Page 11

John Miles Ethel Millard Randy Miller Richard Miller Jachin Misko PDG Jacqueline Morlock Dale Nicholls Lion Martha Reuter Terra Riley Patrick Gene Schaefer Dr. John Steinmeyer Donna Straub Frances Swartz Lion Archie Thomas John Thurman Ashton Twibell Lion Kenneth Vette John E. Weiss Jesse Westerman

Mr. & Mrs. Larry & Sharon Lybarger Ms. Barbara Maclean Mr. & Mrs. Leo & Gail Madden Mr. James Maendele Mr. & Mrs. John & Kathleen Manion Mr. & Mrs. Dave & Jean Manning PDG Jon & Lion Linda Martin Mr. Norman Martin Mr. & Mrs. Harold & Linda McCampbell Ms. Juanita McCreight Mrs. Diane Mccullough Ms. Ione McIntyre Mr. Nolan McKenzie PCC Ron & Sharol McMullin Mrs. Juanita Meeks Mr. & Mrs. John & Kay Meyer Ms. Myrtle Meyer Mr. Lawrence Meyr Ms. Sandra Mikulich Mr. Donald Mischke Mr. Eugene Mitchell Mr. James J. Moran II Mr. & Mrs. Ronald & Wanda Nickles PCC & Lion Don & Betty Noland Mrs. Vivian Norton PDG Donald & Peggy Ohrenberg Mr. Wilbur Osbourne Mr. William Oyler Mrs. Patty Palmer Mr. Shawn Parent Dr. & Mrs. K.A. & Elizabeth Parry Ms. Helen Pearl Mr. Tim Peery Ms. Elfriede Pence Mr. & Mrs. Walter & Connie Pentz Mr. James Pitman Mr. Joe Powers Mr. Bill Quinley Mr. & Mrs. Thomas & Marleen Ramsey Mr. David Rochester

Mr. Bobbie Ross Mrs. Alice Ruble Ms. Elda Ruckrigel Mr. & Mrs. David & Anne Rudder Ms. Ann Schonhoff Mr. & Mrs. Louis & Karen Shaw Mr. & Mrs. Larry & Betty Sieckmann Mr. & Mrs. David & Mary Skiles Mr. & Mrs. Ronald & Joyce Smith Mr. Emmet Spearing Ms. Carolyn Spier Ms. Marguerite Spurling Lion Wesley Stemme Mrs. Cheryl Stolte Mr. & Mrs. Mark & Janice Stotler Ms. Teresa Stromer Mr. Regis Tanking Mr. & Mrs. Don & Linda Terdin Mr. & Mrs. Norman & Paula Terrell Ms. Leona Thomas Ms. Millie Thompson Ms. Nancy Todd Ms. Magdalena Trick Mr. William Vance Mr. & Mrs. Ron & Janie Veach Mr. & Mrs. Jerry & Joyce Virtue Ms. Wilma Walker Mr. Hubert Weikart PDG Elmer & Lion Janet Weinrich Mr. & Mrs. Larry & Martha Weldon Mrs. Shirley Westerman Ms. Crystal Wicks Mr. Lawrence Will Ms. Jo Williams Ms. Cora Winfrey Mr. Andrew Woodward Mr. & Mrs. John & Julia Wright Ms. Ellen Yurk

Gifts in Honor Mary Ann Johnson Stan Peery Dr. John Sutphin Joyce Virtue Lion Dr. Ron Walkenbach

Giving is Easy KidSight and our community vision programs are funded thanks to financial donations from our generous supporters. For example, your gift of $100 will help us screen at least 10 children for common vision problems.

You can make a donation or establish a recurring gift through saving-sight.org/give.

You can mail a check to us at: Saving Sight 404 Portland St. Columbia, MO 65201

Your Will and Future Charitable Giving In the next few issues of Perspectives, Jason Noland, CFRE, Saving Sight’s Development Director, will share tips about wills and how to make sure your estate is protected and prepared, regardless of your age.

