Prevent Blindness Oklahoma's vision screenings touch so many lives and the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma is a big part of that.

      During the 24-year partnership with Prevent Blindness Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Masons have provided more than $2.4 million to help the nonprofit in Its mission to preserve the eyesight and prevent the blindness of every Oklahoman. In addition to its financial contribution, the Masons provide manpower to help with screenings and traffic control, and by meeting the needs of the screeners. Prevent Blindness provides the screeners.

      In 2009, 260,939 children were screened. The total number of children referred, with the assistance of the Masons, was 26,180.

      In the past five years, Prevent Blindness Oklahoma has increased the number of vision screenings provided to Oklahoma school children fivefold, said Mike Moradi, Prevent Blindness vice chairman. "At a time when families are focused on survival, such as rent and putting food on the table, PBO ensures that children can see the chalkboard, and hence, learn.”

      The Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma's mission is to provide a network of programs supporting charitable and educational needs of Oklahomans of every walk of life while remaining firmly committed to its Masonic tenets and continuing legacy of leadership and stewardship.  In addition to its partnership with Prevent Blindness, the foundation works to help others through its Promises Matter grants and Matching Funds. The foundation also provides support to the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Payne Education Foundation and Masonic Service Association - just to name a few. In 2009, the foundation was named the Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation of the year by the Oklahoma chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

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successes/Beacon Award5.pdf

successes/Beacon Award2.pdf