Indo-American Eye Care Organization

IAEO signed with Cars4Causes to get car donations

December 7th 2009 :
IAEO has signed up with Cars4Causes (C4C) to accept the donations in the form of vehicles. Cars4Causes is an organization that suppports over 11,000 charities, contributed over $20 million so far. They accept any car, boat, motorcycle or RV, and the net proceeds will be donated to the charity nominated. With this combined partnership, IAEO looks forward to increase its funds, thus make more services to the needy through PVRI in India. To donate your old vehicle to IAEO, please visit this link on Cars4Causes for IAEO.

Eyescreening camps at Kamareddy (Nizamabad Dist) and Jaggaiahpet

November 2009 :
PVRI in support with IAEO has conducted two village camps at Kamareddy in Nizamabad district and Jaggaiahpet in Krishna district. These camps were sponsoredby Mr. Srinivas Cheela family and Mr.Hari Morisetti family on 22nd and 29th November respectively. Both the camps really went well, and got a lot of applause from the local community for the great service by the institute.

In Kamareddy, there were a total of 754 people screened, out of which, there were 126 cases found of refractive errors, 64 people were identified with cataract. 124 people were referred to PVRI for further treatment.

In Jaggaiahpet, there were a total of 636 people screened, out of which, 164 people were found to be with refractive error, and 91 people were indentified with cataract. 103 people were referred to PVRI for further treatment.

Press Release about the highlights of Bi-Annual Fundraising Event in Denver on 24th October 2009

Oct 25th 2009 :
Indo-American Eye Care Organization (IAEO) has organized the 2nd bi-annual fundraising event in Denver, Colorado on 24th October with a lot of fan fare, raising an amount of $120,000, with North America Telugu Society (NATS) being the biggest donor.

The evening was started at 5:00pm with a social hour, where all the guests had some time to chat and get to know each other. The event was started at 7:15pm in the grand ballroom decorated appropriately, with the Indian and American national anthems by kids. IAEO General Secretary Mr.Sridhar Talanki, Joint Secretary Mr. Srinivas Cheela and Colorado Telugu Association president Mr.Sankar Gunturu have welcomed the crowd. The Chairman of PVRI Mr.Govind Hari briefly described about the role PVRI plays in providing the specialty eye care to the rural masses, and how this fundraising effort will increase its reach to the end cause. The chief guest Ms.Cary Kennedy, Treasurer of Colorado state praised all the efforts and mission behind the fundraising program, and appreciated the noble cause that IAEO is serving for. A video clip addressed by actress Jaya Sudha with her best wishes was played. Mr.Nadendla Manohar, Honorable Deputy Speaker of AP State Assembly in his key note speech congratulated IAEO Team for their efforts in taking eye care to rural areas to address the preventable blindness and assured the support from the government of Andhra Pradesh. Tollywood Hero Mr.Raja has been invited for the event as a special guest, who shared heart warming story, and how it made him to contribute for the charity. President of IAEO Mrs. Vanita Reddy has thanked the people from all parts of the country to attend this event, anticipated for their best support for the endeavor. Mr. Ravi Madala, NATS (North America Telugu Society) President, Mr. Iftekhar Shareef, Mr. Rao Achanta, Dr. Gopal Reddy Gade, Mr. Sudhakar Perkari were among the distinguished guests who came from all parts of the country. It was great cheer to the crowd when the famous knee surgeon Dr.AV Gurava Reddy from Sunshine Hospitals of Hyderabad addressed the crowd, who flew from the other side of the globe, stayed in Denver for 10 hours, just to participate in the event. Ghazal Maestro Dr. Ghazal Srinivas made a remarkable speech urging the importance of giving sight to someone needy. He contributed $2000 himself, and raised $1000 from the people in Afghanistan where he recently visited to spread the mission of peace. Of all the donations in the evening, the highest contributor is North America Telugu Society (NATS) with its outstanding donation of sponsoring 10 village eye camps and 10 schools, and matching contributions, all together totals to more than $42,000. NATS is a non-profit organization with the primary objective of addressing the needs and concerns that affect the everyday lives of Telugu people in North America. Visit http://www.Natsworld.org for more details.

There were extraordinary performances from the local talented schools Sai Meghna Dance School and Laya Dance Academy. An exciting music concert by the Tollywood music director Mr.Nihal and the singer Ms.Sudhamayi made the evening very vibrant. The highlight of the evening was the Ghazal concert by Maestro Dr.Ghazal Srinivas. This just took everyone in the hall to visit their native place and reminded of their childhood memories.

All the artists and guests were felicitated. It was well organized event by the whole team. The fundraising part was greatly cheerlead by several community leaders and distinguished guests. Mr.Sam Thomas, Ms. Prathyusha Apparasu, Mr.Krishna Kunapuli and Mrs. Priya Gaddipati have emceed whole event very ably. Mrs.Vanita has taken a major role during the fundraising part to motivate the crowd and get the bar raise high. Mr.Sridhar Ponnapalli gave a vote of thanks. Entire event was greatly coordinated by the dedicated volunteer force of Denver fundraising committee, with a sustained coordination for over 2 months.