Installment #1: Your Will and Future Charitable Giving I’ve seen some interesting statistics lately about wills and bequests in America. Did you know: • According to AARP, 55% of Americans who are old enough to have a will do not have a will of any kind.

That includes 41% of all Baby Boomers and 71% of people under the age of 34.

• 70% of those who do have wills say that their will is not up to date, or it does not dispose of their property the way they want it to.

• 20% of all the people who die each year have no surviving spouse, children, or parents to leave their estate to.

Wills provide many ways for you to benefit Saving Sight as well as your church, schools, and any other organizations you value. You can leave specific amounts or property, or you can leave a percentage of your estate. You can create memorial gifts in honor of a friend or create a charitable trust to generate income for you and your family. The possibilities are almost limitless.

A will gives you options as you decide how your estate will be distributed. But if you have no will, you have no options.

To request information about giving to Saving Sight through your will, please contact me at 1-800-283-1982 X107 or jnoland@saving-sight.org. It’s a chance to make a significant gift and also protect your estate for your family, loved ones, and other worthy organizations.

Let us know how we can help.

Referral Partners Performance: January 1 - December 31, 2014 Referral Location

Donors Surgical Tissues

Referral Location

Donors Surgical Tissues

Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital - IL

9

12

Floral Hills Funeral Home - MO

1

0

Allen County Regional Hospital - KS

2

4

Fredonia Regional Hospital - KS

3

5

Atchison Hospital - KS

4

7

Freeman Health Systems - Neosho - MO

3

4

Audrain Medical Center - MO

7

6

Freeman Health Systems - West - MO

78

89

Barnes-Jewish Hospital - MO

1

0

Frontier Forensics - KS

69

119

Barton County Memorial Hospital - MO

1

2

Geary Community Hospital - KS

6

10

Bates County Memorial Hospital - MO

3

4

General Leonard Wood Army Hospital - MO

4

6

Benton Co Medical Examiner - MO

1

2

Golden Valley Memorial Hospital - MO

7

10

Bob Wilson Memorial Grant County Hospital - KS

3

2

Goodland Regional Medical Center - KS

2

4

Boone Hospital Center - MO

42

53

Graham County Hospital - KS

1

0

Bothwell Regional Health Center - MO

12

18

Great Bend Regional Hospital - KS

2

1

Callaway Community Hospital - MO

1

2

Greeley County Hospital - KS

1

2

Cameron Regional Medical Center - MO

2

4

Greenwood County Hospital - KS

1

1

Capital Region Medical Center - MO

21

34

Hamilton County Hospital - KS

1

0

Carlinville Area Hospital - IL

2

4

Hands of Hope Hospice - MO

1

0

Carroll County Memorial Hospital - MO

2

4

Hannibal Regional Hospital - MO

10

16

Cass Regional Medical Center - MO

5

8

Harrison County Community Hospital - MO

3

6

Christian County Coroner - MO

1

2

Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital - MO

12

17

Citizens Medical Center - KS

2

4

Hays Medical Center - KS

2

4

Citizens Memorial Healthcare - MO

12

13

Heartland Long-Term Acute Care Hospital - MO

2

2

Clara Barton Hospital - KS

2

1

Herington Municipal Hospital - KS

1

0

Clark County Nursing Home - MO

1

2

Hiawatha Community Hospital - KS

2

4

Clay County Hospital - IL

4

4

Hospice Compassas - MO

1

0

Clay County Medical Center - KS

1

2

Hospice Incorporated - KS

1

0

Cloud County Health Center - KS

5

9

Hospice of Olathe Medical Center - KS

1

2

Coffey County Hospital - KS

1

2

Hospice of Reno County, Inc - KS

1

0

Coffeyville Regional Medical Center - KS

7

14

Hospice of Southeastern Illinois - IL

1

0

Colmery - O'Neil VA Medical Center - KS

3

1

Hutchinson Regional Medical Center - KS

23

29

Comanche County Hospital - KS

2

4

I-70 Community Hospital - MO

2

0

