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I Care International Newsletter - June 2024

Scholarships Awarded

The Scholarship Committee awarded two $1,000 scholarships to our Morris High School National Honor Society Students, Bennett Ammer (left) and Sam Mateski (right). Bennett plans to attend college at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and Sam plans to attend college at the University of Alabama. Congratulations, Bennett and Sam!

All of our student volunteers in Illinois work with Kelly Davis, performing many volunteer hours at Ortiz Eye in Morris, IL preparing glasses for upcoming clinics. They are always willing to help with whatever tasks are needed like cleaning out the I Care shed, loading up 15 duffle bags for clinic, and are always excited to be involved in all fundraising activities. Great attitudes and they are learning from the best! Thank you goes out to Tim Ortiz and Ortiz Eye & Associates for all that they do daily to help I Care! We appreciate your hospitality!

-California Student Involvement-

Shown above are AVID students from Paso Robles High School in California who will be preparing glasses for upcoming I Care clinics, along with I Care members, Holly Naylor, Leigh Livick and Judi Scott-Dewing. The students plan to return in September and also offered to help out during the summer. Another great group of kids!


Avid stands for: Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) and is an in-school academic support program for grades seven through twelve. The purpose of the program is to prepare students for college eligibility and success. They earn service hours for their volunteer work. 


A big thank you to Holly, Leigh, and Judi, for all you do working with the kids and the glasses!

Update on 35th Annual Meeting

The I Care Annual Meeting was held on May 23rd via Zoom, bringing members together from around the world. A discussion took place on all of the accomplishments that were made and discussed plans for future clinics. The group applauded all the hard work that went on at the clinic in El Salvador. Board terms were also reviewed. Dave McClure will be stepping down for a much deserved break! We hope that more members will join us for next year's meeting! 

Please wish Dave McClure well as he steps down from the Board after many years of service! Here is a special thank you to Dave McClure from fellow board member, Bill Aplington:

“Hey, where’s Dave?” “Anybody seen Dave?” He was missed almost immediately, of course, but not before he somehow missed the 40 minute bus ride to lovely San Alejo, a small village hosting our 2024 vision health clinic in El Salvador. He must have laughed out loud….


With that in mind, it is important to recognize the fact that, though he probably never actually drove the bus, our favorite early-morning-till-late-evening whistler has been riding the I Care bus for most of the last 4 decades!


From the shuttle ride back to the airport after another first class “medical mission”, when he will say something like “Hey, where do you think we can go next year?”, to the joyful fitting of an old pair of glasses on the last of maybe 2000 patients that we can serve in 4 hard days, there is Dave. Whether sweeping out and setting up some unsuspecting clinic site or planning and problem solving with his team of board members, or working with first time volunteers helping to prepare 15 large canvas bags of glasses, Dave is right there too!


An indispensable board member for at least a dozen years, Dave first experienced the humbling and life-affirming nature of an Ortiz family “lentes” clinic and roadshow way back in 1990. He can tell you, if you get him talking, that he has enjoyed all the road bumps and belly laughs that come with having raised his hand, with a genuine sense of adventure, and offered his muscle, and his wisdom and kindness, on more than 30 such labors of love. He is always on the bus, and seated way up front.  



Let’s be real just now, okay? There are probably only 2 people, Dr. Phil Ortiz and Gay

Ortiz, who have given more to I Care during its lifetime. Probably right next to Jesse Gutierrez and Dr. Steve Storey. 


So anyway, as I was trying to say, by the time we were stepping off that morning bus outside of San Miguel, up pulls one of those beautiful little tuk tuks right in front of the village civic center. Ah yes, when the driver shuts off the bleating engine, out steps a smiling Dave McClure, just softly whistling another happy tune….


Hats off, please, to Dave, and Colleen, of course, as well, for many many days of diverse and priceless contributions. He’s off the board for now, sure, but have no concerns, he is already working as one of the team leaders on his next I Care Jornada.  

So, dear readers, try not to be the one to miss that magic bus. 


Cheers to you, Dave, a good friend to all!

Current list of I Care International Board of Directors:

Tim McNulty, President

Jennifer Jacobs, O.D., Vice President

Bill Aplington, Secretary

Charles Gibbs, Treasurer

Kim Schaefer, Director

Lynn Zwica, Director

Kelly Davis, Director

Mark Bindner, Director

Linda Marks, O.D., Director

Sean Collins, Director

Kay Willis, Director

Julie Ensinger, Retired O.D., Director

Holly Naylor, Director 

Eyeglass Sorting Reminder!

I Care Eyeglass Sorting - Saturday, 7/20/24 at 10:00 a.m.


The American Legion in Sheridan, Illinois will be opening their doors on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. for our eyeglass sorting. Volunteers take the freshly cleaned and neutralized eyeglasses and file them chronologically by power and type (i.e., single vision vs. a bifocal or multifocal). This makes it easier for the clinic volunteers to pick just the right pair for patients.


We need your help folks! If this is something you would like to participate in, please email Mary at icareint@att.net or text at 815-791-9080.

Information

Thank you to those that have paid your annual membership dues!


Payment can be made via the I Care International website by clicking here: icareinternational.org or mail your payment to I Care International, Inc. - 880 Bedford Road, Morris, IL, 60450.

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