4.17.10 Walker L. Wellford, CLU, of Memphis, TN, secured a $12,000 grant from the MDRT Foundation on behalf of the World Cataract Foundation. Walker, of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and a 26-year MDRT member, is an active supporter of World Cataract Foundation and nominated and endorsed the grant application. World Cataract Foundation is a nonprofit organization that eliminates cataract blindness through surgery, training and equipping. The MDRT Foundation grant will support the Galloway Project, a program recently initiated to provide cataract surgery to uninsured, low income residents in the Mid-South. This year the MDRT Foundation will award more than $1 million in grants to more than 100 charities. Representing the MDRT Foundation, Walker presented this grant to The World Cataract Foundation on April 17, 2010 at their 6th Annual Sight Night at the Holiday Inn University of Memphis. The MDRT Foundation was created in 1959 to provide MDRT members with a means to give back to their communities. Since its inception, the Foundation has donated $23 million in 67 countries around the world and all 50 U.S. states. The majority of these funds were raised by MDRT members from MDRT members. The MDRT Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Million Dollar Round Table, The Premier Association of Financial Professionals. MDRT is an international, independent association of more than 39,000 or less than 1 percent, of the world’s best life insurance and financial services professionals from 476 companies and 76 nations and territories. MDRT members demonstrate exceptional product knowledge, strict ethical conduct and outstanding client service. MDRT membership is recognized internationally as the standard of sales excellence in the life insurance and financial services business. 4.17.10 The 6th Annual Sight Night was held on April 17, 2010 at the University of Memphis Holiday Inn. This year, Dr. Alfredo Amigo Rodriguez, from Tenerife, Spain and Dr. Ariel Ramirez Aguayo, from Acapulco, Mexico received the Freeman Vision Award. This award is given annually to a person, persons, or group making significant contributions in the advancement of sight through academe, research, surgery, philanthropy or any combination of these. Additionaly, Dr. Jerre Freeman was honored for his 40 years of humanitarian service in Mexico. Dr. Barrett Haik, Chariman of the University of Tennessee Hamilton Eye Institute presented Dr. Freeman with a custom designed, etched glass plaque honoring his distinguished ophthalmology career and his humanitarian work. Dr. Ramirez presented Dr. Freeman with a special award from the Government of Guerrero recognizing his service to the people of the State of Guerrero. The WCF Board of Directors also surprised Dr. Freeman with the first Amistad Award. Our sincere thanks to our sponsors for this year's event: GRAND VISIONARY - McVean Trading & Investments, LLC; PLATINUM VISIONARY - Memphis Eye and Cataract Associates, Gerald and Elizabeth Marshall; GOLD VISIONARY - Cadence Bank, People's Custom RX; SILVER VISIONARY- Olivia and Wallace Bruce, Bena and George Cates, Margaret and Noble Crigler, Germantown Lion's Club, Jo and John Maxwell, Jo and John Walt, Diane and Walker Wellford; BRONZE VISIONARY - Cannon & Company, CPA's, Charles Retina Institute, Jorge Calzada, MD and Carrie Lynn Calzada, Esther and Clinton Pearson, Diane C. Reddoch, Matthew Wesson, MD. Special Thanks to John Barzizza of Sothwest Distributing Company for the wine! Video presentation was created by Steve Spakes and Entertainment by the University of Memphis Opera. 3.1.10 In February, a 28 member medical team returned to Ometepec, Mexico in the State of Guerrero. We screened 791 people and peformed 168 surgeries to the people of the Costa Chica area. This is Dr. Jerre Freeman's 40th year to provide care to this region of Mexico. 11.23.09 An international 43 member team assembled in Ometepec, Guerrero, Mexico to provide sight-restoring surgeries and eyeglasses to the poor and medically underserved people of the area. The team screened 1,200 people. provided 251 sight restoring surgical. procedures. The team also distributed 1,405 eyeglasses and over 1,000 sunglasses. 10.23.09 In October Dr. John Van Dyck, Barbara Elmore and Olivia Bruce particpated in our inaugural medical mission to Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico. This small team restored sight to 53 people, may of whom were completely blind and now they....see. 5.5.09 John Van Dyck III, MD was awarded the Freeman Vision Award at World Cataract Foundation's 5th Annual Sight Night held on Saturday April 25, 2009. The evening was a great success thanks to the following event sponsors: Platinum Visionary: McVean Trading & Investments, LLC; Grand Visionary: Memphis Eye and Cataract Associates;Gold Visionary: Germantown Lions Club and Peoples Custom RX; Silver Visionary: Wallace and Olivia Bruce, George and Bena Cates, Cedarwood Farms, Noble and Margaret Crigler, Keeper's Cottage, John and Jo Maxwell, John and Jo Walt and Walker and Diane Wellford; Bronze Visionary: Aniridia Foundation International, Arlena Enos, Realtors, Cannon & Company, CPA;'s, Jamie Kroh's Riding Academy, Music Studio of Sharon E. Dobbins, MM,BM and Raleigh Lions Club. Entertainment was provided by Memphis ophthalmologist, Dr. Bill Hurd and his Jazz Ensemble. The audience was pleasantly surprised when special guest, child prodigy, Caia Smith, wowed the audience with her piano playing and then brought the audience to their feet with her heartrending singing performance of God Bless America. 