Sharing Vision - Marshall B. Ketchum University

------------Premier
Issue:
Shared
Visions
Gala
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V-Award
honorees:
Peter Ash
Akio Kanai, O.D.
Frances Knott
Steve Knott
Natalia Olenicoff
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S outhern
C alifornia
C ollege
of
O ptometry
February 2012
In This Issue
2
V-Award
Honorees
SCCO salutes Peter Ash,
Akio Kanai, Frances
and Steve Knott,
and Natalia Olenicoff.
10
Shared Visions
Gala
Proceeds from the September
event will facilitate healthcare
education and innovative
delivery of care.
12
Shared Visions
Art Exhibit
Southern California College of Optometry
February 2012
Volume 1, Number 1
Board of Trustees
Gene D. Calkins, O.D., J.D., Chair
Tammie K. Akiyoshi, R.N., M.A.
Joe W. Dobbs, O.D.
Mark A. Galvan, O.D.
Craig R.W. Hamilton, O.D.
Jerome Hunter, Ed.D.
Duncan Johnson, Ed.D.
Richard Jones, J.D.
Frances M. Knott
Steven K. Kurata, O.D.
Warren Harvard Low, O.D.
Charles C. Luu, O.D., Alumni President
Joseph C. Mallinger, O.D., M.B.A.
Daniel L. May, M.D.
Dawn M. Miller, O.D.
Charles A. Munson, C.P.A.
Carol Najera, J.D.
Richard S. Price II, J.D.
Glenda B. Secor, O.D.
Rodney L. Tahran, O.D.
President’s Executive Council
Kevin L. Alexander, O.D., Ph.D., President
Lisa K. Albers, C.P.A., Vice President of Financial
Affairs and Chief Financial Officer
Morris S. Berman, O.D., M.S., Vice President and
Dean of Academic Affairs
John H. Nishimoto, O.D., M.B.A., Vice President of
Interprofessional Affairs
Julie A. Schornack, O.D., M.Ed., Vice President
and Dean of Clinical Affairs
Paul A. Stover, M.Ed., Vice President of
Advancement and Marketing
Lorraine I. Voorhees, O.D., M.S., Vice President of
Student Affairs
Office of Advancement and Marketing
Paul A. Stover, M.Ed., Vice President of
Advancement and Marketing
Our seventh annual
showcase features ninety
works by blind or
partially sighted artists.
14
ACHIEVING
2020
Trustee Dick Jones supports
the College’s new campaign
with a role-model pledge.
Judy Badstuebner, Media Support Services
Matt Breneman, Assistant, Multi-Media Services
L. Ernie Carrillo, Director of Multi-Media Services
Frances DiPietro, Gift Processor
William E. Heaton Jr., Special Assistant to the
President
Arlene Kaye, SCMD, Director of Marketing
Janice Lee, Administrative Assistant
Stephen Lee, M.S., Webmaster/Web Content
Administrator
Debra J. Marks, M.A., Director of Communications
Frances Rozner, M.A., Director of Development
and Alumni Relations
Kaitlyn Tice, Administrative Assistant
ME
O
C
L
E
W
Inform, Enlighten
and Entertain
Dear Alumni and Friends,
Welcome to the first issue of Shared
Visions Magazine — the premier
magazine of the Southern California
College of Optometry. Our goal is to
inform, enlighten and entertain you
on all that’s happening at the College!
Inform You
SCCO, at 108 years old, is growing
on a number of fronts — academic,
donor support, campus expansion
and more! On the academic front, I
trust you’ve heard about our launch of
a Physician Assistant program — the
first in Orange County — via a twoyear graduate degree. We are working
toward starting our first class in the
Fall of 2014 and so we find ourselves
immersed in retaining a director for
the program, establishing a curriculum, achieving provisional and then
full accreditation and, of course, recruiting top-notch students.
In addition, the new Vision Care
Assistant program is starting this
Spring and the Master of Science in
Vision Science program is underway
and has already received accreditation.
Contributions to the College are
growing, too. SCCO is committed to
raising resources to fund our future.
We have initiated our most ambitious
fundraising campaign in the history
of the College — ACHIEVING 2020.
Our goal is to raise $20 million in support of faculty, students, new academic priorities and programs, and capital
projects. I’m delighted to report that
the response has been awesome!
Campus expansion is another
part of our growth plan! We are looking to add much-needed space for:
classrooms and laboratories; patient
care; student recreation; and multipurpose areas for campus-wide activities and other special events.
All of our anticipated changes
will enable us to add value to the educational programs we offer, the patients we serve, and the community in
which we actively participate. Thirtynine years ago, in February 1973, the
College moved to its then-newly built
campus in Fullerton from downtown
Los Angeles. We are well established
in Fullerton and are proud of what we
contribute to the community in terms
of the eye and vision health care we
provide to thousands of patients each
year, as well as the economic impact
we make in Fullerton and throughout
Orange County. As you read our new
magazine you’ll find a number of facts
that provide a snapshot of our financial and academic strength.
