Join Us in Making a Visionary Impact - Volunteer for Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh 

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I hope this email finds you well and filled with an excitement and passion for community service as we embark on a journey to change lives once again. We are proud to announce that the UPMC Vision Institute, Pittsburgh Ophthalmology Society and the Western Pennsylvania Optometric Society will be participating in the Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh event at the David Lawrence Convention Center for the third consecutive year. This year we’ll be providing care on Friday October 27th and Saturday October 28^th. We need your support to make this event a success again.

Over the past two years, we have witnessed the transformative power of our collective efforts. We have extended our care to the underserved members of our community, offering vision screening and prescribing glasses to our neighbors in need. From the working poor to the homeless, veterans to uninsured families, we have made a significant impact on their lives by providing access to essential eye care services. 

Last year, we accomplished great things together. With 10 refraction lanes, we were able to provide vision screening and free glasses over 700 individuals over two days. We went beyond glasses though, offering no-charge eye appointments for many who required additional care. The response we received from those we served was overwhelming, reminding us of the profound difference we can make through our compassion and expertise.

To make this year's event another success, we need you.  We need you to dedicate your time, skills, and compassion to the cause. We need optometrists, ophthalmologists, and refracting techs who can help us provide much needed care for both adults and children.

By volunteering for any number of 6-hour sessions, you can play an integral role in transforming lives and restoring vision for those who would otherwise go without the care they desperately need. You will make a world of difference.

Are you ready to join us on this inspiring journey of service and compassion? Sign up as a volunteer by clicking on this link: 2023 MOM Vision Volunteer Registration

Together, we can make Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh 2023 another event to remember—a beacon of hope and a testament to the transformative power of unity and service. We look forward to working alongside you as we change lives, one pair of glasses at a time.

Warm regards,

Katie, Jake, Lawney and Jose

MISSION OF MERCY 2022 | AUGUST 5 & 6, 2022

A Note of Gratitude and Thanks

When we wrote to announce our second year of participation in Mission of Mercy, we challenged ourselves to “go big.” Last year, our team prescribed glasses for roughly 250 people. We set a goal to double that. We are proud to report that our team exceeded all expectations and nearly tripled the number of people cared for.

The group of nearly 100 volunteers from our department and the greater Pittsburgh eye care community worked non-stop for two days to register, refract and fit glasses for over 700 adults and children. Once again, they identified pathologies – diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachments, cataract, glaucoma, and macular degeneration – and made appointments without charge for dozens of people who would not otherwise have access to eye care. The support from all the stakeholders of Mission of Mercy, of the Eye and Ear Foundation, Vision to Learn, and of the Essilor Foundation was enabling but you made it work, amazingly.

The choreography of controlled chaos was impressive to behold. There were moments when it was not clear that the team could keep up with demand. Ultimately, perseverance prevailed, and no patient was turned away.

Thank you to everyone who wrote to share their experiences.

• I felt a cosmic connection to a greater purpose; something that has been missing in my life for a while.
• An experience I’ll never forget
• I love helping our neighbors.
• Not only a rewarding experience to be able to help even just one person, but it made me a volunteer for M.O.M. for life to continue to help as many people as possible.
• Seeing the number "nearly 700" fitted for glasses, tears of joy began to fill my eyes and I still wish that we could have done more.
• The mission reminds me of how I got my first, free pair of glasses due to the compassionate service of others.
• Thank you for providing a chance to Pay it Forward!!

We are grateful for the help of every volunteer. You personified the values that motivate us all. We know many of you wanted to participate and could not. We pledge that you will have the opportunity to do so as we continue to accelerate our community service mission.

With warm gratitude,

Jake Waxman and José-Alain Sahel

LOCAL RESOURCES

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Library for the Blind and Physically Free public library services are available to eligible Pennsylvania residents who have difficulty reading standard print because of a visual impairment, a physical disability involving the hands, or a reading disability of organic origin.  Part of a federal program through the Library of Congress and administered in Pennsylvania by the Carnegie Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, digital audiobooks are distributed on flash drive cartridges playable on a digital audiobook machine, or they can be downloaded directly onto a patron’s smartphone or tablet.  All services and materials are completely free, including the digital audiobook player, and the digital downloads are available through a free app.  Large print books and audio described DVD movies are also available, and all materials are mailed to the patron’s home and returned to the library through the U.S. Postal Service postage free.  In addition, there are never any overdue fines or replacement fees.  For more information, please contact the Library’s Outreach Coordinator, Don Ciccone, at 800-242-0586, or email cicconed@carnegielibrary.org.