4.10.09 On March 1st a thirty-member WCF medical mission team returned from Ometepec, Guerrero, Mexico where they screened and estimated 800 people and performed 170 free surgeries to the visually impaired and blind. The team consisted of people from Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi, Oregon and different areas of Mexico. Of the 100 poorest areas of Mexico, 21 of them are in the State of Guerrero. 1.7.09 Welcome to Dr. He Yi from from the No. 3 Hospital of Chengdu in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. He will be studying at Memphis Eye and Cataract Associates for three months. The purpose of his visit is to observe the most advanced cataract and refractive surgery techniques, clinic management and the teamwork approach to surgery. 12.11.08 On November 23rd a medical mission team returned home from their annual November mission to Ometepec, Mexico. This was the largest team to assemble. At one time during the week 43 people were there for the purpose of serving the people in the Costa Chica area of Mexico. In actuality, there were more than that because many of the local people help outside with the crowd. The people in Ometepec are always friendly and help us with whatever we need. According to the DIF officials who worked with us all week, we screened 1,150 people. Our team performed 36 pterygiums, 202 cataracts, 1 plastic surgery for a total of 239 surgeries. The optical team dispensed 1,500 eyeglasses. 11.1.08 Dr. Louis Carter from Chattanooga, TN led a medical mission team to Hauna Village in Papua New Guinea in October. He invited ophthalmologist, Dr. John Van Dyck, to join him once again for the annual trek to PNG. Dr. Van Dyck was assisted by scrub nurse, Barbara Elmore and technician, Sue Brown. The group screened about 700 people. The eye team restored sight to 60 people and the general medical team provided 45 general surgeries. The team included Dr. Doug Parkin an internist specializing in tropical disease. The people in this remote area of the world do not have access to medical care, so they are always eager for the medical team to arrive. 7.1.08 The World Cataract Foundation Board of Directors would like to welcome Dr. Guo Juan to Memphis, TN for our Medical Personnel Exchange Program. She is from the Chengdu 3rd People's Hospital in Chengdu, China. We are looking forward to her visit. 5.9.08 Dr. Igor Vitovskiy and his daughter, Iryna Vitovska arrived in Memphis Sunday, April 20, 2008 to participate in the World Cataract Foundation Medical Personnel Exchange Program. Dr. Vitovskiy is the Chairman of the Opthalmology Department at the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Hospital in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. It is our hope that this will open the doors to a regular educational exchange with Dr. Vitovskiy's hospital and the World Cataract Foundation. 4.11.08 World Cataract Foundation presented Barrett Haik, MD, Hamilton Professor and Chairman of the University of Tennessee Ophthalmology Department, The Freeman Vision Award for his outstanding leadership in the field of ophthalmology at the 4th Annual Sight Night, April 11th at the Pink Palace Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. World Cataract Foundation sincerely appreciates our sponsors for the evening: McVean Trading & Investments;Memphis Eye and Cataract Associates;Advanced Medical Optics;Keeper's Cottage;Germantown Lions Club;People's Custom RX;Cedarwood Farms;Noble and Margaret Crigler;John and Leda Phillips;Cadence Bank;Cannon & Company, CPA's and William T. Harrell, Realtor, Commercial and Real Estate; Dr. Owen Tabor, pianist, entertained the crowd during the cocktail hour The jazz concert was provided by the energetic and soulful contemporary jazz group, Voodoo Village. 3.10.08 A World Cataract Foundation medical mission team returned from Ometepec, Mexico on Sunday March 9th after a week performing free surgery. The team screened an estimated 500 people throughout the week and performed 186 surgeries: 116 cataract surgeries; 57 pterygiums and 13 various plastic surgeries. The team consisted of people from all over the United States and Acapulco, Mexico. 12.4.07 Our medical mission team traveled to Ometepec, Guerrero, Mexico on November 26, 2007 to provide free surgeries to those who needed it most, the blind. Our thirty-five member team screened an estimated 1,200 people throughout the week and performed 193 surgical procedures: 144 cataracts, 43 pterygiums and 6 plastic procedures. Our optical team distributed1100 reading and prescription glasses and 840 sunglasses. This year the little hospital where we work, Hospital de la Amistad, had a new operating room for us, complete with air conditioning. However, two of the surgery beds that we normally use were not there. With five ophthalmologists ready to perform surgery, we needed those beds. Dr. Jerre Freeman found a local carpenter who stayed up all night and built not two, but four beds for us. The carpenter, Francisco Lopez, asked the doctors to design the beds and he built them to perfection. This is just one example of the kindness the local people extend to us each year. It is a testament to our founder, Dr. Jerre Freeman’s 38 years of commitment and service to this community. 