Enlighten You
SCCO President Kevin L. Alexander, O.D.,
Ph.D., and his wife, Carol L. Alexander, O.D.,
at the inaugural Shared Visions Gala and
V-Awards.
In this issue of Shared Visions
Magazine, we feature stories on our
incredible V-Award recipients, a student’s special journey to Tanzania,
and a Trustee’s reasons for providing
financial support to the institution. I
hope these stories will inspire you to
consider your relationship with the
College and how you may join us as
we grow.
Entertain You
Two entertaining events — the Shared
Visions Gala and the Shared Visions
Art Exhibit are reviewed in this issue. Our inaugural gala was truly
remarkable thanks to the support of
our alumni, friends and corporate
sponsors. The art exhibit, now in its
seventh year, showcases the remarkable work of blind and legally-blind
artists. The 90 pieces of art are on
display at our campus-based Eye Care
Fantastic Students!
The College has a student
enrollment of 397.
Experience
Educating Doctors
of Optometry since 1904.
Center through mid-August 2012.
Additionally, SCCO’s Calendar of
Events lists a number of activities that
may be of interest to you.
We are excited to inform, enlighten and entertain you about
SCCO’s bold future of which, I would
invite you to become a part. Your
consideration of how you might give
of your time and treasure to support
our ACHIEVING 2020 campaign is of
true interest to me and I look forward
to hearing from you. Together we will
be Sharing Vision – Changing Lives.
Sincerely,
Kevin L. Alexander, O.D., Ph.D.
President
sharedvisionsmagazine@scco.edu
February 2012 | 1
It All Starts
With Education
Peter Ash
V-Award for Nonprofit Service
“M
y fellow
brothers and
sisters with
albinism are
being killed,”
stated Peter Ash, a passionate philanthropist and entrepreneur. “Going to
Africa was not on my list; however, I
have talents, abilities and resources. I
can help.”
Peter was born and raised with
albinism. He understands the disability, as it is part of his own experience.
“My own challenges connect
with the challenges these kids are living with,” he reflects. “My upbringing — my faith and own experiences
resulted in efforts to help in Tanzania.
I couldn’t sit idly by. It was a gift from
God to help.”
However, unlike Peter’s upbringing in Canada, the children
in Tanzania, who have albinism are
victims of mutilations, murders and
the trafficking in human body parts
due to myths and uneducated beliefs
about their condition. Peter became
aware of this in 2008. Today, he is the
Founder and CEO of Under the Same
Sun (UTSS), an organization that has
its efforts focused on the crisis of persons with albinism in Tanzania.
“I discovered in east Africa that
I can’t not help. This vision has captured me,” Peter remarked. “I volunteer because I feel in my heart compassion to go and help.
“My Christian beliefs compel
me to help,” he continued. “My business has done well and I found myself looking for what’s next. For 10
years, I was in the ministry and the
next 15 years I’ve spent as an entrepreneur and built global companies.
I was thinking and praying about
what I would do next and I learned
about my fellow brothers and sisters
with albinism. Today, my goal is to
end discrimination of persons with
albinism. The killings, murders and
discrimination in Tanzania must end.
Advocacy and education will make the
difference.”
And with that — Peter Ash is
sharing, with all who will listen,
his vision for changing the lives of
Tanzanian children with albinism. It
all starts with education.
A Canadian businessman, Peter
holds an undergraduate degree in
Theology and a graduate degree in
Psychology. His background includes
a decade of work in church ministry
followed by over a decade in business. As a result of his faith, disability
and business background, his heart
compels him to do whatever he can
to provide resources and assistance
to those most disadvantaged by disability, discrimination and poverty.
Continued on Page 16
2 | SCCO Shared Visions
J o u r n e y t o Ta n z a n i a
A Challenge to Do More
By Rachel Grant
SCCO Class of 2012
S
ome people dream
of their wedding
day, winning the
lottery or getting
that next big break;
I dreamt of Africa…and optometry. And as luck would have it,
I have been fortunate enough
to visit the continent doing exactly that!
I have previously participated in VOSH-type (Volunteer
Optometric Services to
Humanity) trips that have
taken me to different places,
but my most recent foray working with the Canadian-based
organization, Under the Same
Sun (UTSS), took me on a journey all the way to Tanzania.
Working alongside the SCCO
Team of Dr. Rebecca Kammer;
Low Vision Assistant Kristin
Tubbs; fellow fourth-year student Jessica Duran; and secondyear student Emily Tam, we
travelled over 10,000 miles to
get to Dar Es Salam.
Our goal over the next two
weeks was to provide as many
low vision exams to persons
with albinism (PWA), as possible. And by as many as possible, that meant a minimum of
at least 200 patients — most
of whom are children, do not
speak English, have never seen
a doctor let alone had an eye
exam, and last but not least,
some of these individuals have
experienced psychological and
even physical trauma due to
discrimination. Did I mention
that all this is happening via
mobile clinics, set-up in boarding school hallways, classrooms
and the like? But as they say,
“T.I.A., This is Africa.”
