Lions Vision Services Receives $31,700 for Lowcountry Vision Health from Coastal Community Foundation Funds

Press Release

Lions Vision Services was recently awarded a total of $31,700 in grants from various regional funds at the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina through their annual competitive grant cycle to provide eye surgeries, vision technology, vision screenings, and hearing aids to low-income families in eight Lowcountry counties. LVS is recognizing the Foundation’s generous support today as part of their 12 Days of Giving Thanks social media campaign.

Specific fund allocations include:

• $10,000 from The Beaufort Fund for services in Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, and Colleton Counties;
• $6,700 from Open Grants for services in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties;
• $4,000 from the Volvo Car U.S. Operations Grant Fund for services within 40 miles of Volvo’s Ridgeville plant;
• $4,000 from the Dorchester County Fund;
• $3,000 from the Giving Back to Berkeley County Fund;
• $3,000 from the Winthrop Family Fund for services in Allendale and Hampton Counties; and
• $1,000 from the Home Community Fund for services in Berkeley County.

“As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic we enter a decade in which the number of blind and visually-impaired people will double without effective intervention,” said Daniel Prohaska, President & CEO for LVS. “Coastal Community Foundation’s competitive grant program is investing the financial capital in sustainable solutions for sight at LVS that will help us end blindness in poverty in the Lowcountry and combat this alarming health trend in the coming decade. We are deeply grateful to the CCF community for their impactful support.”

LVS has seen growth in every major eye health program, except vision screenings due to pandemic restrictions, over the last year. While clients in some SC counties experience a delay in services due to limited funding and an abundance of demand, CCF grants have significantly reduced wait times for Lowcountry clients. On average LVS clients experience a 45% increase in quality of life and a 75% increase in understanding of the importance of vision health following participation in LVS programs.

With a statewide network of partners including ophthalmologists, anesthesiologists, and surgery centers who assist LVS in providing affordable eye surgeries, LVS can leverage every $1 raised into an additional $4 in services, bringing the total impact of CCF’s grants on the Lowcountry community to $126,800.

“By providing funding for eye surgeries, vision technology, vision screenings and hearing aids, we hope to help alleviate the financial burden of vision-related health care and improve the quality of life of LVS clients,” said Edie Blakeslee, Vice President of Grantmaking and Community Leadership for Coastal Community Foundation. “We are grateful to have the opportunity to support LVS in its work to address our community’s vision health.”

Individuals interested in inquiring about financial assistance with eye surgeries, vision technology, vision screenings, or hearing aids can contact LVS at (803) 796-1304.

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