New Eyes for the Needy is a non-profit organization started in 1932 (incorporated 1948[1]) and based in Short Hills, New Jersey, which provides people in the United States with eyeglasses and sends recycled eyeglasses to needy people overseas.[2]
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The group's vision or mission statement is: "To improve the vision of poor children and adults by purchasing new eyeglasses in the United States and recycling donated glasses for distribution in developing nations worldwide."[3]
The organization was founded by Julia Lawrence Terry in 1932 in Short Hills, New Jersey. [1] Terry worked in the Red Cross during the Great Depression and realized the need for eyeglasses in the US. Area residents donated basement space for sorting eyeglasses.
By the end of the 1940s, the organization was receiving an average of 1,194 glasses monthly. "Old age glasses" were sent to hospitals in New York City and nursing homes in Kentucky. New Eyes was also featured in Woman's Day and Parade Magazine articles, and had its first television appearance on WCBS. As the organization grew, the Junior Service League of Oranges and Retired Men's Club in Short Hills began to volunteer. In 1947, the Junior Service League of Short Hills took over New Eyes with the passing of Mrs. Terry. By 1949, 455 people per month were receiving "new eyes".
In the 1950s, New Eyes for the Needy had 55 volunteers sorting eyeglasses. The organization averaged 25–35 mailbags of glasses weekly. New Eyes was set up as an independent organization, a community project under the Junior League of Oranges. The Jewelry Committee was formed by Connie Hurd.
New Eyes opened its new headquarters at 549 Millburn Avenue in the 1960s. At this location, the organization began accepting items for consignment in the jewelry showroom. A second floor was added to the establishment which included a showroom for jewelry and silver sales. The Millburn Old Guard began volunteering at New Eyes for the Needy, which would become a tradition lasting over 40 years. In 1968, the organization paid off its mortgage.
By 1979, over 100,000 pairs of eyeglasses were being shipped overseas. $150,000 in grants were allocatied to hospitals and medical schools. New Eyes broke the 1,000,000 mark in eyeglass donations for one year, which allowed for the purchase of over 10,000 new percription glasses.
Income from scrap metal declined in the 1980s, while the amount of requests for new eyeglasses rose. This marked the start of the eyeglass voucher program. This decade marked the beginning of computer use in the offices and the 50th anniversary of the organization, which was attended by Governor and Mrs. Tom Kean.
New Eyes received $35,000 in grants during the 1990s. It launched its first direct mail campaign for new donations and ran a PSA campaign featuring comedian Steve Allen. Susannah Likins became the new executive director in 1993.
In the past decade, New Eyes for the Needy raised reimbursment rates for the voucher program for the first time since the program began. It also introduced its website. Its first fundraising gala, Hocus Focus, took place at the Herbst family home.
In 2009-10, in partnership with social service agencies and optical dispensers across the country, New Eyes helped 4,102 disadvantaged U.S. residents purchase the eyeglasses they needed but could not afford. Currently, Susan Dyckman is the group's executive director.
New Eyes for the Needy purchases prescription eyeglasses for indigent people in the U.S. through a well-established voucher program. Eligible clients can receive a voucher through a social service agency or a school nurse. Clients can present a New Eyes voucher to any participating local optical dispenser, who fits the client with the proper prescription eyeglasses. The dispenser then receives reimbursement directly from New Eyes.
To be eligible for the program, applicants must be in financial need, have had a recent eye exam, and have no other resources available to them to pay for glasses, including federal or state programs or assistance from local charitable organizations. New Eyes does not pay for eye exams. A New Eyes voucher typically covers only the cost of a basic pair of single or bifocal eyeglasses.
Since most contemporary eyeglasses are no longer framed in gold, New Eyes must now rely on a variety of funding sources.
Donations made up 57% of funding in 2006 (compared to 1% in 1974). Grants made up 31% of funding, jewelry sales from the showroom Fabulous Finds made up 8%, and scrap metal made up 4%.
New Eyes for the Needy depends primarily on volunteer work and donations.[4] The standard donation they ask for is $60, which goes towards buying new eyeglasses for people in the United States. They also receive recycled eyeglasses as donations, offer volunteer work to help with their events, sponsoring a donation drive, and volunteering to help physically distribute the glasses. Donations can be made via their website.
New Eyes for the Needy is run by a 15 person Board of Trustees and runs mainly through volunteer action. It still operates out of its original home in New Jersey but has expanded to become globalized. In 2007-2008, the organization helped 5,845 United States citizens and 200,000 people overseas with their eye care needs. The company has been highlighted in several prominent media outlets such as the Newark Star Ledger, the Philadelphia Inquirer and ABC's Eyewitness News. As of March 2008, the company's net assets have reached $3,303,346.[5] The organization has had celebrity spokespeople such as Jake Gyllenhaal[6] make videos to send their message. In the fall of 2008, the organization was the subject of a school assignment for many students at Seton Hall University as part of a Public Relations campaign assignment.
In 2010-2011, New Eyes purchased eyeglasses for 2,582 adults from 45 states and the District of Columbia, 486 children in 28 states, and 1,096 seniors living in 41 states and the District of Columbia. The group distributed nearly 200,000 pairs of recycled eyeglasses to poor people living in 30 developing nations around the world.
Fourteen new volunteers were welcomed at the organization.
The Heart of New Eyes fundraiser in February 2010 raised $15,000 to support the U.S. eyeglass voucher program. The second Annual Kids Rock for Vision Concert in March 2010 raised $8,700 for children’s eyeglasses. The See For Change fundraiser raised nearly $6,000 for children’s glasses in New York City.
Fabulous Finds jewelry and giftware re-sale showroom raised $51,000 for the U.S. eyeglass voucher program.
New Eyes secured awards totaling $71,000 in foundation grants.[7]
Overall, New Eyes for the Needy has improved the eyesight of more than 7,000,000 people in the world.[8]
The 2010-11 budget limits New Eyes to issuing 80 vouchers per week, which requires re-instituting the wait list. It also expects fundraising to remain flat in 2010-11.