Prevent Blindness Wisconsin recently received a generous legacy gift from Mr. William F. Hoffmann. “We are incredibly grateful for this gift which will support Prevent Blindness Wisconsin’s mission to improve the lives of children, adults, and families through early detection of eye conditions to prevent blindness and preserve sight,” says Tami Radwill, Executive Director.

Before his passing, Mr. Hoffmann shared with Prevent Blindness Wisconsin’s Board Chairman, Charles Groeschell that his only intention was to give everything back to God and mankind. Prevent Blindness Wisconsin is honored to memorialize Mr. Hoffmann’s life and carry out his wish to give back through our work ensuring healthy vision for adults and children across the state.

Like many of those we serve, Mr. Hoffmann discovered Prevent Blindness Wisconsin when a volunteer vision screener helped save his sight. More than 25 years ago, Mr. Hoffmann received a free vision screening at which Mr. Hoffmann was showing early signs of glaucoma. While the volunteer vision screener was not certain, she referred him to further care and urged him to get his eyes examined and soon! Based on her strong recommendation, Mr. Hoffmann visited the eye doctor and was diagnosed with glaucoma.

Although glaucoma is controllable with treatment, it often shows no symptoms and goes unnoticed until it is too late and irreversible vision loss has occurred. Early detection and treatment is absolutely essential in the fight against glaucoma, often called the “Sneak Thief of Sight.” Prevent Blindness Wisconsin provides adult vision screening and educational programs to detect glaucoma and other eye disorders early, before they rob Wisconsin adults of their sight.

Thanks to steroids, Mr. Hoffmann received early treatment for his glaucoma which halted vision loss and saved his remaining sight.  Mr. Hoffmann understood the importance of early detection first hand and believed that he would not have received treatment for his glaucoma until it was too late had it not been for Prevent Blindness Wisconsin and its dedicated volunteers.

Mr. Hoffmann chose to leave a legacy with Prevent Blindness Wisconsin to support our sight saving services, or as Mr. Hoffmann called them “wonderful things to make life much better for people who really need help.”

For more information on leaving a lasting legacy that will help ensure healthy vision for children and adults across the state, or other ways you can support our mission, please visit our website or call us at (414) 765-0505.