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Oregon State Elks Association
State Project: “Elks Children's Eye Clinic-Casey Eye Institute”
Description
The Oregon Elks have made the "miracle of sight" a reality for thousands of Oregon's children. Since 1949, the Elks have supported the Elks Children's Eye Clinic at Oregon Health Sciences University's (OHSU's) Casey Eye Institute. Over the decades, with millions of dollars and thousands of volunteer hours, the Elks have brought sight to over 100,000 patients who might not otherwise have experienced this most precious sense.
Elks provide more than 7,500 volunteer hours per year, equivalent to over 3 full-time positions and many have been working since the Casey Eye Institute opened in 1991. Another way Oregon Elks help children is by giving each child who has surgery a stuffed "Casey the Elk" doll and a hand-made quilt or afghan. Oregon Lady Elks creates these one-of-a-kind gifts for patients.
The Elks Visual Committee and the Elks Youth Eye Services Foundation (E.Y.E.S.) provide funding annually, around a million dollars, to the Elks Children's Eye Clinic. These funds support personnel, the latest technology and equipment, and medical supplies. Additionally, the Elks' generous support provides eyeglasses and contact lenses for children whose families cannot afford them. The Elks Ophthalmology Center is the cornerstone of the Casey Eye Institute, a national leader in clinical care related to blinding eye diseases.
The Oregon Elks participate in planning events for the clinic such as the annual Easter egg hunt for current and past patients of the clinic and their families. The most recent hunt had over 700 attendees. The annual Elks Eye Injury Prevention Poster Contest is held around the state Oregon for elementary students with the state's Top 3 winning posters displayed at the clinic for a year. Annually, the Strike Out for Kids Bowl-a-thon is held around the state to raise funds for the clinic as well. These events and many others show the Oregon Elks' commitment to their state major project, the Elks Children's Eye Clinic.
More Information
State Project Web: http://www.ohsucasey.com/aboutus/elks.asp
For more information about the clinic, please call the Elks Liaison
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