Lexington based non-profit, Vision-Aid which has earned a reputation for both its innovative service to the visually impaired and for organizing magnificent dance productions as fund raisers in the Boston area came out with two announcements this week, as it races towards the finish line in what is set to be a stellar dance show on July 18, in the Roger’s Center for the Arts in North Andover.
 
Vision-Aid announced that Prashanth Palakurthi, President of Reflexis Systems will speak at the Vision-Aid annual Event, as its chief guest. Prashanth Palakurthi is a well-known figure in the Indian American community and is actively involved in helping promote Indian culture and arts through the "Anuradha Palakurthi Foundation" that Anuradha, his wife and he run in the New England Area. Anuradha is a highly regarded singer, well known for her musical talents and ground breaking concerts held each year in the Boston area. In addition to their many interests and talents, the “Palakurthis” have a special connection to vision since Prashanth's father is a retired Ophthalmologist. In growing up in such a household, he developed special interest and passion to help those with visual impairment.
 
Vision-Aid this week also announced the “Vision-Aid Challenge” – an exciting new program that will help it scale and reach more visually impaired students across India through its new online platform – the Vision-Aid Online Academy. Announcing the details of the this initiative in a Press Release on July 15, 2015, President Syed Ali Rizvi and Founder/Executive Director Ramakrishna (Ram) Raju invited New England Based residents and other supporters of Indian origin, to help Vision-Aid open up several new Vision-Aid centers in their home towns or villages in India.
 
Describing the program, Ram Raju said “If you know of a blind school or other social organization working with the vision impaired, or an eye hospital that wants to start low vision screening and vision rehabilitation in your town, please connect with them and see if they are interested in partnering with Vision-Aid. Then raise just $5,000 for one year, and send us a proposal. Vision-Aid will bear all of the additional costs and work directly with your recommended organization to provide the computer hardware, software, online technology and know-how and launch a new Vision-Aid center in the partner organization in your favorite town or village in the coming year.  Join us by becoming an ambassador in our mission to reach more and more visually impaired persons in underserved regions. This is a unique opportunity to join in a worthy cause.”

President Syed Ali Rizvi added “There are just 3 steps in the Challenge to get a Vision-Aid program up and running in your town or village:

1.    The interested person agrees to be the main contact point for that proposed partner, and works in collaboration with the Vision-Aid Board to successfully implement the program.

2.    The person commits to contributing or raising $5,000 / year to help cover some of the costs. The remainder of the cost and all of the know-how will be provided by Vision-Aid.

3.    The organization in India must agree to meet Vision-Aid’s partnership requirements including a review, to ensure that they meet Vision-Aid's standards in terms of its quality of service and operating model.”

More information about Vision-Aid, including its upcoming July 18 event and to buy tickets, please visit us at www.VisionAid.org.

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