Lions Eye Institute Receives DeBartolo Family Foundation’s Spirit of Humanity Award
The DeBartolo Family Foundation is proud to present Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research with a $25,000 Spirit of Humanity Award. The award honors local nonprofit organizations that impact the Tampa Bay community in a meaningful way.
Founded in 1973, the Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research (LEITR) is the largest combined eye bank, tissue recovery, and ocular research center in the world. The non-profit serves as the bridge between tissue donation and transplantation and is dedicated to the recovery, evaluation, and distribution of eye tissue for transplantation, research, and education.
The Foundation’s Spirit of Humanity Award will support the organization’s Vision Health Program which identifies children who need eye care services and offers eye exams, glasses and follow-up care at no charge. Since the program started three years ago, it has provided vision screenings to over 2,230 children and families in Tampa Bay.
“We are so grateful to have the Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research in our community and are honored to recognize them as our final Spirit of Humanity recipient of 2022,” said Lisa DeBartolo, Chief Executive Officer of the DeBartolo Family Foundation. “LEITR’s Vision Health Program has already helped so many families in the Tampa Bay area that would otherwise not receive the care they need. As a mom, I understand what an important role vision care plays in the development of children and their ability to succeed and we are thrilled to support this new program.”
In 2022, LEITR acquired the Seattle based eye bank SightLife. Since the inception of both programs, they have brought the “Gift of Sight” to more than 500,000 men, women, and children worldwide.
“We are truly honored to be the recipient of The Spirit of Humanity Award by the DeBartolo Family Foundation,” said Jason K. Woody, President and Chief Executive Officer at Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research. “This award allows us to expand our services helping those that are blind or visually impaired.”
Recipients of the Spirit of Humanity award create unity, demonstrate hard work, and extend their outreach by helping people in need to overcome obstacles that are beyond their control. Since 2002, 57 recipients have been recognized with the $25,000 Spirit of Humanity Award, awarded three times annually.
To learn more about Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research, visit lwvi.org.