One of my most memorable
encounters in Tanzania was
on our last clinic day. A young
woman in her mid-twenties
shuffled into our exam room
and with broken English explained to Jessica and me,
that she could not see very
well. We were to find that this
young woman definitely needed
glasses!
As I explained to my family upon my return, this young
woman could hardly see a few
inches in front of her and her
whole world existed inside an
arm’s length. After examining
her eyes, we were able to fit
her with a suitable prescription
that allowed her to really start
exploring her environment.
Upon checking her entering vision without glasses, her vision
was somewhere around 4/100
OU. Attempting to neutralize
the reflex with retinoscopy, at
-15D the reflex was still implying a more myopic prescription.
With a -20D trial lens in front
of her eye, she
started nodding
her head, looking around, saying, “yes,” and
did not want to
let go of those
-20D lenses.
Ultimately, her
subjective refraction came
out to -22.00
OU, which
improved her
vision up to
10/80 OU.
To say that
this experience
was a challenge would be a
gross understatement; but, to
say this journey was impossible means underestimating
the strength and commitment of
our SCCO team and the dedication of both the Canadian and
Economic Impact
SCCO boasts a solid $25 million
operating budget. Our campus
payroll tops $9.1 million.
Tanzanian branches of UTSS.
At the end of our adventure,
we had exceeded our goal and
examined over 200 PWA, each
receiving a hand-held telescope, dome magnifier, a pair
of sunglasses and, if needed,
an order for glasses. I think it’s
impossible to not be altered in
someway after visiting Africa;
but more than that, I believe
that the act or intent is the
most important part. You don’t
have to travel far to find those
in need of help, you just have
to find the courage to challenge
yourself to do more.
February 2012 | 3
Honoring His Father
Provides a Lifetime of Service
Akio Kanai, O.D., ’72
V-Award for Corporate Service
T
hirty years of volunteer
vision screenings for
refugees in war-torn areas
of the world were started
by a son to honor his
father. “I visit overseas refugee camps
or the places where they are protected
once every year accompanying a few
volunteers from my organization testing the vision of the refugees and individually distributing an appropriate
pair of the pre-made glasses on site,”
said V-Award Recipient for Corporate
Service Akio Kanai, O.D., president,
Fuji Optical Co., Ltd., a business started by his father. “The vision screening
program was initiated in 1983 to commemorate the forty-fifth anniversary
4 | SCCO Shared Visions
of my father’s business. I wanted to
utilize our professional knowledge
and skill to help somebody who needs
our service rather than donating
money or something else.
“Thailand was the first country
to visit dealing with the Indo-Chinese
Refugees from Laos, Cambodia and
Vietnam. The mission was carried out
annually for 11 times in Thailand,”
noted Dr. Kanai. “I was 41 years old
at the time and organized 29 missions since then. We have been closely
working with the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), and established the corporate partnership relationship in 1984.
We are proud of the fact that we were
pioneering work with the UNHCR
and have the longest lasting corporate
partnership with it in the world.”
The volunteer services provided
by Dr. Kanai and his team from Fuji
Optical has focused on refugees and
the Internally Displaced Persons
(IDPs) of all ages. More than 127,000
pairs of pre-made glasses have been
donated to the UNHCR as of August
2011.
And according to Dr. Kanai, he
and his team have also, “received kind
assistance during the missions from
various international relief agencies such as Catholic Relief Services,
American Refugee Committee,
International Rescue Committee,
Medecins Sans Frontieres and Save
the Children Fund-UK forming good
working relationships with them.”
After Thailand, the areas of
Nepal, Armenia and Azerbaijan
were chosen as working sites by the
UNHCR. “We have also received special assistance from the government of
Azerbaijan where we have been treated as VIPs,” remarked Dr. Kanai. “Our
vision screening program will mark its
thirtieth anniversary next year.”
Immense unmet visual needs
in the world that are best served by
optometrists motivates Dr. Kanai to
volunteer. “In the early 1980s, there
was an opportunity for us to help the
refugees in South-East Asia who were
seeking optometric vision correction
in the refugee camps in Thailand,”
notes Dr. Kanai. “I decided to offer my
services by visiting the site and utilizing my professional skills and other
resources. The roots of the mission
came from similar and very rewarding experiences obtained while I was
studying optometry at SCCO. With
the best optometric education and
training received from SCCO, I also
wanted to reciprocate the kindness
that had been shown to me while I
was studying in the US — I was treated like a member of the family and
many friends helped me go through
my studies. Unless I came to the US to
study optometry, I would never have
done these types of activities. The
USA was the leading country offering the volunteer
activities.”
Improving
the vision of refugees by providing
vision screenings
and dispensing
appropriate glasses is a goal of his
volunteer efforts. “A pair of glasses
can change the life of a person,” states
Dr. Kanai when reflecting on the most
rewarding aspect of his volunteerism.
He also wants to share the experience
with others and to expand partnerships and collaborations.
He also strives to promote the
profession of optometry throughout
the world. This goal was strengthened
through the UNCHR when it honored
Dr. Kanai as its 2006 Nansen Refugee
Award recipient. Dr. Kanai is proud to
note that for the first time in the history of the award that the optometric
New Program
A new Vision Care Assistant
program is currently
accepting applications.
service rendered to the refugees was
officially recognized as being provided
by an optometrist. This was a significant achievement for the profession of
optometry.
