Blind Foundation for India raises $13,000

Musical concert by Dr Dipak and Dr Sheela Shah
Musical concert by Dr Dipak and Dr Sheela Shah

CHICAGO: The Blind Foundation for India (BFI) organized a musical evening program at the Avery Coonley School’s Performing Arts Center, Downers Grove, a southwest suburb of Chicago.

Over 180 people enjoyed the musical evening with melodious songs by Dr Dipak Shah and Dr Sheela Shah. Young artists from the Soorya Dance School of Northbrook gave enchanting performances to enthrall the audience. Dr Rajendra Dave and Dr Kumar Moolayil served as Emcees for the evening.

Through the musical Evening, BFI raised over $13,000 which will be used to fund a medical van in India. Dr Manu Vora, President of BFI, highlighted the plight of over 15 million blind people in India which translates to 1 out of every 3 blind people in the world. In India it costs only $20 per cataract operation in India compared to $4,000 in the US, a multiplier of 200.

BFI was established in 1989 with a mission to prevent and cure blindness and educate and rehabilitate permanently blind people in India. Over the years, the BFI team has raised over $3.5 million to examine eyesight of over a million people. So far, BFI has conducted over 110,000 free cataract operations, donated 104 medical vans to transport doctors and patients, and distributed over 10,000 Braille Kits to blind children for their education.

The current BFI focus is on prevention of blindness through Child Sight Projects. Over 500,000 children in government schools are examined for their eyesight and given necessary glasses, eye drops, Vitamin A, and given cataract surgeries in rare cases.

Surendra Ullal