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Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH) is a network library of the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. The staff of LBPH can answer reference questions about anything from the weather to accessible technology. Staff is also available to discuss the latest bestsellers and favorite authors and to suggest new titles you may enjoy. Our print and electronic collections include large print books, audio described DVDs, audio books and magazines, physical Braille books and downloadable audio and Braille services through BARD.

• Public Computers
• Free Wifi
• Wireless Printing - small fee may apply
• Copier - small fee may apply

Contact us:

  Address:  4724 Baum Blvd.  Pittsburgh  PA 15213

The Urgent mission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness is to drive the research that will provide preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, Usher syndrome and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases. The Foundation is a beacon of hope for those affected by these blinding diseases. Join the fight and help us accelerate our mission.

Mission Vision strives to remove barriers that cause undiagnosed and untreated vision and hearing impairments among impoverished citizens in our community and around the world by advocating for those affected through medical services and education.

Contact us:  Phone  724-553-3114

105 Brandt School Rd Ste 204  / Cranberry Twp PA  16066

The Mission of the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children is to nurture the unique abilities of individuals with blindness and visual impairment through educational excellence and a lifetime of learning. We envision Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children as a global leader in education and advocacy for individuals with blindness and visual impairment.

Located in the heart of Oakland, Pennsylvania, the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children is a one-of-a-kind educational facility committed to training visually impaired students with additional disabilities. The School also provides vital early intervention and outreach services to visually impaired students, with or without additional challenges, throughout western Pennsylvania. 

Founded in 1887, no other agency in the western half of the Commonwealth is better equipped to care for and educate blind children with severe concomitant disabilities than the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children. Our unique facility and programming are tailored for boys and girls who require distinct educational and supportive services to realize their full potential. 

As a private institution chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the School educates approximately 180 enrolled students annually from 242 school districts within western Pennsylvania. Students may enroll at age three and they can continue until 21.

Our students benefit from the experience and expertise of staff who focus on helping students use their “residual” vision to the best of their ability. The curriculum emphasizes the acquisition of life skills. Certified teachers of the visually impaired and qualified therapists and health professionals collaborate on planning and implementing effective, individualized educational programs.

The School accepts students as young as age two, though many enroll in later years.  A student can remain until the end of the school year when he or she turns twenty-one.  Seventy-five percent of those who enroll will complete their education at WPSBC.

Contact Us!

ADDRESS:201 North Bellefield Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213

PHONE:vv412.621.0100   FAX:412-621-6012

The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) is one of 58 federally designated not-for-profit organ procurement organizations (OPOs) in the United States. CORE works closely with donor families and designated healthcare professionals to deliver the gift of hope by coordinating the surgical recovery of organs, tissues and corneas for transplantation. CORE also facilitates the computerized matching of donated organs, tissues and corneas.

With integrity and compassion, our goal is to bridge the gap between donor families, health care providers and transplant recipients so that we may forever transform lives.

Mission
The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting donation, education and research for the purpose of saving and improving lives through organ, tissue and cornea transplantation.

Vision
Every potential donor will make A Pledge for Life.

Values
CORE has a strong foundation of values that members of the CORE team recognize and implement as they perform our life-saving mission.

• Integrity – CORE would not exist without the trust and support of the community it serves. We rely on public oversight and in return offer transparency as we fulfill our mission. As a non-profit organization, we are fiscally responsible and maintain high performance standards.
• Compassion – CORE honors its donors and donor families. They are the heart of this organization and the foundation of our mission. Without them, transplantation would not be possible. We are respectful of the gift of life and give tribute to its power through community outreach and education.
• Quality – CORE upholds stringent clinical standards to ensure the quality of donated organs and tissue. We are compliant in all aspects of organ, tissue and cornea procurement.
• Responsiveness – CORE operates in a fast-paced, detail-oriented manner. Our staff is available at any given time to meet the needs of our donors and their families, our hospitals, partners and the community we serve.
• Education – CORE recognizes that education is needed to uphold public trust and for the public we serve to make informed donation decisions. We continually educate the community about organ and tissue donation, the need for donors, the donation process and common misconceptions.
• Innovation – CORE is a long-standing pioneer in the organ and tissue procurement field. Through program development, service expansion and research, CORE’s advanced approach has made it an award-winning organ procurement organization.
• Respect – CORE has respect for both death and life. We provide hope when life is lost, all the while maintaining the dignity of our donors.
• Life – Most importantly, we value the legacy of life our donors have left and the second chance at life that transplant recipients have as a result.