‘Sharing Vision – Changing Lives,’
is a phrase used by the College to describe all that it is doing in the areas
of patient care and education. When
asked, the SCCO Alumnus reflected
on how this phrase describes his three
decades of volunteerism through the
vision screening missions.
“It has been so wonderful to
work for the refugees. Words cannot
express enough. I cannot think of my
life without vision screening missions
for the refugees abroad. Optometry
has led the way. Optometry has a great
power,” Dr. Kanai stated. “With highly
inspiring experiences and feeling of
accomplishment each time a mission
has been completed, it has been full of
excitement and provided a deep feeling of satisfaction.
It has been so wonderful to
work for the refugees.
“To volunteer and help others
enriches your life and expands the
scope of your life,” he continued. “The
experiences obtained through the missions will become the lifetime treasure, which money never can buy. It is
a great joy to work for others — it can
change the life of other people and
also yours, benefiting both. Sharing
vision can benefit all of us!”
February 2012 | 5
Providing Educational
Opportunities
Frances and Steve Knott
V-Award for Individual Service to the
Southern California College of Optometry
T
hey learned by the examples se t by their respective grandparents and
parents. They learned to
work hard. They learned
that education is a key to success.
They learned to give back.
Today, as parents and grandparents themselves, they have instilled the
same qualities in their children and
grandchildren. Additionally, they have
inspired hundreds of young people,
the beneficiaries of their generosity, to
work hard, to learn, and to give back.
Teaching by example — a most wonderful quality of our friends, Frances
and Steve Knott.
Each has taken an active, handson approach to their charitable work
and it has paid dividends to the people
assisted, the communities supported
and — the organizations for which
they’ve served. Steve’s grandfather,
Walter Knott, the founder of Knott’s
Berry Farm, advised his family to
get involved with different groups
in order to cover more needs and, in
return, to receive family support for
each one’s efforts.
Steve and Frances Knott, V-Award Recipients
for Individual Service to the Southern
California College of Optometry.
6 | SCCO Shared Visions
“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Frances and Steve Knott for many
years,” said U.S. Representative Ed
Royce. “Their exceptional dedication
to education has included scholarships for deserving students, funding
for community organizations, and
volunteering for non-profits that
foster civic responsibility. The Knott’s
commitment to excellence in education has helped give many young
men and women the opportunity to
become successful contributors to
society. Their leadership deserves our
deepest gratitude.”
An alumnus of Arizona State
University, Steve served for many
years as Chairman of the Board of
Knott’s Berry Farm. A partial list
of community organizations to
which he has been apart include the
Salvation Army, Buena Park Boys and
Girls Club, Orange County Sheriff ’s
Department, CSUF University
Philanthropic Committee, and the
Orange County Lincoln Club.
Decades ago he was appointed to
a Blue Ribbon Committee at CSUF
that started the President’s Associates.
He was the first donor and through
his generosity and that of many others
this group has assisted hundreds of
students in becoming graduates of the
university.
CSUF’s Guardian Scholars, emancipated young men and women with
few resources, is another group that
has enjoyed the time and treasure
of the Knotts. Again — the end result is helping young people earn an
education.
“To go to the graduation of a
Guardian Scholar is so rewarding.
They tell of their past, about their
CSUF mentors who helped them
achieve, and how grateful they are to
those that helped them succeed,” said
Steve. “It’s the best feeling to know we
have helped them earn an education.”
Frances is a Native American,
with Choctaw heritage from both
parents, and is a voting member of
the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. An
alumnus of CSUF with a Bachelor’s
degree in Business, she’s the Founder
and President of
Little Eagle Free,
a group dedicated to assisting
American Indians
in developing
productive lives
through educational programs.
This is just one of
many organizations to which she
volunteers and
lends her support.
She also actively participates in
American Indian and Cowboy Artists,
Fullerton Chamber of Commerce,
CSUF’s President’s Associates, and
serves as Chair, Native American
Preparatory Scholarships in Santa Fe,
New Mexico. Recently, she completed
a two-year term as Chair, Board of
Trustees, Southern California College
of Optometry.
“Steve and I are very fortunate to
be able to give back and to help young
people earn an education,” remarked
Frances. “Of course, the students have
to do the work to earn a degree; however, if we can help with the finances it
may be just what they need to change
their lives and to succeed. Getting kids
through college is very rewarding.”
Ultimately, the Knotts hope that
the young men and women they help
will be able to make a living, support
themselves and their families, succeed
at what they do, and give back — thus
perpetuating the cycle of assisting others in need. This is what their respective parents and grandparents taught
them. This is what they hope to teach,
and to inspire in others, as well.
It’s the
best feeling
to know
we have
helped them
earn an
education.
New Degree
Program
A new Physician Assistant
graduate degree program
will begin in the Fall of 2014.
Thanks to the generosity of Frances Knott, Little Eagle Free and
SCCO, students from Riverside’s Sherman Indian High School
received eye exams and glasses in December 2010.
