Specifications

110 VII Community Outreach
The EyePACS Handbook: Tools for Program Success
Engaging with Partners for Fundraising
Community partners can be a great way to reach out to new potential patients, raise
awareness of diabetic retinopathy, and create successful fundraising drives and events.
Here are some ideas for potential community partners:
• Civic Societies and Fraternal Orders: Elks Clubs, Rotary Clubs, Junior Leagues,
and other organizations are often willing to help raise money for worthy causes,
especially ones that might affect their members. Here’s one way to approach
organizations with a campaign that they can spearhead:
o Save Twenty People from Blindness: Based on studies from the
National Eye Institute, 40 out of every 100 diabetics over age 40 have
some form of diabetic retinopathy, and 8 are in jeopardy of losing their
vision. Many have no symptoms at all, and without regular screening
would have no way of knowing that they have this disease.
For only $5,000, a clinic can perform 250 free screenings. With early
detection and intervention, this could save up to twenty people from going
blind. This kind of concrete goal is attractive to any organization that
wants to see what kind of a difference it is making, person by person, in
the community.
• Schools and Churches: Encourage local teachers and spiritual leaders to spread
the word in the community about the importance of annual eye exams for
diabetics.
o Letter Writing Campaign: A grassroots letter-writing program could
have participants send letters to their neighbors, family, friends and
coworkers, providing them with a Diabetes Checklist and encouraging
them to visit your clinic for a low-cost exam.
• Diabetes-Related Causes: Even though eye care is known to be an important
part of a diabetes management program, many diabetes education program
neglect retinopathy or treat it as less critical than other components of diabetes
management. By reaching out to organizations that are already raising money
and awareness, you can effectively piggyback onto fundraising events, mailings,
media opportunities, and community outreach initiatives.