“I was born in a rural village in India, poor and legally blind, with no opportunity to exist,” Sam Maddula, Pharm.D., a distinguished leader, visionary entrepreneur, and dedicated philanthropist, said. Sam went on to add, how his life turned from darkness to light as his parents stumbled upon an Eye Camp that the Eye Foundation of America had set up in 1987 in rural Andhra Pradesh. “It is this organization that rescued me from a life of darkness. The Eye Foundation of America helped me get a visa to the United States. The esteemed Dr. VK Raju himself, performed dual corneal transplant surgery on me two weeks after my second birthday in the United States. He did it, working with the Eye Foundation for free. He cured me just like that, with the magic of his hands. I could see my life went from literal darkness to pure sunlight.”
Sam shared his life story with the audience during a Fund Raiser organized by The Eye Foundation of America, Grant Thornton, the Gautami Institute, The Rotary Club District – 3011 (Delhi) in collaboration with the Young Rotarians, with the theme, “Hope for Tomorrow” at the prestigious India Habitat Centre, New Delhi on Friday, January 31, 2025.
This life-changing miracle is one of the millions of Eye Surgeries that The Eye Foundation of America, led by the legendary Dr. Vadrevu K. Raju, a world-renowned ophthalmologist, philanthropist, and the founder of the Eye Foundation of America (EFA) and the Eye Foundation of UK, Chairman of Goutami Eye Institute has done in the past half a century, transforming the lives of millions of children, who are born every year with vision impairment.
The Fund Raiser, a pan-India Roll-out Program helped raise over $500,000, which was matched by the Eye Foundation of America, totaling over a $ 1 Million US Dollars. In addition, Sam Maddula offered to match two times, the funds that were raised on January 31st, adding the total amount raised at the fundraiser even more.
Dr. Raju promised that the funds raised will be utilized towards establishing 100 ROP screening centers across India, training 500 healthcare professionals in Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) screening and treatment, and Treating 10,000 ROP-affected babies annually across India.
Offering an overview of childhood blindness and its impact on children, Dr. Raju told an enthusiastic audience, who had come from across India and the United States to support the noble cause, that childhood blindness has far-reaching consequences. Three-fourths of the children with visual impairment never attend school. Blindness reduces employability by 50%. Blindness increases poverty and social isolation. According to the South Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, of the 3.5 million premature babies born in India, nearly one in six (600,000) babies are born less than 32 weeks gestational age. Estimating that 40% of them receive neonatal care and 80% of them survive, over 200,000 children are at risk for developing Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), Dr. Raju pointed out.
Dr. Raju has dedicated his entire life to helping make “the world where every child can see, learn, and thrive without the shadows of blindness.” Describing it as “God’s work” that he and the Eye Foundation are doing, Dr. Raju urged “everyone to join in the mission to eradicate childhood blindness, a tragedy, we can prevent it. Every child deserves to see the world with clarity and purpose. Let’s join hands to eradicate childhood blindness and unlock a brighter future for generations to come. Today, we make a new beginning in our concerted efforts to prevent and eradicate childhood blindness with the resources and the modern technology that are available today,” Dr. Raju said.
Lord Rami Ranger, a well-known philanthropist, and successful businessman from the United Kingdom, while echoing the mission of EFA said, “Childhood blindness is a solvable problem, but it requires our collective action.” According to Lord Ranger, a Board Member of the Eye Foundation of America and Eye Foundation of UK, who has been honored by Her Majesty the Queen on Eight occasions for his Business leadership in and for community services, “Together, we can ensure that every child has access to quality eye care and a chance to reach their full potential.”
Dr. Leela Raju, an Organizing Chair of the event, delivered the welcome address. The chief guest at the event was Dr Radhika Tandon, Chairperson of Retinopathy of Prematurity Center, who delivered the keynote address. Richa Jain Kallra, a TV News Anchor & Host eloquently emceed the event.
In her welcome address, Dr. Leela Raju stressed the importance of ensuring that more people know about the causes and the means to reduce childhood blindness and eradicate it. Dr. Leela Raju stated that the discussions today focused on “not just glaucoma, but cornea and pediatric ophthalmology. And of course, regarding retinopathy and prematurity, which is our real push in both Delhi and around India to reduce the burden of childhood blindness.”
Dr. Radhika Tandon, a global thought leader, who continues to inspire innovation and excellence in ophthalmology, shaping the future of visual care with her dedication and brilliance, in her keynote address, said, “A very, very big word of appreciation to the Eye Foundation of America, as well as the Gautami Eye Institute, for taking this initiative, of getting people together on this platform, and also for envisioning a world, where two countries across great continents and opposite sides of the globe can work together, to make a difference.”
“Close your eyes for a moment. Now imagine never being able to open them to the vibrant colors of life, a loved one’s smile, or the pages of a favorite story,” said Sandeep Saxena, the chief organizer, who coordinated the efforts leading up to the fundraiser in India. “For millions of premature babies, this is their reality. Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a silent thief of sight, making it one of the leading causes of childhood blindness. In India alone, 3.5 million premature babies are at risk. But we refuse to accept this. And we know you won’t either. Your kindness can save a child’s sight, their future, and their dreams.”
A day-long workshop on Empowering Vision Global Advances In Eye Care was organized, offering insights into the many aspects of vision impairment and ways to treat them. Dr. Thomas Johnson, a Specialist in Neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute, Dr. Charles Cole, a dedicated educator, who is leading surgical training at the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Dr Karan Bhatia, Vice President of the Young Ophthalmologist Society of India (YOSI) were among those who addressed the audience.
Dr. Mukesh Batra, DG Mahesh Trikha, and PRIP Rtn Shekar Mehta delivered Special addresses during the fundraiser, offering ongoing collaboration and support to the Eye Foundation and its efforts to eradicate childhood blindness. Members of Grant Thornton, while describing their work in analyzing and finding effective ways to measure the outcome of the work being done by the Eye Foundation, offered to collaborate in the noble mission of the Foundation.
The grand finale was a live performance by the Surkriti Orchestra, National Association of the Blind, and a Fashion Show for a Purpose by the talented Shravan Kummar, Designer & Philanthropist, Weaving Magic Through Fabric, Blending Artistry & Purpose.
Earlier, A Mobile Bus was launched with the objective of reaching rural areas across India, offering screening and treatment to eradicate Childhood Blindness. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Eye Foundation, Grant Thornton, and the Rotary Club of Gurugram, Haryana to continue this noble mission and support the initiatives of the Eye Foundation in its efforts to eradicate childhood blindness.
Urging everyone to be part of this noble mission, Dr. Raju said, “Together, Let Us Illuminate Young Lives and Create A World Without Childhood Blindness. Your Support Can: Change Lives, Restore Vision, And Empower Futures. Now, Let’s All Join the Movement; Be Part of Something Extraordinary.”
The organizers promise, “We're embarking on a bold mission: to create a World Without Childhood Blindness. Starting with Rotary International District 3011, this initiative will expand nationwide, transforming countless young lives. Your help can make this dream come true! Join us at the "Hope for Tomorrow Fundraiser"
