Prevent Blindness Receives Historic $9.7 Million Legacy Donation

Prevent Blindness, a leading organization dedicated to promoting eye health, announced it has received a landmark donation of $9.7 million from the Estate of Pamela Behrens, a Florida resident and longtime supporter. This gift, the largest in the organization's history, honors the legacy of her late husband, Richard Behrens, who served as the national Treasurer and was a member of the national and Texas branch boards of directors during the 1980s.

A Transformative Gift

Jeff Todd, President and CEO of Prevent Blindness, expressed gratitude:

“We are deeply grateful for Richard’s service on behalf of our mission, and for Pamela Behrens’ incredible generosity in memorializing his commitment. This extraordinary gift comes at a pivotal time for Prevent Blindness, empowering us to expand our reach, elevate public awareness, and better support those most vulnerable to vision loss in an era of rapid change.”

Supporting Vision Health

Prevent Blindness will utilize the donation to advance its mission of promoting eye health through awareness, education, and advocacy. As part of its 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, the funds will support a range of initiatives, including:

       • Children’s Vision Care: Expanding efforts to promote early identification and treatment of vision problems in children nationwide.

       • Eye Health Awareness: Educating the public on the importance of early detection and routine eye care.

       • Advancing Public Policy: Improving access to vision care and safeguarding eye health for all U.S. residents, particularly in underserved communities.

       • Global Contributions: Supporting international eye health initiatives.

Comprehensive Awareness Campaign

Prevent Blindness also plans to launch a major awareness campaign to:

       • Increase knowledge of resources available through the organization.

       • Empower individuals and communities to support those at risk of vision loss and their care partners.

A Legacy of Sight-Saving Efforts

Jim McGrann, Chair of the Prevent Blindness Board of Directors and CEO of Advancing Eyecare, highlighted the importance of donations to the organization's mission:

“For more than a century, Prevent Blindness has been advancing its sight-saving mission, evolving as the times dictate. This has only been made possible through the generosity of our donors—whether it’s a gift of $5, $500, $1 million, or more, all donations are valued and support the millions of people across the country impacted by eye health.”

Conclusion

The historic donation from Pamela Behrens ensures Prevent Blindness can continue to lead the fight against vision loss, creating a lasting impact on eye health in the U.S. and around the globe.