Q&A: Retiring Optometry Giving Sight exec calls rate of unnecessary blindness ‘staggering’
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After serving as executive director at Optometry Giving Sight for the past 2 years, Lois Schoenbrun, FAAO, will retire in December 2024, the nonprofit organization announced in a press release.
Schoenbrun, who previously served as executive director at the American Academy of Optometry, came out of retirement in April 2022 to become interim executive director at Optometry Giving Sight (OGS), a role that became more permanent thanks to Schoenbrun’s passion for the organization’s mission.
“There are more than a billion people in the world who are unnecessarily blind because they need an eye exam and glasses, things that most of us just take for granted,” Schoenbrun told Healio. “That is a staggering number of people. We’re talking about children being able to learn in school and play with their friends, adults being able to support their families and seniors not being a burden on their communities.”
Healio spoke with Schoenbrun about her time at OGS and what she has learned, as well as the organization’s role in the future of optometry.
Healio: What lessons have you learned while serving as executive director?
Schoenbrun: The last 2 years have really been about increasing our stability, refining our messaging and reestablishing relationships. We have an important message about the need to build optometry globally in order to solve the problem of uncorrected refractive error, but we weren’t getting our message out.
We have focused on doing that by stabilizing our fundraising, including reconnecting with companies and generous individual donors. We also have reestablished relationships with schools and colleges of optometry and with optometry students working to raise money for our World Sight Challenge Day.
When I started at OGS, I had no idea of the magnitude of the lack of eye and vision care services globally — and how simple the fix is. Well, not simple, because it takes money and people investing to make it happen, but it’s doable.
I am also reminded daily of just how generous optometrists are. This was obvious to me when I was at the academy. Optometrists give back to their local organizations and their national organizations. They give their time, energy and creativity and they give financially. It is unlike any other profession I have worked in.
Healio: What accomplishments are you most proud of during your tenure?
Schoenbrun: I don’t claim this as my accomplishment, but we are certainly doing a much better job telling our story via the press, social media and communications with donors about why people should give and the impact we can have.
We also have added stellar individuals to our board in the past 6 months, including Meng Meng Xu, OD, MPH, FAAO, Susy Yu, OD, MBA, FAAO, Dipl AAO, and Dan McBride. The three of them just bring so much to the organization.
Healio: What are your hopes for OGS in the future?
Schoenbrun: I am hopeful that major donors will discover all that OGS can accomplish and drop $15 million into our lap. I say that jokingly, but I am grateful that so many philanthropists are aware that vision is critical and a global concern.
My other hope for OGS is simply that people recognize that the need is enormous. We are just starting our grant process for the coming year. We received more than 60 worthy applications for funding in this cycle and we can only fund a fraction of them. All of them represent communities and countries that desperately need help, so I hope that OGS can increase the amount of money raised to support programs around the world.
HealioWhat’s next for you?
Schoenbrun: The first time I retired, my plan was to build a consulting firm, which I did. This time, I really want more time with family and friends, and there are lots of volunteer opportunities I’m looking forward to giving more of my time to. Someone sent me an email this morning saying, “I don’t see rocking chairs and crocheting in your future.” Nothing against those two things, but that’s not my future.
Healio: What would you like optometrists to know about OGS’s story?
Schoenbrun: OGS is an important, wonderful organization that supports the growth of optometry while creating real change in eye and vision care around the world. I will always be a donor, and I encourage other people to give as well. My mantra in fundraising is that people should be generous within their means.
We also just recently launched a program called TEAM OGS – Together Eyecare Achieves Miracles, which presents a portfolio of ways doctors and optometric practices can contribute. Some of them are passive, like encouraging patients to donate their contact lens rebates to us, and others are more active, like encouraging donations on a regular basis. Optometrists can add a dollar or two to every frame they sell and tell patients that part of their purchase goes to support Optometry Giving Sight. I hope practices take note of TEAM OGS and find ways that they can participate.
Reference:
- Lois Schoenbrun to retire as OGS Executive Director. https://givingsight.org/news/lois-schoenbrun-to-retire-as-ogs-executive-director/. Published July 19, 2024. Accessed July 29, 2024.
For more information:
Lois Schoenbrun, FAAO, is executive director at Optometry Giving Sight.
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