ST. LOUIS, February 10, 2015 – The Pujols Family Foundation (PFF), founded by Albert and Deidre Pujols, along with North America’s most experienced LASIK provider, TLC Laser Eye Centers®, recently sent a team of 10 eye doctors with thousands of eyeglasses and optometric equipment to treat and prevent eye diseases for over 2,500 impoverished individuals in the Dominican Republic.
The Dominican Republic is home to Pujols, who made his name playing professional baseball in the United States, first with the St. Louis Cardinals and currently with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Dominican Republic is among the poorest countries in the world with limited to no access to optometric care.
“We cannot say enough about the heart of the TLC leadership group. They are true visionaries in not only understanding global responsibilities of a corporation who provides medical services, but how a trip like this enhances and enriches the lives of those who participate. The quality of the doctors and other professionals that TLC provided for this mission team was exceptional, bringing first world medical care to a third world environment,” PFF CEO and Executive Director Todd Perry said.
The largest of its kind, to date, in this part of the world — the ten eye doctors and their support team spent a week seeing and treating adults and children in need of primary eye care. Dominican citizens walked for miles and waited for hours to take advantage of optometric care.
“It was an honor to partner with the Pujols Family Foundation to organize and lead a trip that made a real difference in the lives of people who need it most,” said TLC CEO Ben Cook. “Their leadership and guidance made this trip possible, and we are so grateful for that. I am proud of the work we did supporting the mission to improve the standard of living and quality of life for impoverished people in the Dominican Republic through better vision.”
For more information on the Pujols Family Foundation, or to get involved with their important work, visit www.pujolsfamilyfoundation.org. Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity International – Southeast (VOSH), VSP Global® Eyes of Hope®, GO2 Partners™, Marchon Eyewear® and Office Essentials, Inc., also provided substantial support for this important trip. Visit www.Facebook.com/TLCLASIK to see more images and videos from our journey.
About Pujols Family Foundation
The Pujols Family Foundation is an IRS recognized national 501©3 charity that provides extraordinary opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome, as well as extensive humanitarian efforts to the impoverished people of the Dominican Republic. The Foundation was established in 2005 by Major League Baseball Player, Albert Pujols, with his wife, Deidre, to honor their daughter who lives with Down syndrome and provide relief in Albert’s native country, the Dominican Republic. The Foundation’s mission has been built upon the three principles of Faith, Family and Others.
About TLC Laser Eye Centers®
TLC Laser Eye Centers is North America’s largest and most experienced provider of laser vision correction and related procedures. Surgeons at TLC have performed more than 2.2 million laser eye surgeries since TLC’s founding 20 years ago. To learn more or to find a LASIK center near you, visit www.tlcvision.com. To learn more about laser vision correction in general, visit www.LASIK.com