February 2012 | 7
I hope that my actions can
bring about happiness, comfort
and maybe even progress.
Local Alumni
In Orange County, our 627
alumni generate $332 million
in revenue for the local economy.
They employ more than 2,508
technicians, assistants,
opticians and receptionists.
8 | SCCO Shared Visions
A Personally and Socially
Important Endeavor
Natalia Olenicoff
V-Award for Community Service
“i
hope to affect real
change. Even if
I just reach one
person, I hope that
my actions can
bring about happiness, comfort
and maybe even progress,” noted
Natalia Olenicoff, when discussing
her volunteer efforts. “My goal is
that when this life comes to an end,
I can look back and be proud of
how I spent my time. I think that
working toward a personally and
socially important endeavor is one
of the most important facets of a
full life.”
For many years, Natalia and
her family have contributed their
time and financial resources toward
eye research studies and to support
groups for the visually impaired.
Finding a cure for the disease that
was stealing her brother Andrei’s
eyesight was the first call to action
for the family.
A second call to action resulted from Andrei’s death in a
2005 car accident. From that family
tragedy, the Andrei Foundation
was established and, to date, more
than a quarter million dollars has
been donated to continue research
efforts and to fund vision-related
charities.
Natalia is Vice President of
Olen Properties Corporation
based in Newport Beach, CA. She
heads the company’s commercial
division and oversees the leasing
and management of six million
square feet of commercial space
in Orange County, Chicago and
South Florida. The first solo project
for the 2003 USC alumnus, was the
opening of the restaurant, Andrei’s
Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails in
Irvine in July 2009. The restaurant
was opened to benefit the Andrei
Foundation and 100 percent of the
restaurant’s profits go directly to
the foundation.
In addition to heading the
Andrei Foundation, the Laguna
Beach resident volunteers her time
with Guide Dogs for the Blind and
is on its Orange County Friends
Committee. She also volunteers
with Makapo Aquatics, a blind and
visually impaired paddling team.
Motivating her volunteer
efforts is her late brother. “I see
glimpses of him every time I volunteer or meet with some of the
wonderful people involved in these
organizations,” she said. “It’s hard
to explain, but it’s a richly rewarding experience to connect with
such inspiring people, and dogs,
and, through them, to see Andrei’s
spirit remain and be honored.”
The relationships that have
developed are, as she says, “hands
down” the most rewarding aspect
of her volunteerism.
“I feel so lucky to have met
the most interesting, sincere and
inspiring people, and I never would
have met them if not for my work
in the low vision community,” she
remarked.
A rewarding volunteer moment that stands out for Natalia
involves paddling a canoe that the
Olenicoffs donated to Makapo
Aquatics.
“The Makapo team members
didn’t have their own canoe, so
they were limited to loaner canoes
when they could get them,” she
explained. “They designed their
ideal canoe and we purchased it
for them. When the canoe was
christened and named, “Andrei,” I
paddled through Newport Harbor
with some of the visually impaired
team members and it was truly
magical. Seeing the joy that this
canoe was bringing to the team
members’ lives was overwhelming because it was joy created by
Andrei. He may be physically gone,
but I realized in that moment that
he is still very much here.”
“Sharing Visions – Changing
Lives,” is a new tagline being used
by SCCO to describe all that is
happening in the areas of patient
care and education on its campus.
Natalia reflected on how, at this
point in her life, she is sharing vision and changing lives.
“Watching my brother’s hardships with retinitis pigmentosa
affected me deeply, and after losing
him, I felt that it was important in
my life to continue helping that
struggle with the same (or similar)
vision issues,” she said. “That was
my ‘vision’ if you will, and I’ve
shared that with anyone who will
listen. Through his story, and his
spirit, I hope to change lives for the
better.”
February 2012 | 9
The guests are
welcomed to the
Inaugural Shared
Visions Gala and
V-Awards by SCCO
President Kevin L.
Alexander, O.D.,
Ph.D.
SCCO students and
Assistant Professor
Judy Tong, O.D., ’91
(back row, fourth
from left), enjoying
the festivities at
the Richard Nixon
Presidential Library.
SCCO VP Advancement and Marketing Paul Stover, M.Ed.; Gala Master of Ceremonies and
Orange County PBS SoCal Anchor and Host Maria Hall-Brown; SCCO President Kevin L.
Alexander, O.D., Ph.D.; and Shared Visions Gala Honorary Co-Chairs Frances and Steve Knott.
The Knotts were honored as V-Award Recipients during the evening’s festivities.
Fullerton City
Manager Joe Felz
with guests Marcia
and Scott Stanford.
S h a r e d
“i
cannot think of my
life without the vision
screening missions for
the refugees abroad,”
said the President, Fuji
Optical, Akio Kanai, O.D., recipient
of the Southern California College of
Optometry’s (SCCO’s), V-Award for
Corporate Service. Dr. Kanai, a 1972
alumnus of SCCO, was one of five
individuals honored at the College’s
Inaugural Shared Visions Gala and
V-Awards on September 15.