Community Hospital Onaga - KS

1

2

Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care - MO

2

3

Community Memorial Healthcare - KS

3

3

Kiowa District Hospital - KS

2

2

Community Memorial Hospital - IL

1

2

Labette Health - KS

11

14

Cox Medical Center Branson - MO

19

19

Lafayette Regional Health Center - MO

5

8

CoxHealth Systems - Monett - MO

6

8

Lake Regional Hospital - MO

32

50

CoxHealth Systems - South - MO

169

186

Landmark Hospital of Columbia - MO

5

6

Crawford Memorial Hospital - IL

1

2

Landmark Hospital of Joplin - MO

1

0

Davis Funeral Chapel-Boonville - MO

1

2

Lane County Hospital - KS

1

2

Douglas County Coroner - KS

2

4

Lawrence County Memorial Hospital - IL

1

2

Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center - KS

1

2

Lawrence Memorial Hospital - KS

37

53

Ellett Memorial Hospital - MO

2

1

Lindsborg Community Hospital - KS

2

2

Ellinwood District Hospital - KS

1

0

Logan County Hospital - KS

2

3

Ellsworth County Medical Center - KS

1

2

Lohmeyer - Konantz Funeral Home - MO

1

2

Excelsior Springs Medical Center - MO

4

5

McPherson Hospital - KS

4

4

F.W. Huston Medical Center - KS

1

2

Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital - KS

1

1

Fairfax Community Hospital - MO

3

3

Memorial Hospital - Abilene - KS

8

11

Fayette County Hospital - IL

2

4

Memorial Medical Center - IL

106

111

Fitzgibbon Hospital - MO

5

8

Mercy Hospital Fort Scott - KS

11

10

Fitzgibbon Memorial Hospital - MO

6

6

Mercy Hospice - Springfield - MO

1

2

Referral Partners Performance: January 1 - December 31, 2014 Referral Location

Donors Surgical Tissues

Referral Location

Donors Surgical Tissues

Mercy Hospital Aurora - MO

1

0

Saint John Hospital - KS

3

6

Mercy Hospital Cassville - MO

3

3

Salem Memorial District Hospital - MO

4

6

Mercy Hospital Independence - KS

11

16

Samaritan Memorial Hospital - MO

6

9

Mercy Hospital Jefferson - MO

40

52

Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System - IL

15

23

Mercy Hospital Joplin - MO

19

23

Satanta District Hospital - KS

1

1

Mercy Hospital Lebanon - MO

3

4

Scotland County Hospital - MO

3

4

133

157

Scott County Hospital - KS

1

0

Mercy Hospital Springfield - MO Mercy Hospital St. Francis - MO

2

2

Select Specialty Hospital - Kansas City - KS

3

1

Mercy Hospital Washington - MO

27

37

Select Specialty Hospital - Topeka - KS

1

2

Mercy Maude Norton Memorial Hospital - KS

3

4

Select Specialty Hospital - Springfield - MO

3

3

Mercy McCune - Brooks - MO

6

7

Shawnee County Coroner - KS

3

6

Mercy Regional Health Center - College Campus - KS

9

16

Shelby Memorial Hospital - IL

2

4

Meyer Orthopedic & Rehabilitation Hospital - MO

1

1

Sheridan County Health Complex - KS

3

3

Miami County Medical Center - KS

8

10

Smith County Memorial Hospital - KS

3

2

Minneola District Hospital - KS

2

2

Southwest Medical Center - KS

3

4

Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems - KS

3

6

St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital - IL

8

12

Moberly Regional Medical Center - MO

5

8

St. Catherine Hospital - KS

12

10

Morgan County Coroner - IL

2

4

St. Francis Health Center - KS

23

30

Morris County Hospital - KS

3

4

St. Francis Hospital - Litchfield - IL

4

6

Mosaic Life Care at St. Joseph - MO

56

74

St. Francis Hospital - Maryville - MO

2

3

Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center - KS

2

2

St. John's Hospital - IL

103

118

Nevada Regional Medical Center - MO

8

11

St. Luke Hospital & Living Center - KS

2

4

Newman Regional Health - KS

8

12

St. Luke's Cushing Hospital - KS

6

11

Newton Medical Center - KS

5

4

St. Luke's Hospice House - MO

1

2

NorthCare Hospice House - MO

1

2

St. Mary's Good Samaritan-Centralia - IL

11

15

Northeast Regional Medical Center - MO

12

19

