A great service to the people by sankara eye foundation

garima mehra 24-Jun-2016 Image Source

Sankara Eye Foundation (SEF,) USA, is a US-based NGO that works toward eliminating curable blindness in India. SEF's mission is to realize the goal of "Vision 20/20 by the year 2020," - perform 1 million free eye surgeries annually by the year 2010. SEF is a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit organization.Founded in 1998 by Murali Krishnamurthy, K. Sridharan, and Sridharan's neighbor Ahmad Khushnood with the help of their first donor, Harihara Moorthy. SEF has risen to great heights from its humble beginnings. At the urging of their uncle Mr. P. Balasubramaniam of India, brothers Murali and Sridharan became motivated to help Sankara Eye Care Institutions, whose mission headquarters is in Coimbatore, India.

1. Activities

SEF initiates and drives community eye care activities in India by working with Sankara Eye Care Institutions (SECI), India, which runs the "Gift of Vision" rural outreach program through Sankara Eye Hospitals in Coimbatore, Krishnankovil, Bangalore, Shimoga, Guntur, Anand, Pammal and Silvassa. Each hospital is set up to become fully self-sustaining within 5 years of service. SEF has its headquarters in Milpitas, CA. It has 100+ energetic volunteer leaders all around the United States.The majority of SEF's funds is raised through its own events, booths at other events, donations including Founding Memberships, and advertising. Through these fund-raising efforts, SEF has played a pivotal role in increasing the number of free surgeries for the rural poor more than eightfold since 1998. The projected annual rate is 100,000 free eye surgeries in 2009. Funds collected under specific programs are sent in its entirety to India. In addition, SEF provides extensive feedback to its donors on how the money is used. SEF has been rated 4-star by Charity Navigator. Sankara Self Sufficiency â€“ The 80:20 Model 20% of the total surgeries will be for the affordable public who can pay. 80% of the total surgeries will be for the economically weaker sections which will be totally free of cost. The revenue generated from the 20% surgeries will subsidize the cost of surgeries for the 80% free. International Recognition: Asian Hospital Management Award 2008 awarded for Diabetic Retinopathy program by Hospital Management Asia, Manila, Philippines Asian Hospital Management Award 2009 (Excellence Award) for Comprehensive Paediatric Eye Care Program by Hospital Management Asia, Vietnam. Bharath Balasubramaniam, President, Community Outreach Eye Care has been selected as one of the Eye Health Leaders for 2014 by the International Association for Prevention of Blindness. The main showcase from IAPB was the Standard Operating Protocol for improving quality and efficiency of eye care delivery developed by the community outreach department.