The premier fundraising event
10
10 || SCCO
SCCO Shared
Shared Visions
Visions
Viewing the artwork
are Karen and Stan
Albrecht.
V i s i o n s
for SCCO celebrated the advancement
of vision and health care education.
More than 280 guests helped to raise
$160,000. Proceeds from the Gala,
held at the Richard Nixon Presidential
Library in Yorba Linda, will be used
to facilitate healthcare education and
innovative delivery of care to the
underserved.
“I am proud of the success of the
College’s inaugural Shared Visions
Gala,” said SCCO President Kevin L.
Alexander, O.D., Ph.D. “The support
of our sponsors, friends, and members
G a l a
of the SCCO Family was outstanding and it was wonderful to share
our amazing community of care with
them. While we have shaped a legacy
in eye, vision and health care over 107
years, the event confirmed, once again,
how we all achieve more together.”
Highlighting the inaugural event
was the recognition of five individuals for their distinguished volunteer
and humanitarian service in the areas
of non-profit, corporate, individual
and community. SCCO’s first-ever
V-Awards were presented to, Founder
SCCO Alumnus and
V-Award Honoree
Akio Kanai, O.D., ’72;
and his wife, Keiko.
Honored, as a
V-Award Recipient,
was Natalia
Olenicoff (right),
who is pictured with
her fiancé, Derek
Ostensen, and her
parents, Igor and
Jeanne Olenicoff.
SCCO Alumnus Lynn
Gabriel, O.D., ’78,
with her husband,
John La Barbera.
V-Award Honoree
Peter Ash and
his friend Zander
Johnson.
Members of the Shared Visions Blue
Ribbon Committee (back row l-r): SCCO
VP Advancement and Marketing Paul
Stover, M.Ed.; President, Adaptive
Voice Randyce Wechter; then-VP Sales
NVISION Laser Eye Centers Brett Braun,
M.B.A.; Gala Honorary Co-Chair Steve
Knott; Director of Regional Development
NVISION Laser Eye Centers Brooke
Jackovich; SCCO Alumni Association John
Rossi, O.D.; and Chief, Walls Low Vision
Rehabilitation Center, Eye Care Center,
SCCO Rebecca Kammer, O.D.; (front row
l-r): SCCO Special Events Coordinator
Kaitlyn Tice; Blue Ribbon Committee CoChair and President, Low Vision Council
Wayne Heidle; Blue Ribbon Committee
Co-Chair and SCCO Director of Marketing,
Arlene Kaye; Gala Honorary Co-Chair and
SCCO Trustee Frances Knott; Artist and
Co-Founder Shared Visions Art Exhibit
Kurt Weston; and SCCO Administrative
Assistant Janice Lee.
Founder, NVISION
Laser Eye Centers
Tom Tooma, M.D.,
and SCCO President
Kevin L. Alexander,
O.D., Ph.D. NVISION
was the Platinum
Sponsor for the
Shared Visions Gala
and V-Awards.
H o n o r s
and CEO, Under the Same Sun Peter
Ash; President, Fuji Optical Co.,
Ltd., Akio Kanai, O.D.; Community
Leaders Frances and Steve Knott;
and Restaurateur and Real Estate
Developer Natalia Olenicoff. Please
see pages 2–9 for more on our V-Award
Recipients.
Orange County PBS SoCal anchor and host Maria Hall-Brown was
the emcee of the event, and blind actor, singer, author and producer Tom
Sullivan entertained the guests. Gala
Sponsors included: Platinum Sponsor
A c h i e v e m e n t
NVISION; Gold Sponsor Allergan;
Silver Sponsors Abbott Medical
Optics, Essilor, the Knott Family,
Under the Same Sun and Vistakon;
Bronze Sponsors Alcon, Eyefinity,
Luxottica and VSP; and Crystal
Sponsor Optelec.
For six years on the campus of
SCCO, the phrase “Shared Visions”
has referred to an annual art exhibit of
works by blind and legally blind artists that’s housed in the College’s Eye
Care Center. The success of the Shared
Visions Art Exhibit led to establishing
the September Gala. On display at
the fundraiser was artwork from the
2011–12 exhibit that subsequently
opened October 25 on the SCCO
Campus.
Mark Your
Calendars
The Second Annual Shared Visions
Gala and V-Awards will be held,
Thursday, September 20, 2012,
at the Richard Nixon
Presidential Library.
February 2012 | 11
Art Exhibit
Their
Imaginations
Help Us
to See
Through the creative talents of artists who are
blind or partially sighted the world takes on
another personality. These artists create their
paintings, mosaics, sculptures and photography with no point of reference or with limit
reference due, in most cases, to a debilitating
visual condition. Beautifully, their creative
works provide an opportunity for sighted individuals to see things differently and, to perhaps
be — inspired.
Ninety works of art by these special artists
are on display in the Seventh Annual Shared
Visions Art Exhibit, at the Eye Care Center,
Southern California College of Optometry
(SCCO). This juried art show provides a venue
for the incredible works of these amazing artists as well as an opportunity for the Eye Care
Center’s doctors and optometric interns to educate the community about eye diseases, vision
impairment and vision rehabilitation.
