On June 4, 2006, over 350 patients and friends of the Shiley Eye Center came together at Big Rock Ranch in Topanga Canyon near Los Angeles to support the Blind Baby Fund. The children enjoyed an afternoon of pony rides, face-painting, bouncy slides, jewelry making, t-shirt painting, hula hoop contests, carnival games, potato sack races and amusement rides! The celebration also featured a family-style barbecue lunch, celebrity appearances by stars from the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, spectacular live and silent auctions, and raffle.

Event chairs, Vanessa and Darryl Frank, experienced outstanding care for their daughter from Dr. Stuart Brown, a cornea specialist and Director of the Shiley Eye Center. These grateful parents recognized that other families may not be fortunate enough to afford critical eye surgery. Realizing how significant the gift of sight can be for infants and their future, the Franks wanted to help raise funds for those without the means to experience this kind of exceptional care and results. Therefore, in 2004 the Franks generously spearheaded and chaired this now annual event. For the 2006 picnic, the Franks were helped by co-chairs Michelle and Bruce Fuller.

The mission of the Blind Baby Fund is to aid families from the United States and all parts of the world that lack financial resources to undergo crucial eye surgery for their infants or young children. The fund completely supports these families by covering hospital, medical, lodging and transportation costs during their lengthy stays in San Diego. After the surgeries, these children go on to lead productive lives with the ability to see.

The 2006 picnic raised over $100,000 for the fund. With the donations raised over the past couple of years, the fund has helped needy babies or children born with serious eye conditions or debilitating eye injuries from the United States, Mexico, Peru, Romania, Japan and Israel. With regards to the age of the patients, the youngest was 3 weeks old and the oldest was 5 years old. Their stays in San Diego ranged from 2 weeks to 4 months with multiple surgeries taking place and follow up care to monitor the child’s healing progress. The costs were often in excess of $20,000 with the surgeons waiving their fees and deep discounts from the hospital.

Many thanks to those in attendance and for all of the contributions or auction items donated to support the
Third Annual Blind Baby Fund Family Picnic. Every family that attended thoroughly enjoyed the event and promised to be back next year with their friends!

For the 2008 carnival, we are looking for corporate sponsorship, auction items or free giveaways for the children attending the carnival, so that all of the proceeds from the event will go directly to the children helped by the fund. There are opportunities for sponsorship credit through the invitation, children’s event gift bag, as well as signage and display areas at the event itself. You can also donate services for families in need of the Fund – this helps to defray the costs paid by the fund to take care of the children and their families while in San Diego.

For more information or to donate to the carnival, please call 858-534-4981.

News Update:
The Blind Baby Fund has changed its name to 4sight4children.