On Sunday, June 15th, 2008, Acuity NYC sponsored the second annual “Music for the Eyes” benefit concert at Grace and St. Paul’s Church, located at 123 West 71st Street on the Upper West Side.
Dr. Anna Pelekh, world-renown violinist and teacher, volunteered to play and present some of her students for this special event. The concert was a great success, raising over $10,000 and bringing together doctors, surgeons, opticians, patients, musicians and community members to enjoy an evening of beautiful music. Acuity NYC, and Halstead Realty provided corporate sponsorship for the event. Beethoven Pianos provided a concert grand for the performance and the congregation of Grace and St. Paul’s church offered the use of their lovely sanctuary. Flowers on the Park on West 86th street donated beatiful floral arrangements. After the concert, everyone gathered at the home of Dr. Kanevsky for refreshments sponsored by Bausch and Lomb Pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Kanevsky and Doug Dinger have served the Upper West Side for 17 years, and have long volunteered for the New York chapter of VOSH (Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity). For several weeks each year, they close their practice and travel to remote areas in developing countries to set up week-long free eye clinics.
VOSH NY is staffed entirely by volunteers. Proceeds from ticket sales and donations will be used to send a medical mission to Peru, scheduled for August 1st, 2008, bringing much-needed eyecare, cataract surgery and donated eyeglasses to an area devastated by earthquake and poverty. A group of 30 optometrists, ophthalmologists, nurses, students and lay volunteers will travel to Peru to run a 4-day clinic. Each day of the clinic, approximately 500 patients will receive free eyecare, prescription eyeglasses, glaucoma care, cataract and pterygia surgeries. Many of them are children who will learn to read, adults who will be able to continue working, and elderly who will remain able to care for themselves and their families, all because they can see.
Due to the overwhelmingly positive response to the benefit, a second mission has been scheduled for Mexico, in February of 2009. The success of the event is testament to how much good can be achieved when our community comes together to work for a common cause.
Many members of our community responded with generous donations but could not attend the event. We wholeheartedlty appreciate their support. Please enjoy our videos of the concert.
Click on photo to view video