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 Rockville, MD, 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.

The AOF’s Mission
The AOF is a philanthropic organization that develops and provides financial support for optometric research and education in vision and eye health. The AOF is organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Code. The goals of the AOF are:

	To solicit, receive and invest grants, bequests, donations, and other funds for the purpose of upholding, broadening, fostering, and promoting optometric education and research in vision and eye health;
	To provide fellowships at the graduate level to students planning a teaching and/or research career in vision and eye health;
	To recognize and honor achievements which further the visual welfare of humanity; and
	To foster inter-professional and intra-professional relations and representation with organizations and groups that share common goals.

A Message from Mark A. Bullimore, President 2005-2008

A Successful Foundation

The Academy's Annual Meeting is an exciting time for all of us. It's a chance to recharge our intellectual and professional batteries, to reconnect with friends, and enjoy all that is good about our profession. The American Optometric Foundation (AOF) will again feature prominently at the meeting. We will be supporting over 50 of optometry's brightest and best to attend the meeting including Ezell Fellows and Vistakon® Residency Awardees. This is the second year that we have welcomed Carl Zeiss Vision Fellows from each school and college of optometry and they will be joined by last year's fellows.

The Foundation's Silent Auction will have wine for the connoisseur, quilts for the grandkids, plus travel items for all. This year we will be auctioning four or five original paintings by optometry's icon, Irv Borish. We expect the bidding to be highly competitive for these collectors' items. We are also looking forward to Irv joining us. Look for your invitation to the Foundation's Celebration Luncheon and Silent Auction on the Saturday and RSVP.

At the Foundation Celebration Luncheon, we will be introducing a record 14 new Ezell Fellows. The Ezell program is healthy in many respects. Five years ago, we had no endowed fellowships, but now have six fully funded or in process and this year we awarded our first Optometric Glaucoma Society Ezell Fellowship. Awarding Ezell Fellowships from an endowed fund assures that the Ezell will be available permanently, since only the interest from the endowed fund is used to create each annual fellowship. Former Ezell Fellows are achieving great things and a growing number of past Ezell Fellows are showing their gratitude and leadership by giving back to the Foundation.

We will be recognizing Vistakon® for their longstanding support of the Foundation. Their leadership and philanthropy has been so strong that we are creating a new donor level to reflect more than a million dollars that they have contributed in fellowships, scholarships, research grants, and residency awards. The importance of this sustained support to optometry is indicated by the recent awarding of major federal research grants to Kelly Nichols and Danielle Robertson, both of whom are former Vistakon® Ezell Fellows. We all love to see an investment pay this kind of dividends! Over the years AOF Ezell Fellows have had an impressive record in competing for Federal research funding following their Ezell Fellowship award. A conservative estimate is that they have generated well over $200 million in competitive funding for their optometric research efforts.

How Healthy is the Foundation?

One vital sign is the size of our award portfolio which has grown to over $400,000 a year. This comprises roughly $150,000 in support of our flagship Ezell Fellowship program, $150,000 in Carl Zeiss Vision and Vistakon® scholarships, $75,000 in VSP and Vistakon® research grants, and $25,000 in Vistakon® residency awards.

Perhaps, a more important indication of a Foundation's health is its assets or endowment. I am delighted to report that AOF has passed the $3 million mark, an increase of nearly $2 million in just 4 years. There are a number of factors contributing to this dramatic increase. First, we enjoy outstanding support from the Academy Board who underwrite the Foundation's staffing costs and considerable other in-kind contributions. The Board has also endowed an Academy Ezell Fellowship; and as noted there have been five additional endowed funds set in motion as a result of generous corporate and individual donors. Second, Tim McMahon and his finance committee have implemented an investment strategy that serves AOF well, even in these uncertain times. Finally, it has been a privilege to see how many Academy fellows have embraced the Foundation's mission and become supporters. We now have 60 individuals or couples who have given or pledged at least $10,000 to the Foundation and we honor them as members of the Foundation's President's Circle.

The Foundation Board will be working diligently to sustain these Award and Fellowship programs and to identify new partners and supporters. The review of applications for these numerous AOF awards is handled by many Academy volunteers. However, special recognition should be given to the Academy's Research Committee whose Foundation workload or responsibilities include Ezell Fellowships, research grants, and residency awards in addition to their evaluation of hundreds of travel fellowship applications for the Academy.

As Academy Members, We Can Do More

Recently, I articulated a goal for the Foundation of $20 million by 2020 and the AOF Board has embraced this vision. With a larger endowment we can ensure long-term stability of our award portfolio and continue to invest in optometry's academic, leadership, and professional future. Through the support of individuals, partnerships with corporate supporters, and creativity and opportunism, we can make the vision a reality.

After 4 years as AOF President, it is time for me to assume a new role within the Foundation. I am confident that the new leadership will continue to be strong, and it will have my dedicated support in my new AOF role. We have an experienced and energetic Board of Directors that includes Cathie Amos, Tony Adams, Kathy Dumbleton, Phil Keefer, Dave Kirschen, Tim McMahon, Joe Molinari, and of course, the Academy's Executive Director, Lois Schoenbrun. At the Annual Meeting, we will bid farewell and appreciation to Foundation Past-President Peter Bergenske who has led from the front in the 10 years that he was on the Board. We also thank departing AOF Board member Brian Levy who has been very supportive of AOF over his past 4-year term of appointment. Finally, Academy Board Liaison Barbara Caffery who has served a term with AOF, will as is customary for Academy liaison assignments, likely receive different assignments in the new term. Barbara has strengthened the communication and synergy between the Academy Board and its Foundation as well as setting the standard for personal support.

So, see you in Anaheim. There will be a variety of ways for you to support the Foundation, including pledges, bidding on auction items, and donation of lecture honoraria. We welcome the opportunity to showcase our achievements and our marvelous awardees and we are always willing to talk one-on-one about opportunities and mechanisms to help us further fulfill our mission.

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