1996 – Legal documents to create Sight Savers America.
1997 – 11 Patients and a handful of eye doctors in Jefferson County.
1998-2003 – By 2003 we had served almost 4,000 children, over a thousand each year, funds raised primarily through foundation grants and special events.
2004 – With the help of Hall Thompson, Governor Bob Riley and numerous state legislators we obtained state funding from the Alabama Department of Education for statewide k/2/4 follow-up eye care program.
2005 – Co-Founded the BBECC and began work in Alabama’s Black Belt. 25,000 children served in AL.
2006 – Began Black Belt Eye Clinics for children.
2007 – 27,000 children served, including all 6th graders in Alabama’s Black Belt.
2008 – 30,000 children served, MS expansions to all MS kindergartners (MS Department of Education contract). Changed name from Sight Savers of Alabama to Sight Savers America.
2009 – Over 35,000 children served in AL and MS.
2010 – 40,000 children served. Expansion of low vision services into Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Louisiana. President & CEO, Jeff Haddox awarded the Robert Sherrill Quality Award, recognizing him as one of Alabama’s healthcare leaders.
2011 – 100,000 children served in 8 states and creation of two new (school-based) programs – Children’s Vision Screening Program and Children’s Health Screening Program.
2012 – Received the American Optometric Association’s “Distinguished Service Award” for outstanding service and dedication to the visual welfare of the public and for contributions to the advancement of vision rehabilitation care.
2013 – Given the Childcare Resources “Children’s Advocate Award” for our unique role in improving children’s vision and health in Alabama.
2014 – Held our inaugural Sight Savers America Hero For Sight Award luncheon in Birmingham, AL. UAB Callahan Hospital donated space to create our Sight Savers America Hero For Sight Tribute Wall, to include commissioned artwork from a visually impaired artist.
2015 – Children’s Eye Care Program expanded in TN.
2016 – Our Low Vision Program began providing high-tech vision aids to Adults in areas with funding where the need has been met for children. Children’s Eye Care Program expanded into SC, FL & TX.
2017 – We held the largest Electronic Video Magnifier (EVM) donation and training clinic in history, providing life-changing EVMs to 37 children with low vision in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Area.
2018 – We broke our own record from the previous year by providing EVMs to 55 children from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Added Hawaii and Ohio to the list of states served by our Low Vision Program. Added Texas, North Carolina to our Children’s Eye Care Program. Held our 5th Annual Hero For Sight Luncheon.
2019 – Added ____ to our Low Vision Program.2020 – Our Low Vision Program is now in 15 states, Children’s Eye Care Program in 10 states, Children’s Vision Screening Program in 4 states.