IAEO was formed in 2006 to provide total Eye Care in India, and a major supporter of Pushpagiri Vitreo Retina Institute (PVRI) in Secunderabad, India. The mission is to provide quality eye care to every one and help prevent blindness through awareness, education and care by organizing the eye camps in rural villages and schools. For more information about the event, and about the organization, visit http://www.indoamericaneyecare.org.

AP Chief Minister Dr.YS Rajasekhar Reddy's sudden demise - IAEO condolenses

Sep 3rd 2009 :
Dear IAEO Board, Advisory and 2009 Fundraising Committee Members:

IAEO deeply mourns the sudden demise of our beloved chief minister Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Wednesday, September 2, 2009.

Dr. Reddy is a self made doctor turned politician and emerged to this level due to his conviction and passion towards to the people of Andhra Pradesh. He firmly believed in his principles and sticked to them until his demise.

Among his various people oreinted projects Free Power to farmers and Arogyasree to the poor made his ever popular and brought him back to power and established the credibiity of congress in AP.

My husband Sudhakar and I have met with YSR and his family in person on several ocassions for the last 13 years and our recent meeting was on June 30, 2009 in his camp office, Hyderabad. We also have had a privilege of hosting him and his wife Vijaya garu at our house in Detroit seven years ago, again on the same date (June 30) in 2002.

During our 20 minute long meeting, Dr. Reddy wished our fundraiser a great success and showed his support by endorsing Jaya Sudha garu to attend the event on his behalf. That letter of endorsement has now greater value to all of us.

I sincerely wish and pray that his vision gets carried on. May his soul rest in peace.

Vanita Reddy

Star attractions at Fundraiser-2009 : Movie Actress Jayasudha and Hero Raja

Sep 1st 2009 :
The famous Telugu Cine Actress Smt.Jayasudha is going to be the star attraction at fundraiser 2009 in Denver on 24th October. IAEO team including Mr.Sridhar Talanki and Dr.Viswanath have met with her in Secunderabad recently, and invited her for the event. She accepted the event gracefully. The Telugu hero Raja (Telugu movie Anand hero) is also going to be attending this event. This certainly adds some colors to the event, and potentially pull good crowds to the event.

2009 Fundraiser in October in Denver, CO

Jun 6th 2009 :
IAEO President Mrs.Vanita Reddy has visited Denver today, to see the arrangements going on for the fund-raising program proposed in October. She, along with Dr.Sudkar Reddy have met with the various community members and volunteers at Denver and Colorado Springs during this visit. While addressing a gathering, she has described the organization's motto and its procedures for the eye-camp in India. People can now organize the eye-camps in their village, by donating to IAEO, which is all tax-deductible. There are several plans where one can choose from, based on the comfort level.

She has inaugurated the website for IAEO developed by a denver based IT company Shritech Inc, integrated with paypal to accept online donations. This now enables the donors to make the donation easily using their credit cards and bank accounts. Several notable people including Dr.Sudhakar Reddy, Secretary Mr.Sridhar Talanki, Joint-Secretary Mr.Srinivas Cheela were present at this event attended by several volunteers.

Eyecamp in Janthuluru village benefited 300 people

May 4st 2008 :
IAEO in association with Talanki Charitable Trust has arranged an eye camp in Janthaluru village, Anantapur district where 304 people were screened. 58 people were identified for cataract surgery, whereas 160 were detected to have refractive error.

District Collector of Anantapur, Medical Health Officer, Drug Inspector, MLA of Kadiri, Puspagiri Eye Institute Chairman Mr.Govinda Hari, Dr.K Viswanath, the Village Serpent, Vice Chancellor of SK University, Trust Chairman Mr.Talanki Krishnamurthy and Mr.Talanki Sridhar were present to the camp. Dr.Ghazal Sreenivas has inspired on Hygiene & Health and entertianed the audience with his songs in the evening. The Trust has adopted Janthaluru village since 2000, and has been organizing development and welfare programs.

Awards and Recognition

The Pushpagiri Vitreo Retina Institute-NIN-ICMR Research study on "Diabetic Retinopathy and Role of Micronutrient" The initial data presented by Mr.N.Satyanarayana, Senior Research Fellow in the 17th Annual Meet of Indian Eye Research Group-2008 at Arvind Eye Hospital, Madhuri, on 26th and 27th July 2008.

Dr.K.Viswanath, Chairman-(Medical) of our Institute, took over as President of Andhra Pradesh Ophthalmic Society, for the year 2008-2009 on 27th September 2008 at the State Conference held at Vijayawada.

The Consultants of Pushpagiri Vitreo Retina Institute are the resource persons for the lectures and demonstration in the Continuing Medical Education programme conducted by the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology-Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, from 18th to 31st August 2008. This programme is a popular educational programme for the "resident postgraduate students in ophthalmology" of all the Medical Colleges of Andhra Pradesh and a few from neighboring States like Karnataka, Maharastra and Madhya Pradesh.

You can contribute and support this worthy cause by sponsorships for Surgery, Surgical Equipment, Purchase and setup of infrastructure, Out-reach programs or Eye Camps, Hospital rooms and operation theaters etc.