The 2007 Venetian-themed Eye Ball Gala was another massive success for the Third World Eye Care Society.

The bi-annual event, held June 16 at the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel, raised $30,000 in donations from optometry clinics and company sponsorships, and another $37,000 from the silent auction. 100% of the proceeds from the event will go to providing free eye care and eyeglasses to people in the Third World who would otherwise go without.

"We are absolutely thrilled with the results of this year's gala," said TWECS Chair Dr. Marina Roma-March. "As the sole fund-raiser for the society, the Eye Ball's success is a measure of the charity's support from the BC eye care industry, without whom we would not exist."

This signature industry event included a spectacular black-tie dinner, dance, silent auction and nonstop entertainment. The society's inaugural Eye Ball in 1996 drew 150 guests and has since grown to over 350 guests and continually sells out well in advance.

The silent auction was especially popular this year, with friendly competition among the guests to win the top prizes. Up for bid were 137 auction items ranging from apparel, Father's day gifts, getaways and restaurant gift certificates. Dr. Brad McDougall walked away with the trip for two to Venice, Italy and Dr. Tammy Crawford won a .62 carat diamond pendant valued at $3000.

Other prized items included 15 impressive memorabilia pieces, some of them included Rosa Parks, JFK, Sir Edmund Hillary and Mick Jagger. All items went for double their value, with Rosa Parks' going for eight times its estimated value. Dr. Nina Gill, TWECS India 1997 team leader, was a very successful bidder; she is now the proud owner of three of the valued pieces.

Delivering free eye care worldwide

TWECS is a 100 per cent volunteer based charity, consisting of eye care professionals and individuals who collect used eyeglasses from the public and travel to Third World countries providing free eye care and eyeglasses.

Dr. Roma-March started the society in 1994 when she recruited fellow optometrists and their staff to travel with her to the Philippines to set up clinics in the garbage dumps of Manila.

Today, TWECS has thousands of supporters who collect eyeglasses from their communities. TWECS has provided nearly 40,000 free eye exams and eyeglasses to people around the World.

Working with Dr. Bill Jackson and the Western University College of Science and Technology, TWECS is setting up a permanent clinic in Kakemega, Kenya to train local eye care providers. Preparations are well underway on this year's project, taking place in Da Nang, Vietnam with Australia's Ophthalmology based Fred Hollows Foundation.

"We feel it is time to expand our focus and follow a lead made by VOSH/International, a World Health Organization partner and our parent organization which has established permanent clinics in Latin America", says Roma-March.

Locally, TWECS has partnered with the BC Department of Justice to run an eyeglass neutralizing prison program in the North Fraser Pretrial Center, a men's maximum security institution. This program has been in operation for three years and discussions are underway to bring the program to a women's facility.

How to get involved

Volunteer team members pay their own travel expenses and accommodations. Office needs are met by a small network of clinic and office staff who volunteer to get things done between their regular duties.

TWECS pays no rent or utilities for the eyeglass warehouse in Burnaby which currently holds over 250,000 donated eyeglasses. Volunteers donate their time to wash, sort, neutralize, catalogue and prepare eyeglasses for upcoming projects.

For information on volunteer opportunities or project dates for Vietnam or Kenya go contact Dr. Marina Roma-March at 604.874.2733 or twecs@shaw.ca