5.11.07 Dr. Louis Carter has been leading medical missions to Hauna Village, Papua New Guinea for the last eight years. Dr. Carter’s first team did not include an ophthalmologist. After noticing the high incidence of cataracts there, Dr. Carter invited the World Cataract Foundation to send an ophthalmologist, Dr. Juan Carlos Carrera Sanchez, who was here studying in our Medical Personnel Exchange Program. At first, the people were apprehensive about letting someone look at their eyes, much less operate. However, an older blind woman let Dr. Carlos operate on her and after a successful operation their trust was won. Each year the number of eye procedures has increased. Dr. John Van Dyck, a World Cataract Foundation Board member and ophthalmologist from Paris, Tennessee has been to Papua New Guinea three times with Dr. Carter’s group. On May 11, 2007, Dr. John Van Dyck, Jill Rice, a surgery technician from Memphis Eye and Cataract Associates and Barbara Elmore, a nurse from Columbus, Missouri will join Dr. Carter's team once again. Last year the ophthalmology teamperformed 62 eye surgeries, mostly cataract. In addition to the eye surgeries performed, the thirteen other team members provided 45 surgeries, some really major procedures including cleft lips, club feet, amputations, hernias, etc. Dr. Carter’s teams provide the only medical care in this impoverished, primitive area of the world. 3.11.07 WCF Board Member, Dr. John Van Dyck and his wife, Lily along with the Paris-Henry Arts Council hosted a Gala Benefit for the World Cataract Foundation on Sunday, March 11, 2007 at the First Christian Church in Paris, Tennessee. Opera singer, Amy Kwan Yee Yeung gave an outstanding performance. Two pianists, Elaine Harriss and Allison Nelson along with Kurt Gorman on the trumpet performed with her. 3.10.07 Memphis, TN – March 10, 2007 – Walker L. Wellford, CLU, of Memphis, TN, secured a $6,500 grant from the MDRT Foundation on behalf of the World Cataract Foundation. Wellford, of Massachusettes Mutual Life Insurance Company and a 23-year MDRT member, is an active supporter of World Cataract Foundation and nominated and endorsed the grant application. The MDRT Foundation grant will support a program of the organization that helps fund the cost of medical supplies and medical travel for a medical mission to Papua New Guinea in May of 2007. Dr. John Van Dyck, assisted by two surgical nurses, Jill Rice and Barbara Elmore, will be traveling to Hauna Village along the Sepik River in Papua New Guinea. World Cataract Foundation provides the only eye care in this remote area of the world. Last year Dr. Van Dyck performed 62 sight restoring cataract operations. This year the MDRT Foundation will award more than $1 million in grants to more than 100 charities. Representing the MDRT Foundation, Wellford presented this grant to The World Cataract Foundation on March 10, 2007 at their 3rd Annual Sight Night at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. The MDRT Foundation was created in 1959 to provide MDRT members with a means to give back to their communities. Since its inception, the Foundation has donated $17.6 million in 63 countries around the world and all 50 U.S. states. The majority of these funds were raised by MDRT members from MDRT members. The MDRT Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Million Dollar Round Table, The Premier Association of Financial Professionals. MDRT is an international, independent association of more than 35,000 or less than 1 percent, of the world’s best life insurance and financial services professionals from 476 companies and 76 nations and territories. MDRT members demonstrate exceptional product knowledge, strict ethical conduct and outstanding client service. MDRT membership is recognized internationally as the standard of sales excellence in the life insurance and financial services business. 2.19.07 A World Cataract Foundation Medical Mission team returned to Ometepec, Guerrero, Mexico on February 19, 2007. The team members were: from Tennessee: Dr. John Freeman, Vivian Farmer, Anne Freeman, Dr. Kimberly Freeman, Benjamin and Hannah Freeman, Patty Wall, and Dr. John Van Dyck from Mississippi: Dr. Matt Wesson and Marilyn McAnally; from Missouri: Barbara Elmore; from Mexico: Janice and Jerusalem Driscoll, Diane Young, Anne Schemp, and Vicky Vasquez. theThis team performed 95 cataract surgeries and 4 pterygium, and 5 plastic surgeries. We appreciate their hard work and compassion. 1.3.07 Dr. Yang Junfeng, from the No. 3 Hospital of Chengdu, in Chengdu City in the Sichuan Province of China participated in our Medical Personnel Exchange Program from October 5, 2006 until January 3, 2007. He attended the American Academy of Ophthalmology in Las Vegas in November. We throughly enjoyed Dr. Yang Junfeng and hope to see him again one day. 11.16.06 Dr.Jerre Freeman has been leading medical mission trips to Ometepec, Guerrero, Mexico since 1970. A thirty-one member international medical team traveled to Ometepec November 16-22, 2006. As in previous years, hundreds of people were lined up waiting. An estimated 1,000 people were screened and 198 free surgeries were performed: 153 cataracts and 45 pterygiums. Our optical team dispensed 971 reading and prescription glasses and 1048 sunglasses. The people are very humble and appreciative. 9.1.06 Welcome to our newest employee, Lisa Schneider, RN. Lisa earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of North Carolina. She is a busy wife and mother with two children and is interested in helping the World Cataract Foundation. We are very proud to have Lisa on board.