The Shared Visions Art Exhibit, one of
only four such art exhibitions of its kind in the
United States, is open to the public through
mid-August 2012. The free art exhibit is
open at the Eye Care Center during business
hours: Monday and Tuesday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.;
Wednesday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m.
– 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
For more information about the Shared Visions
Art Exhibit visit: www.sccoeyecare.com.
Eye and Vision
Health Care
Providers
Patient visits top 25,000
per year at SCCO’s Eye Care
Center in Fullerton.
12 | SCCO Shared Visions
Clockwise, from upper left (title/artist/eye condition): “Threshold of
a Dream,” by Kurt Weston, Huntington Beach, CA, Cytomegalovirus
Retinitis; “Memories of Home,” by Jeffrey Kneut, Brighton, NY, Optic
Neuritis and Multiple Sclerosis; “Pop’s Little Piece of Paradise,” by
Maria Vargas, Wilmington, CA, Microphthalmia, Extreme; “Aging in
Michigan,” by Charlie Grover, San Pedro, CA, Macular Degeneration;
“Bird of Paradise,” by Susan Joy Gustafson, Vancouver, WA, Retinitis
Pigmentosa; “Blue,” by Anthony Camron Sanaee, Laguna Hills, CA,
Retinitis Pigmentosa; “Apple Blossoms,” by Doris Carlton, Orange,
CA, Macular Degeneration; “Dos Camellias,” by Helen Wiese, Laguna
Hills, CA, Glaucoma.
February 2012 | 13
hhh
role-mo
del
plehhdhge
Sharing Vision – Changing Lives
ACHIEVING 2020
Feeling Fortunate Generates Pledge
14 | SCCO Shared Visions
s
CCO Trustee Richard
“Dick” Jones, J.D., seeks
opportunities to make
a difference in the communities in which he
works and where he lives. Dick
has committed to making a difference at SCCO — with his time,
resources and a recent role-model
pledge of $50,000 to the College’s
ACHIEVING 2020 Campaign.
“I was raised in a family that
felt blessed and wanted to give
back,” Dick states. “I was fortunate
to receive a full four-year scholarship for my undergraduate degree
at a public school and a partial
scholarship to cover my law degree
costs. North Orange County has
been wonderfully supportive of my
profession and my family. So when
I was introduced to SCCO through
a friend and colleague, learned
about the real needs being served
by the College, and heard the message about growth, I wanted to be
involved in moving SCCO’s plans
forward.
“My wife, Judy, and I have
five sons and seven grandkids. We
want their lives to be as enriched
as ours have been — giving back to
the community, to health care and
to SCCO ensures their fortunate
future,” he noted. “These are challenging times for health care and
it’s exciting to be involved with implementing change at SCCO that
addresses people’s future needs.”
Dick joined SCCO’s Board of
Trustees in 2009, and has brought
a wealth of leadership experience.
Professionally, he’s the city attorney
for Whittier, La Habra, Fullerton
and Westminster and general counsel to the Gateway Cities Council of
Governments and the San Gabriel
Valley Council of Governments.
The La Habra resident was
an elected trustee for more than
17 years and served several times
as president of the Lowell Joint
Elementary School District
and he served on its Education
Foundation. He also serves as the
chairman, Board of Directors,
California Domestic Water
Company and has done so for
more than 18 years. An active
member in a local Chamber of
Commerce, numerous Boys and
Girls Clubs, and Kiwanis, he has
been a Rotarian for 20 plus years.
Education is dear to Dick’s heart.
He was a professor at Whittier
College in Professional Ethics and
Business Law for more than 10
years.
SCCO’s ACHIEVING 2020
Campaign can be attained with
such profound leadership from
our trustees, alumni and friends.
If Dick’s expression of excitement
about the future and wanting to
give back and to be involved at
SCCO ring the same for you, please
contact, SCCO Vice President of
Advancement and Marketing Paul
A. Stover, M.Ed., at 714.449.7461.
Gifts to affect change can be structured in a variety of ways to meet
your particular situation. Everyone
deserves to feel fortunate.
Southern California College of Optometry
ACHIEVING 20 20
Sharing Vision – Changing Lives
The Southern California College of Optometry is committed to raising resources to fund our future expansion. To achieve the goal, we are launching the most ambitious fundraising campaign in the history of
SCCO – ACHIEVING 2020.
ACHIEVING 2020 is an SCCO Board-approved comprehensive campaign. Our goal is to raise $20 million
in support of faculty, students, new academic priorities and programs, and capital projects. To date, the
College has raised more than $1.5 million toward the $20 million goal. The first phase of ACHIEVING 2020
is to be completed by the end of 2015.
Contact Us to Learn More
Paul A. Stover, M.Ed.
Vice President of Advancement and Marketing
714.449.7461 • pstover@scco.edu • www.scco.edu/givenow
February 2012 | 15
Peter ash
Continued from Page 2
UTSS aims to provide these groups of
persons with resources that will help
them to increase their quality of life,
gain increased independence and take
discuss ways to improve the lives of
these children. He notes that changes
in Tanzania are limited by a pecking
order that starts with men at the top
of the list followed by women, persons
with disabilities, and finally, persons
with albinism.
