Prevent Blindness Georgia Awarded $50,000 Healthcare Georgia Foundation Grant

ATLANTA - March 11, 2015 - PRLog -- In recognition of the most influential organizations and programs benefitting the health of Georgians in 2014, Healthcare Georgia Foundation awarded 21 fourth quarter grants to leading organizations committed to providing quality and affordable healthcare to underserved individuals and communities. Of those awarded was Prevent Blindness Georgia, a statewide non-profit that provides children and adults in 111 counties in Georgia with direct services focused on vision care, eye health education, and early detection of eye disease.

The combined 2014 grants mark the highest number of annual awards since the Foundation first began issuing grants in 2002.

“Prevent Blindness Georgia is pleased to have Healthcare Georgia Foundation recognize and support our mission to provide affordable eye care to families while also educating them about the importance of eye health,” Prevent Blindness Georgia President William Burke stated. “With the Foundation’s assistance, we will continue to expand our services throughout the community and spark more conversation about one of life’s most precious gems, eyesight.

Prevent Blindness Georgia received $50,000 to provide free vision exams and retinal screenings to uninsured adults at risk for glaucoma and to implement database upgrades to better track client outcomes. The improvements will help Prevent Blindness Georgia better serve a vulnerable population with little to no access to vision care.

“Without proper insurance and vision care, adults and children are not only at risk for life changing eye diseases but at worst, blindness,” added Burke. “Regular eye exams will allow vision defects to be detected early, improving the quality of life of Georgians below the federal poverty level.”

For more information on Prevent Blindness Georgia’s eye health recommendations, including Medicare coverage for glaucoma, the Affordable Care Act and eye care, visit pbga.org.

About Healthcare Georgia Foundation

Healthcare Georgia Foundation is a statewide, private independent foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to advance the health of all Georgians and to expand access to affordable, quality healthcare for underserved individuals and communities. Through its strategic grantmaking, Healthcare Georgia Foundation supports organizations that drive positive change, promotes programs that improve health and healthcare among underserved individuals and communities, and connects people, partners and resources across Georgia. For more information, please visit the Foundation online at: www.healthcaregeorgia.org.

About Prevent Blindness Georgia

Prevent Blindness Georgia was founded in 1965 as the state affiliate of Prevent Blindness, the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization since 1908. Its mission is to prevent blindness and preserve sight for the residents of Georgia which is accomplished through vision screenings for children and adults, eye exams and glasses for indigent seniors and homeless and working poor adults, public education on eye health and safety to persons at risk for eye disease, and vision screening training. To donate to our good work, visit www.pbga.org.