Seeing the Future: Vision Health Initiative Program Earns National Recognition from Mutual of America Financial Group

Luncheon and award presentation spotlights program providing vision screenings to New York City residents facing homelessness.

News provided by

Mutual of America Financial Group

Mar 10, 2020, 11:30 ET

NEW YORK, March 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Care For the Homeless (CFH) will be recognized by Mutual of America Financial Group for its Seeing the Future: Vision Health Initiative program during a special event at Mutual of America's home office at 320 Park Avenue in New York City on March 11 at 12:00 p.m.

The program was named a Merit Finalist award recipient in the Mutual of America 2019 Community Partnership Award competition, which received entries from organizations nationwide.

Since 1985, CFH has delivered client-centered healthcare, social services and shelter to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in New York City. Their community-based approach is designed to improve the health and well-being of homeless adults and children in neighborhoods where the need is most significant. After research showed that individuals experiencing homelessness have more vision-related problems than the general public, CFH launched the Seeing the Future: Vision Health Initiative in 2016 to provide vision screenings in the same location where patients who are homeless receive their healthcare services.

Today, the program offers vision health education, vision screenings and direct referrals for follow-up treatment to address conditions such as refractive errors, glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy. CFH created the program with a diverse group of partners: Tuckahoe-Eastchester Lions Club provides trained volunteers to assist CFH at screening events, SUNY College of Optometry schedules follow-up appointments with SUNY eye specialists, and The Hyde and Watson Foundation provides critical funding for CFH to purchase advanced screening equipment.

"The Vision Health Initiative provides essential vision-screening services that can help reduce the educational, employment and health challenges that individuals and families experiencing homelessness face," said George Nashak, Executive Director of CFH. "By offering vision services at an accessible place, where our patients feel safe, welcome and comfortable, this program removes a significant barrier to their well-being and is helping them to envision a brighter future."

About the Mutual of America Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Community Partnership Award annually honors the outstanding contributions that nonprofit organizations, in partnership with public, private and other social sector organizations, make to society. Since 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 240 partnerships from cities and towns across America. To watch videos of all of the national award-winning programs, visit the Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award channel on YouTube.

About Mutual of America

Mutual of America is a leading provider of retirement products, offering personalized service at a competitive price to help plan participants and individuals build and preserve assets for a financially secure future. Integrity, prudence and reliability are the values that have guided us since our inception in 1945 and that continue to serve us well. For more information, visit mutualofamerica.com, and connect with us via Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Mutual of America Financial Group