St. Mary's Health Center - Jefferson City - MO

27

46

Northwest Medical Center - MO

1

0

Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital - MO

2

2

Norton County Hospital - KS

3

4

Stevens County Hospital - KS

1

2

Olathe Medical Center - KS

43

70

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital - KS

7

12

Osborne County Memorial Hospital - KS

1

2

Taylorville Memorial Hospital - IL

6

9

Ottawa County Hospital - KS

3

4

Texas County Memorial Hospital - MO

6

8

Ozarks Medical Center - MO

9

12

Thomas H Boyd Memorial Hospital - IL

1

2

Pana Community Hospital - IL

2

4

Trego County - Lemke Memorial Hospital - KS

2

3

Paris Community Hospital - IL

1

2

University Hospital and Clinics - MO

94

123

Passavant Area Hospital - IL

8

13

University of Kansas Hospital - KS

95

140

Pershing Memorial Hospital - MO

1

0

Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Kansas City - MO

9

6

Phelps County Regional Medical Center - MO

18

22

Via Christi Health - KS

12

12

Phillips County Hospital - KS

2

2

Wamego City Hospital - KS

1

2

Pike County Memorial Hospital - MO

8

9

Washington County Hospital - KS

1

0

Pioneer Lodge Long-Term Care - KS

1

1

Washington County Memorial Hospital - MO

5

6

Providence Medical Center - KS

31

46

Western Missouri Medical Center - MO

2

4

Putnam County Memorial Hospital - MO

1

2

Western Plains Medical Complex - KS

4

6

Ransom Memorial Hospital - KS

3

6

Wichita County Health Center - KS

1

1

Rice County District Hospital - KS

3

2

Wilson Medical Center - KS

4

6

Richland Memorial Hospital - IL

4

6

Wright Memorial Hospital - MO

3

5

Rooks County Health Center - KS

1

2

Wyandotte County Coroner - KS

1

2

Rush County Memorial Hospital - KS

1

0

Yorgensen - Meloan - Londeen Funeral Home - KS

1

1

Russell Regional Hospital - KS

2

3

Sabetha Community Hospital - KS

2

4

Saving Sight thanks the employees of Cox Medical Center South for their continued support of cornea donation and transplantation. They are transitioning from a designated requestor system to a phone consent system when offering families the opportunity to donate. The transition is a huge undertaking, and yet consent rates have not been negatively affected. In fact, the rate of consent for cornea donation has increased by 3 percent recently thanks to the staff’s efforts.

Congratulations to the staff of Olathe Medical Center for their commitment to cornea donation and transplantation. In the past year, 21 percent more people have said yes to donation at OMC. This improvement was driven by the Donor Advisory Council, continuing education for staff, and an annual rose ceremony for donors. As a result of these efforts, 70 people have received the gift of sight through cornea transplantation this year.

Partner Relations Contacts Saving Sight’s partner relations staff members work to communicate with local hospitals, medical centers and hospices about donation.

Listed below is the contact information and service area for each of our Partner Relations Coordinators.

Springfield Kansas City

Hutchinson

Springfield

Hutchinson, KS Linda Conyac, CEBT (Interim) 620-259-7388

Kansas City, MO Justina Barnes, RN, BSN 816-454-5454 x128

Springfield, MO Kharim Strayhorn 417-882-1532 x1014

Springfield, IL Wendy White-Mitter, RN 217-679-2987

Nonprofit Org US Postage PAID St. Louis MO Permit #4400

404 Portland Street Columbia, MO 65201 P: 800-753-2265 F: 573-443-1657 saving-sight.org

Last year, an average of 8 people received a corneal transplant each day with tissue provided by Saving Sight. These transplants were possible because others had made the heroic choice to become donors and give the gift of sight.

It starts with you joining your state’s donor registry and speaking with family about your decision to donate. Register today at donatelife.net or your local motor vehicles office.

register now at donatelife.net