JUNE 2025 | VOL 5

BEAUTY OF SIGHT 2025 ANNUAL INSTALLATION GALA

On June 7, Beauty of Sight welcomed distinguished guests to its 2025 Annual Installation Gala at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Sunrise, Florida. The evening featured the formal installation of officers for both Beauty of Sight and the Beauty of Sight Foundation, as well as recognition of key individuals and organizational milestones, all in support of our mission to create a world without blindness.



Joel Levenston PVDG was installed as President of Beauty of Sight, and Marta Ramirez was installed as President of the Beauty of Sight Foundation. Both leaders bring a strong commitment to expanding the organization’s impact and advancing its life-changing work in the year ahead.

James Campbell, PDG, was honored for his dedicated service as the outgoing President of the Eye Bank. He will continue his involvement by assuming the role of Secretary for the Foundation, providing continuity and strategic guidance. Geoffrey Wade, PID, was also recognized for his three years of exemplary leadership as Foundation President, during which he helped guide the organization through a period of significant growth and expansion.

The evening also included the presentation of two major awards. Cory Gittner, longtime public relations consultant for the Eye Bank, received the Ross Carr Award for outstanding service. The Key Largo Lions Club was honored with the Jimmy Nelson Award in recognition of its enduring support and commitment to the mission. In addition, all staff and board members were formally recognized for their dedication and contributions over the past year. Their collective efforts remain central to the continued success and expansion of Beauty of Sight’s vision-saving initiatives.

We extend our sincere gratitude to our generous event sponsors, Wells Fargo Private Bank and Calamos Wealth Management, whose support helped make this special evening possible and continues to strengthen our ability to transform lives through sight.

Together with committed leadership and community support, Beauty of Sight remains steadfast in its mission to restore vision, preserve sight, and create a world without blindness.

MODEL CLUBS RECOGNIZED AT MD-35 CONVENTION FOR OUTSTANDING SUPPORT

Model Clubs Recognized at MD-35 Convention for Outstanding Support

At the 2025 MD-35 Multiple District Convention, Beauty of Sight proudly recognized the Lions Clubs throughout the multiple district that contributed to the Model Club Campaign, a key initiative in support of the Eye Bank’s Capital Campaign to fund the expansion into a new, state-of-the-art facility.

The celebration took place during the Saturday morning Recognition Breakfast, where all participating clubs were honored for their generosity and commitment. The Model Club Program reflects a powerful, district-wide effort to advance the future of vision care and empower Beauty of Sight to expand its reach and impact across the communities we serve.



Special recognition was given to the top-contributing club in each MD-35 district:

• Alachua Lions Club
• District 35-L Top Contributor

• Orange Blossom Gardens Lions Club
• District 35-O Top Contributor

• Miami Buena Vista Biltmore Lions Club
• District 35-N Top Contributor

• Venice Lions Club
• District 35-I Top Contributor
• 
  

These clubs demonstrated exceptional leadership and service, helping to move the mission forward in meaningful and lasting ways.

Thanks to the collective efforts of Lions across MD-35, the campaign has successfully met its goal of raising $250,000 in support of the Eye Bank’s new facility. This amount was matched by an anonymous donor, doubling the impact to $500,000. As a result, the Lions of MD-35 will be recognized with the naming of the lobby in the new building, a powerful symbol of their enduring commitment to creating a world without blindness.

Beauty of Sight extends its deepest appreciation to all the Lions Clubs that contributed to the Model Club Campaign. Your dedication is building more than a facility; it’s building hope, restoring vision, and expanding our ability to serve communities across the region.

NANOWIRE RETINAL IMPLANT RESTORES

VISION AND SEES INFRARED

Researchers have developed a retinal prosthesis made of tellurium nanowires that restores partial vision in blind mice and enables near-infrared vision in primates. The implant, woven into a lattice of light-sensitive nanowires, converts both visible and near-infrared light into electrical signals that the brain can detect.

In blind mice, it restored visual reflexes and behavioral vision, while in macaques, it enhanced the detection of wavelengths beyond the natural range of sight. This breakthrough marks a major step toward restoring vision in the blind and augmenting human vision beyond current biological limits.

FIGHTING DARKNESS AND FINDING AN EYE-OPENING LIFE

Fatemeh Sugrue

"As a recipient of multiple grafts, each one has brought back not just my sight, but a renewed sense of hope and freedom. I am eternally grateful for the gift of sight."