The gift from the Madison Community Foundation and the Jaya G. Iyer Endowment will help CBI expand training that empowers young Indian women. 

Madison, Wis. June 11, 2020 – Combat Blindness International is pleased to announce its deep gratitude for a $65,000 grant from the Madison Community Foundation’s Jaya G. Iyer Endowment Fund. This generous gift will help expand CBI’s Certified Ophthalmic Paramedic (COP) Program, which empowers young women in India with life-enriching ophthalmic technical training.

The COP Program is a transformative initiative, addressing significant technical staffing shortages in India by educating mid-level personnel who can perform many of the same functions as ophthalmologists. As a result, COP Program graduates help meet the growing need for qualified eye care staff, while at the same time receiving a valuable education, the ability to support their families, and the confidence to strive for future goals. It’s a win-win for everyone.

“The Madison Community Foundation and the Jaya G. Iyer Endowment are firmly committed to acting locally in order to positively transform others’ lives globally,” said Tom Linfield, Madison Community Foundation’s vice president-community impact. “Our ongoing partnership with Combat Blindness International is a testament to that commitment. We are proud to support CBI’s efforts to reduce preventable blindness.”

Especially during these difficult times, this generous financial gift will significantly boost CBI’s efforts to increase direct patient care to those in need by providing more training for skilled eye care personnel.

“This gift speaks volumes about the Madison Community Foundation’s and the Jaya G. Iyer Endowment’s mission to  enhance the common good through philanthropy,” said Reena Chandra Rajpal, CBI executive director and president. “We are grateful to continue this partnership.”

“Our work is only possible because of like-minded people like Jaya G. Iyer and organizations like Madison Community Foundation who share a vision to positively impact the world by restoring sight to those unable to see,” said Suresh Chandra, MD, founder and chief visionary officer of CBI. “This profound act of kindness and generosity will have a positive ripple effect on people’s lives for generations to come.”

Visit combatblindness.org to learn more, donate or volunteer to help give sight to others in need.

Combat Blindness International (CBI) is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to eliminating preventable blindness worldwide by providing sustainable, equitable solutions for sight through partnerships and innovation. Since it was founded in 1984 by Dr. Suresh Chandra, CBI has supported projects in 17 countries on 4 continents. CBI is a council member of Vision 2020: Right to Sight – a global joint initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).