HEALTH ALLIANCE FOR AUSTIN MUSICIANS PARTNERS WITH PREVENT BLINDNESS TEXAS TO PROVIDE FREE EYE EXAMS & EYEGLASSES
published June 7, 2010
Austin, TX - Health Alliance for Austin Musicians on Saturday, June 12, starts a partnership with Prevent Blindness Texas to provide HAAM member-musicians with free eye exams and prescription eyeglasses as part of the organization’s mission of accessibility to affordable healthcare services for Austin's low-income, uninsured working musicians.
With the support of local eye-care professionals in the Austin area, 200 HAAM member-musicians will receive dilated eye exams and "Healthy Eyes Program" vouchers for free eyeglasses to qualifying individuals. The exams will be held at Eye Physicians of Austin, 5011 Burnet Road, Austin, TX, 78756.
"The new SEE Project with Prevent Blindness Texas shows how HAAM continues to expand its programs." says Carolyn Schwarz, HAAM executive director. "And there's a very real need for new and/or replacement of damaged eyeglasses for our member-musicians."
After the eye exams, SEE Project participants can use the vouchers through the OneSight program at any participating LensCrafters, Sears Optical or Target Optical location. In addition to correcting vision, a dilated eye exam can detect early serious health problems such as diabetes, hypertension, neurological disorders and brain tumors.
Vision disorders are the second most prevalent health condition in the United States, with more than 11 million Americans living with uncorrected vision problems.
"Today, there are so many Americans who are unable to fully enjoy some of life's simplest pleasures just because they can't see clearly," say Debbie Goss, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness Texas. "We are thrilled to be able to enhance the opportunities for uninsured Austin musicians through this exciting partnership with HAAM."
"We are grateful for the generous support of local Austin eye care professionals such as Dr. George Thorne of Eye Physicians of Austin, Robert Wong, M.D.," she continued, "and many other ophthalmologists, optometrists, technicians and volunteers who will be donating their time to provide free eye exams on June 12. We also thank our optical center partners from OneSight and the Luxottica Group."
Prevent Blindness Texas, founded in 1956, is the state's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, it touches the lives of thousands of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, community and patient service programs, and research. Services are made possible through the generous support of the Texas public. Through a network of regional offices, it is committed to eliminating preventable blindness in Texas. For more information or to make a contribution to its sight-saving fund, call 1-888-98-SIGHT or visit www.preventblindness.org/TX.
Health Alliance for Austin Musicians provides access to affordable health care to Austin's low-income, uninsured working musicians with a focus on prevention and wellness. Since HAAM's 2005 start, more than 2,000 of the city's battalion of hard-working musicians have joined and gained access to regular, cost-effective healthcare services. Medical, dental, mental and hearing health services are provided by Seton Family of Hospitals, St. David's Foundation, The SIMS Foundation and Estes Audiology. Its annual HAAM Benefit Day (this year, its fifth, September 21) has become a signature event that unites music, business and the community behind a great cause: keeping music in Austin alive and well.
For more information or to make a donation, visit www.healthallianceforaustinmusicians.org.
Contacts:
Jill McGuckin, 512.217.9404; jill@mcguckinpr.com
Carolyn Schwarz, HAAM executive director, 512.324.3414; cschwarz@healthallianceforaustinmusicians.org
Debbie Goss, Prevent Blindness Texas president and CEO, 713.526.2559 x 107; dgoss@preventblindnesstexas.org