I Care has a long history

Our Decades of Focus

I CARE was founded in 1969 by Dr. Jerome Bettman, president of the Northern California Society for the Prevention of Blindness (NCSPB) and formerly the head of Stanford’s Ophthalmology Department. He wanted to develop the Society’s financial resourses and expand its community service programs by creating an auxiliary of dedicated women who would raise funds for the society and carry on its amblyopia and glaucoma screening programs.

Dr. Bettman recruited his daughter Jean Rossiter and her friend Logue Malouf who lived in San Francisco to set up the auxiliary which they did on September 19, 1969 along with five other women. Their original functions were set out as: 1) to work with women’s editors to increase public awareness of prevention of blindness: 2) to expand the potential of home screening; 3) to make presentations to PTA groups; 4) to raise funds for the Society. They also prioritized reaching out to the welfare department and Red Cross to establish a list of nursery schools and day care centers and to recruit more members for the group.

In December 1969, the first amblyopia screening was held at Booker T. Washington School in San Francisco. Forty five children were screened. In January 1970 the first fundraiser, a children’s party, was held which raised $25. Also in January 1970 the first glaucoma clinic was held at Little House in Menlo Park.

In April 1970, by-laws for the group were drafted and the name I CARE was selected as well as the eye logo. In November 1970, I CARE noted that screening was only a part of their responsibility and that fund raising was their primary priority. In the succeeding years fundraisers included puppet shows, flea markets, Days at the Races at Bay Meadows and cocktail parties. A check for $1,000 representing two years of fund raising was presented to PCSPB on October 8, 1971.

Following the move to Hillsborough of some of the founding members, I CARE expanded on the peninsula. An annual fundraiser plus a Christmas party at Menlo Country Club became traditional, Fundraisers expanded to a Santa Boutique, tennis tournaments, teas, domino tournaments, gourmet dinner/luncheon raffles and continuing puppet shows. Members now numbering 34 made items throughout the year for the Santa Boutique. A check for $2,000 was presented to NCSPB in December 1972 and one for $2,500 in December 1973. In 1972, there was one screening team in San Francisco and two on the Peninsula. Four hundred children were screened that year.

In the following years, fundraising continued to be the main focus of the group but the number of screenings also increased. Membership drives were initiated and numerous social events held.

In 1975, five glaucoma clinics were held and 480 children screened. In light of the low numbers, members declared in October 1976 that I CARE was a service organization with fundraising a secondary activity. Amblyopia screenings in low income, bi-lingual schools became the new priority. Glaucoma screening was in high demand so members expanded that program as well. It became well established once Stanford allowed its residents to participate which solved insurance issues which had plagued the program for some time.

NCSPB decided in 1973 that funds raised by ICARE should no longer go into the general fund but be set aside for a special project with I CARE deciding where the funds would go. By January 1977, the fund had accumulated $10,000. In December 1977, the funds were approved for a course on children’s vision carrying continuing education credits for registered nurses and a fellowship at Stanford Medical Center in the Division of Ophthalmology in the amount of $1,500 a year for a summer student fellow to work on a study to be determined by the Chairman of the Division of Ophthalmology, preferable in the areas of glaucoma or the ocular complications of diabetes.

From 1977 to 2015, I CARE continued to screen children as an auxiliary of PBNC, growing the number of preschools and children screened. After encountering difficulties in finding venues open on weekends and finding residents to participate, glaucoma screenings were stopped in 2012. Also, possibly due to better healthcare, demand for screenings had decreased. Fundraising ended after Stanford and PBNC no longer needed our funds. Social events continued as an important part of ICARE.

In 2015, PBNC terminated their relationship with all their volunteer screening groups, including I CARE, in favor of providing the screening themselves. I CARE members wanted to fill the gap and continue screening so researched ways to do so. In 2016, the group joined Lions Club International. Members are covered by their insurance and can participate in the activities of Menlo Park Live Oak Lions Club although members primarily participate in preschool screening.

In 2017, I CARE screened 881 children, 69 of whom were referred to an eye care professional. I CARE’s service hours on behalf of Lions Club contribute to the organization’s objectives in the areas of sight loss and youth activities. In 2018, I CARE continues to add new members and increase the number of preschools where the group is providing screening services. Screening teams visit preschools each month, October through May. Social events also continue to be on the I CARE agenda. The screening year begins with a potluck dinner in September, social events during the year and a year-end potluck dinner in May.

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