Combat Blindness name change reflects international focus

(Madison, Wisconsin) — Speaking to hundreds of long-time supporters of the Combat Blindness Foundation, founder Dr. Suresh Chandra used the occasion of the Madison-area World Sight Day celebration on October 19 to announce a change in the organization’s name. The Madison-based nonprofit started in 1984 by establishing partnerships in impoverished parts of Chandra’s native country of India. It continues to have a robust work in bringing sight to the millions of blind men, women and children there. As Chandra noted, however, its efforts have expanded throughout the world, with cataract programs now in eight countries and new programs slated to start in two more nations in 2012.

“As we look back over our expansion,” he explained, “we find that we have outgrown our name. This year, it is time to change our name from the Combat Blindness Foundation to Combat Blindness International. This simple change better reflects our commitment to eradicating preventable blindness throughout the entire world.

“Our name is now changed,” Chandra continued, “but our long-term goals remain the same. Combat Blindness International is dedicated to creating and supporting sustainable solutions to the massive global blindness problem by helping the less fortunate in developing countries and locally in Dane County.

“We will continue to help wherever we find the need and opportunity,” he concluded with a vow to the organization’s supporters. “With you as partners, we will succeed!”

The Combat Blindness Foundation is dedicated to preventing avoidable blindness worldwide and believes it is the responsibility of the fortunate to help the less fortunate in accomplishing that goal.