The needs to dispel the myths
and to get society to think differently
about persons
with albinism
are outcomes
that Peter and
his foundation
staff are working toward.
They produced
a 60-minute film
to educate people about albinism,
which is being shown across Tanzania.
Advocacy teams are also in place.
Peter and UTSS have worked
toward educating and protecting the
children. UTSS provides scholarships
to nearly 300 children with albinism
who attend private boarding schools
in the country.
“If we can help the children then
they’ll do well educationally,” maintains Peter. “Currently, UTSS supports
285 children attending private schools
from kindergarten to university level.
We want to teach these students that
they can go on and become successful.
The children need to think — I am
smart, I am educated, I am capable.”
There have been many rewarding moments for Peter and the UTSS
staff. “Seeing the changes in the lives
My own challenges connect
with the challenges these
kids are living with.
their rightful place in their own culture and society.
Visual needs are among the many
challenges faced by persons with albinism. Recently, a five-person team
from the Southern California College
of Optometry made a trip to Tanzania
to provide low vision eye care to the
children. The team, led by Associate
Professor Rebecca Kammer, O.D., ’99,
visited four remote areas of Tanzania
to provide care to 250 children with
albinism who were either orphans or
at severe risk for their life. These children, who had never had an eye exam,
were provided with low vision magnifiers and sunglasses. Over half the
children were in need of glasses with
high prescription lenses. Subsequently,
People at Work
V-Award Recipient Peter
Ash with his wife, Debbie.
of the children we are helping is incredibly rewarding,” he said. “We need
armed security at the schools to keep
the children safe and, in turn, these
children know that someone cares for
them. This is significant.
“I had a child tell me he wants
to be president,” Peter noted. “For
a Tanzanian child with albinism to
even imagine this is incredible. We
are making progress. You have to
understand that these children with
albinism are children who lack selfconfidence, who have been told they
are worthless. We are working to
change that perception.”
The College employs 163 faculty,
staff and administrators on its
Fullerton Campus.
the glasses were made in the United
States and dispensed a few weeks later
on a return trip to Tanzania by Dr.
Kammer.
Educating children with albinism
and educating the Tanzanian government and teachers about the special
vision care needs of these children is
key to the success of UTSS. Peter and
members of UTSS have met multiple
times with Tanzanian officials to
16 | SCCO Shared Visions
With the kids at Jelly’s School in Tanzania.
Our Mission
To educate today’s minds to provide tomorrow’s eye,
vision and health care.
How to Reach Us
ACHIEVING 2020 Campaign. . . . . . . . .
Advancement and Marketing . . . . . . . . ..
Alumni Relations Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Campus Store. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Communications Office /
Shared Visions Magazine . . . . . . . . .
Continuing Education Office . . . . . . . . ..
Eye Care Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Student Affairs Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SCCO Home Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
714.449.7471
714.449.7471
714.992.7832
714.449.7434
714.449.7463
714.449.7442
714.449.7400
714.449.7444
www.scco.edu
Follow Us
www.twitter.com/SCCOdaily
www.facebook.com/SoCalCollegeofOptometry
www.scco.edu
Calendar
Spring Admissions
Open House
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Reservations Required @ admissions@scco.edu
108th Commencement
Exercise
Friday, May 25, 2012 • 10 a.m.
Commencement Speaker:
Ronald L. Hopping, O.D., M.P.H., Class of 1978
President-Elect, American Optometric Association
Shared Visions Gala
and V-Awards
Thursday, September 20, 2012 • 5:30 p.m.
Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Yorba Linda, CA
www.scco.edu/sharedvisions
Applebaum Symposium
and Technology Fair
Symposium: Friday, Oct. 19, 2012 • Time TBA
Technology Fair: Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012 • Time TBA
World Diabetes Day
Event
November 2012 • Details TBA
On the Cover
The signature art piece for the 2011–12 Shared Visions Art
Exhibit, “Bike” by Arlissa Vaughn. The exhibit is on display at
SCCO’s Eye Care Center, Fullerton, CA, through mid-August 2012.
Editor: Debra J. Marks, M.A., Director of Communications
Photography: L. Ernie Carrillo, B.A., Director of Multi-Media Services;
Matt Breneman, Assistant, Multi-Media Services
Design: Greg Dymkowski, B.F.A., The Dymkowski Studio
Printing: Kathleen McGuire, Weber Printing
Special Thanks:
Under the Same Sun, photography
Shared Visions
Art Exhibit
2012–13 Reception
Friday, November 16, 2012 • Details TBA
Office of Advancement & Marketing
Southern California College of Optometry
2575 Yorba Linda Blvd.
Fullerton, California 92831
Address Service Requested
SCCO Optometric Interns strike a pose for publicity photos. This fun shot of
our great students, which also highlights our beautiful campus, now appears
in multiple spots on the new SCCO website at www.scco.edu. Take a look!
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