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by Dorothy Doppstadt
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Tuesday, 14 October 2008 |
EDITOR'S NOTE: VisionSpring was awarded the $100,000 John P. McNulty Prize for making lasting positive contributions to the world.
Visionspring sells inexpensive eyeglasses to thousands of people in developing countries, allowing many to see clearly for the first time. Co-founder Dr. Jordan Kassalow says he realized while working as an eye doctor in third world countries that "people were losing their ability to work, because they couldn't see as well as they got older. And amazingly enough, all they needed were magnifying glasses; the kind sold in drug stores."
Visionspring works by training "vision entrepreneurs" who are usually local women, who are then given a bag containing eyeglasses, eye charts, a repair kit and mirror. "It's called a one hundred dollar bag," Kassalow says, "Because that's how much the bag costs to serve an entire community. People have to realize workers in developing countries work close-up; they use their hands as weavers, tailors and artisans." Visionspring helps people in Asia, Africa and Latin America and has trained close to a thousand vision entrepreneurs around the world.
The 46-year old optometrist says selling magnifying eyeglasses has had a positive business impact around the world. "There was a tailor in southern India who was losing his eyesight, so his work wasn't as good, and he was losing income. After receiving glasses he was able to restore his business and dignity and self-respect. The woman who sold him the glasses also made money, allowing her to stop living in poverty and to pay for better schools for her sons." Kassalow, who owns a practice in New York City, says the eyeglasses are sold at an average of ten percent of a person?s monthly income so the cost varies around the world.
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by Eileen Conlan
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Friday, 22 May 2009 |
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 For high school seniors, the prom marks an American rite of passage. But not everyone can afford an expensive dress or tuxedo. Luckily there are places, throughout the country, that donate clothing for the formal occasion.
Brynne Coletti started her organization, Kenzie's Closet after her daughter told her girls at school were being made fun of because they weren't going to the prom. "They couldn't afford it," says Coletti, "But when they come and find their dresses, they are all smiles and confidence. They realize other young women are going through the same thing."
Megam Kerrigan of New York City's Operation Fairy Dust, says "sometimes the experience of finding your prom dress is more exciting than the actual prom. We try to make it a magical experience."
Before the big day, donations for gently used tuxedos, dresses, shoes and accessories are accepted at different establishments and volunteers assist the students and their parents in choosing the perfect outfit. For other links see: Ruby Room and Glass Slipper Project. For a map of donated prom stations across the country, visit Donate My Dress.
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by Jacqueline Loiacono
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Thursday, 16 October 2008 |
.jpg) A dozen students from Queens, N.Y. are volunteering at North Shore Long Island Jewish Hospital to learn about pulmonary disease and how to raise awareness for it. "You should've seen the looks on their young faces," says Dr. Amy Kim, a therapist at The Rehabilitation Center. ?It is an amazing experience that will hopefully continue to blossom and influence other schools.?
Student volunteer Amanda Poon says, "The most interesting was learning about the respiratory system and how to differentiate between healthy lungs and smokers' lungs. It made me so much more appreciative of the work doctors do."
Lisa Buoniauto, mother of a Bayside High School graduate says "It's a great start for those who are interested in medicine and want to make a difference in the bedside manner most doctors fail to have. Maybe if they are exposed to hospitals at a very young age and become aware of the diseases as well, there will be more sensitive doctors out there." Caren Birchwood-Taylor, Bayside High School Assistant Principal of Science agrees, "It is very important for students to learn early and make the connections with what they do in school and their future in medicine."
"They seem to be interested in it and hopefully we?ll be able to open options for them in the future,"said Dr. Donna Tsang of LIJ, "This collaboration has increased awareness for pulmonary disease and how such patients are treated." |
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by Jonathan Pappas
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Monday, 12 January 2009 |
 The 2008 NYC PSAL (Public School Athletic League) soccer championship began in the same way as it had for the past 12 years - with the MLK Jr. High School Boys' Varsity team competing for the title. However, playing at the largest stage in high school soccer is not an unfamiliar feeling to MLK head coach Martin Jacobson, who has led his varsity boys' team to 13 straight championships, 11 of which he won.
"Coach Jake", as he's called by his players, has enjoyed an outstanding coaching career that spans 40 years, and includes being selected as head coach for New York in the Red Bulls High School Cup, an exhibition soccer match that pits the best outgoing seniors in New York against the best in New Jersey. But getting to the championship game this season may have been perhaps the biggest challenge of Jacobson?s highly-distinguished 15-year coaching career at the Upper West Side high school.
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by John LaGrosse
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Sunday, 12 October 2008 |
.jpg) "I used to sack quarterbacks," said former Jets Defensive End Mark Gastineau to an excited crowd. "I don?t care about quarterbacks anymore. Now I want to sack Lupus!" Gastineau was one of hundreds of people gathered at the South Street Seaport in New York City on Saturday morning, October 10th. The crowd had gathered in preparation for the 5th Annual ?Walk With Us To Cure Lupus? walkathon, an event organized in cities across the nation by Alliance for Lupus Research. ALS is a non-profit organization that aggressively raises money that funds medical research to prevent, treat, and ultimately cure Lupus. The organization is sponsored by Woody Johnson, owner of the Jets and father to a daughter with Lupus. |
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