Columbia, Mo. (December 6, 2013) – On December 1, 2013, the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation, a regional nonprofit with a 53-year history, changed its name to Saving Sight. The name change reflects the organization’s commitment to its mission statement: “We change lives by saving sight.”
The name change was pursued as a strategic priority to align the organization’s name and brand with a wide variety of stakeholders—including program recipients, donor families, financial donors, Lions clubs, and other volunteers—and engage them in the mission to save sight. The name Saving Sight also unites the largest division of the organization, formerly known as Heartland Lions Eye Banks (one of the largest eye banking organizations in the U.S.), with several other charitable vision services, including the KidSight vision screening program.
“We chose the name Saving Sight because it clearly and concisely communicates the impact our programs have on recipients,” said Tony Bavuso, chief executive officer of Saving Sight. “Likewise, the call to action to help join in Saving Sight is a very meaningful one to our volunteers, especially Lions clubs.”
A new website was also launched with the name change. While the company’s website, social media (see links below) and email domains have been updated to reflect the name change, all other contact information for Saving Sight and its five offices throughout Missouri and central Illinois remain the same.
About Saving Sight
Saving Sight is a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to change lives by saving sight. Founded in Columbia, Mo. in 1960, the organization introduced eye donation and the gift of sight to Missouri.