TEN YEARS AGO
Following are brief accounts of what some groups have been up to since they received Rex Foundation grants:
Seva Foundation
During the past ten years, Seva Foundation's blindness prevention programs in Nepal and India have been boosted by Rex Foundation's financial support. These programs have provided more than one million sight restoring cataract surgeries and more than ten million eye examinations and minor treatments. Innovative community programs reach isolated blind people and train healers in eye care methods.
Seva-supported programs have become financially sustainable: about 1/3 of the patients pay towards the cost of their care which covers the 2/3 of the patients who receive free services. Seva and its program partners from Nepal and India have taken their approach of high quality, sustainable eye care to Tibet. During the past three years, Seva has sponsored six surgical eye camps and provided training for teams from more than six Tibetan eye centers. While continuing these efforts in Nepal, India and Tibet, Seva begins work in Cambodia and Malawi this coming year.
Seva Foundation, 1786 5th St., Berkeley, CA 94701
www.seva.org
Friends of the River
During the past decade, Friends of the River has continued its crucial work protecting and preserving rivers and streams. Friends of the River was instrumental in stopping congressional legislation for the infamous Auburn dam – a project that could drown nearly 50 miles of the American River. Not only has FOR been highly successful in keeping dam projects from being built, it has also recently embarked upon a long term campaign to remove some of the hundreds of dams that presently exist on rivers around California. Such an effort offers hope for restoring endangered fisheries and wildlife habitat, and for providing new opportunities in river recreation and outdoor enjoyment.
Friends of the River, 915 20th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
www.friendsoftheriver.org
Healy Senior Center
Named after the father of long-term Grateful Dead sound engineer, Dan Healy, the Healy Senior Center has since its incorporation moved steadily from a congregate luncheon site and senior transportation terminal and meeting hall to an active representative and supporter of seniors in Southern Humboldt County, CA. Rex Foundation grants were instrumental in moving the center forward in its formative years, and the Center now serves over 3,000 seniors, providing classes, referral information, health, nutritional and social programs.
Healy Senior Center, Box 1849, Redway, CA 95560
Wyoming Outdoor Council
Focused on the long-term protection of Wyoming's clean air, pure water, wildlife and wildlands, WOC takes a multi-disciplinary approach to problems using legal & technical expertise, public education and grassroots organizing. Programs strive to:
PROTECT and improve air and water quality in Wyoming's wilderness areas and parks; protect the health of fisheries in rivers and streams; and protect threatened, endangered, candidate and sensitive animal, bird and fish species.
PREVENT Wyoming from becoming the nation's dumping ground for radioactive waste; ensure the highest statutory and regulatory standards for the cleanup of toxic wastes; and protect the public health, safety and environment from pollution.
PRESERVE Wyoming's cultural and historic sites.
Wyoming Outdoor Council, 262 Lincoln, Lander, WY 82520
wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org
