Message from the PAOF Chair
Dear Colleagues:
When you donate to the Pan-American Ophthalmological Foundation, you create opportunities to meet new people who believe in the same causes that inspire you. When you let your friends and family know of your charitable donations, they may find themselves more motivated to undertake their own efforts to give. It takes a village to address issues such as world visual health care issues, scientific advancement, and education for ocular health.
We don’t live in a perfect world, and there’s never going to be a perfect time to give. However, there are always people out there in need of help. Whether interest rates are rising, the economy is struggling, or even if you’re experiencing financial difficulties of your own, the reality is that when you donate your money, you help others who need it.
You don’t need to donate a large amount to make a difference in someone’s life. To honor a friend, a family member, or a colleague with your donation, you give it more meaning. Motivating people around you is a very positive and tangible effect of your own giving.
In research conducted by the USA’s National Institutes of Health1, participants who chose to donate a portion of $100 activated pleasure centers in the brain. Although this experiment was controlled and scientific, it did show that donating money simply makes you feel better, which is something we can all benefit from. If you’ve been stuck in a rut, whether personally or professionally, sometimes the simple act of donating cash can do the trick and reinvigorate your life.
Never think that you can’t improve someone’s life or the world itself. Every little bit helps.
Sincerely,
Jorge E. Valdez MD PhD
PAOF Chairman of the Board