About the American Optometric Foundation

History

The American Optometric Foundation (AOF) was founded in 1947 for the “upholding, broadening, fostering, promoting and aiding of optometric education; the profession of optometry and its practitioners.” The guiding force behind the creation of the organization was William C. Ezell, O.D., of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Based in Orlando, FL, the AOF is a philanthropic organization devoted to the advancement of optometric education and research. AOF is proud to be an affiliate of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO).

Today, sources of support for the AOF include optometrists, corporations, other foundations, state associations, and private citizens interested in vision care. The AOF's record of achievement is a strong history of dedication to the improved visual welfare of the public.

 A Message from Kathy Dumbleton, President 

Since joining the Board of Directors of the American Optometric Foundation four years ago, I have been fortunate enough to really experience what your Foundation does first hand and how it has continued to grow from strength to strength. The mission of the Foundation is to develop and provide financial support for optometric research and education in vision and eye health, and we continue to “come through in spades.” This is thanks to the generous support of our many donors, supporters and corporate sponsors. Probably the most exciting recent accomplishment for the Foundation has been to exceed 100 Presidents Circle members. These members are individuals and corporations making pledges or gifts of $10,000 or more.

I am pleased to announce that 2012 was another exceptional year for the American Academy of Optometry and its Foundation.  The AOF rose over $175,000 in Phoenix. We thank our meeting attendees for donating $12,825 with their annual meeting registration. More than twenty lecturers generously donated their honoraria (totaling $9,767) to the foundation and this was complemented by $13,625 from Academy education. An extremely generous donation of $8,000 was also made by the Optometric Glaucoma Society on behalf of speakers at their program who are members of the Academy. Once again many individuals visited our volunteers at booth and made donations; this year we were most grateful to Dr. Bob Newcomb for being at the booth to sign copies of the book on the recent history of the Academy and a total of $12,660 was raised at the booth and the luncheon. Our main event at the meeting continues to be the Foundation’s Celebration Luncheon. This year’s spectacular luncheon was attended by 280 supporters and honorees and the Silent Auction raised $14,020. Lastly, an extremely important contribution to the funds raised was the $106,000 received during the meeting in new Presidents Circle and Ezell Club pledges.

The flagship program of your Foundation continues to be the William C. Ezell Fellowships. Thirteen Ezell Fellowships were awarded in Phoenix to graduate students studying in the United States, Canada, Australia and Spain. We thank the many individuals and organizations that support the endowed Ezell Fellowships as well as our corporate partners that sponsored this year’s program: Alcon Foundation, Bausch + Lomb, Essilor of America, Merck & Co, and VISTAKON. These were not the only awards given out this year though, in total over $300,000 was once again awarded in fellowships, scholarships, grants, and residency awards.

A highlight at the Foundation Luncheon in Phoenix was the announcement of plans for a new fund to honor Dr. Joseph T. Barr in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to optometry and contact lenses. Many members of the Academy consider Joe to be an exceptional mentor and role model for our profession.  Joe has worked as an academic, researcher, clinician and most recently in industry. During his years at the Ohio State University College of Optometry, a significant number of students and colleagues were fortunate enough to benefit from his teaching and research. During this time Joe also served Chair of the Section on Cornea and Contact Lenses, as Editor of Contact Lens Spectrum and became extremely well known by clinicians and researchers around the globe. Leading donors will be working with the Foundation Board and Joe to discuss the nature of awards from the fund, but it is expected to support trainees in areas of optometry close to Joe's oversized heart! $50,000 has already be pledged or donated.

The American Optometric Foundation is proud to be the Academy’s Foundation, your Foundation, and we continue to take great pride in its growth and the successes of the exceptional individuals that we have supported. Contributions to the Foundation allow Academy members to make investments in the future of our profession. I would like to invite you to invest further in the future of optometry. Please do consider joining the Presidents Circle sometime in the coming year. It would be wonderful to be able to celebrate the addition of many more Presidents Circle members at the meeting in Seattle in October 2013.