Source: http://florida.aoa.org/x5590.xml
Optometry's Fund for Disaster Relief
Help Victims of Disasters
In the wake of the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, the American Optometric Association, through Optometry's Charity™ – The AOA Foundation, embarked on a mission to assist optometrists whose lives and practices have been disrupted by the hurricane. The Foundation created Optometry's Fund for Disaster Relief to provide all optometrists who have experienced severe damage to their practice and/or home with immediate financial relief.
The Optometric Disaster Relief Fund provides financial relief to optometrists who've experienced the loss of or severe damage to their practice and/or home.
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Optometry’s Charity™ just by
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When Disaster Strikes
When a natural disaster strikes, the damage to structures and equipment is only part of the challenge facing affected practices. Many optometrists see their patients disperse to other areas of the country, further hampering practice recovery efforts. For some optometrists, it could be months before their home community stabilizes to allow the beginning of recovery. Without a practice or patients, these optometrists have no means for generating income, and require help with basic needs.
Help us help optometrists at this critical time. Please submit your tax deductible donation today - it will make a difference
Optometrists Seeking Help
For optometrists whose practices or homes have suffered the ravages of a natural disaster, there is help available for critical and urgent needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter. The first step is to complete and submit the grant application to Optometry's Charity™.
For more information please contact:
Sara Breed
314-983-4218 or 1-800-365-2219, ext. 4218
snbreed@aoa.org
Additional Assistance for Displaced ODs
Practice Opportunities
The AOA is also helping to coordinate efforts to get displaced optometrists back in practice. Optometry's Career Center® is offering free listings to any practice offering temporary or permanent practice opportunities for ODs affected by natural disasters. Contact 800-365-2219, x4107 or e-mail dbkincaid@aoa.org for details.
Licensure for Displaced Optometrists
Additionally, some state optometry boards have taken action to expedite licensure for displaced optometrists. AOA provides a listing of these boards in the Practice Assistance for Displaced ODs area of this web site.