Charities

Prevent Blindness Oklahoma:

Prevent Blindness Oklahoma is the state's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Established in 1965, Prevent Blindness Oklahoma is the only non-profit agency in Oklahoma dedicated exclusively to fighting blindness. Prevent Blindness Oklahoma is an affiliate of the national organization, Prevent Blindness America, which was founded in 1908.

The Children's Vision Screening Program is the cornerstone of Prevent Blindness Oklahoma. Since our founding in 1965, we have been providing vision screenings for children at preschools, day care centers, Head Start centers, and elementary schools. We provided vision screenings for 246,395 children during the 2007-2008 school year. 25,277 of these children were referred on for an examination by an eye care professional.

For further information visit their web site at www.preventblindnessok.org.

Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled:

Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled is a recreational program for the mentally and physically challenged in the Oklahoma City Metro Area. The Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled provides recreational and social activities for adults and children with disabilities. The OKFD was established in 1961 by the National Council of Jewish Women through a grant from the Oklahoma City Junior Hospitality Club, Inc.

Many families who seek assistance from OKFD have chosen to keep their loved one at home instead of in a group home or institution. Their labor of love is exhausting and families experience extreme stress because of caring for their loved one, maintaining a career, a home, a marriage, and a relationship with their other family members.

The OKFD gives them a much-needed break while their precious family member may participate in a variety of programs at OKFD. Daycare allows family members (including parents, siblings and extended family) and caregivers the opportunity to work full-time and provide much needed income for the home. Most of caregivers of our members are divorced, living on a single income and caring for a disabled adults 30 years old and up. For further information visit their web site at www.okfd.org.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Oklahoma:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma is recognized as the state's premiere youth mentoring organization. Big Brothers Big Sisters facilitates One-to-One mentoring friendships between children and caring volunteers through community based and site based programs. Independent research has proven that children with a big Brother or big Sister are less likely to use drugs, skip school or be involved in acts of violence, and have better relationships with family and friends. YOU can be a part of something BIG when you become a mentor or make a contribution. For further information visit their web site at www.bbbsok.org.