American Macular Degeneration Foundation - April 2006 Charity-of-the-Month
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American Macular Degeneration Foundation
P.O. Box 515
Northampton, MA 01061-0515
tel: 1-413-268-7660
tollfree: 1-888-MACULAR (1-888-622-8527)
web: http://www.macular.org
email: amdf@macular.org
We are facing an epidemic. Millions of unsuspecting Americans may go blind from macular degeneration.
There is no cure for this little-understood disease.
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness affecting more Americans than cataracts and glaucoma combined.
Few people are aware that macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease and that it is the leading cause of blindness for those aged 55 and older in the United States, affecting more than 10 million Americans.
Macular degeneration is caused by the deterioration of the central portion of the retina, the inside back layer of the eye that records the images we see and sends them via the optic nerve from the eye to the brain. The retina's central portion, known as the macula, is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye, and it controls our ability to read, drive a car, recognize faces or colors, and see objects in fine detail.
As people age, their chances for developing eye diseases increase dramatically. Unfortunately, the specific factors that cause macular degeneration are not conclusively known and research into this little-understood disease is limited by insufficient funding.
According to a recent poll, Americans dread blindness more than any other disability. Recent studies indicate that by the year 2025, the population of people over the age of 65 in the United States will be six times higher than in 1990. The reason - "baby boomers" are aging and overall life expectancy is increasing. Since many people diagnosed with macular degeneration are over age 55, the number of cases of macular degeneration in the U.S. will increase significantly as baby boomers age
The American Macular Degeneration Foundation is committed to the prevention and cure of macular degeneration and offers hope and support to those afflicted and their families. The Foundation will be a major voice in establishing the national research agenda for macular degeneration through promoting an alliance among the scientific community, government, and victims of the disease and their families to ensure the prevention and cure of the disease.
The Foundation will:
* have an instantly recognizable identity and message;
* raise the public's awareness of and knowledge about macular degeneration;
* promote a support system for those afflicted with the disease and their families;
* be the international clearinghouse for research that has been completed and that which is in progress; and
* be a funding source for research in the United States on establishing the prevention, treatment and cure of macular degeneration.
Mission Statement
The American Macular Degeneration Foundation works for the prevention, treatment, and cure of macular degeneration through raising funds, educating the public and supporting scientific research.
Services
The American Macular Degeneration Foundation is pleased to offer many services to our website visitors which include Vision Aids, Health Tips, Depression, Medication, Nutrition, Legal Protection, and the Archives of messages posted on our Bulletin Board. Visitors to our website will also find Assistance in Finding Professional Eye Care and links to State Agencies Specializing in Blindness and Visual Impairment on the Care & Services Directory.
How do I make a Contribution?
Cutbacks in federal funding for medical research necessitate private funding for research. The American Macular Degeneration Foundation, a non-profit corporation, is committed to improving funded research and methods of treatment for those impaired by macular degeneration.
The American Macular Degeneration Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, publicly supported organization described in sections 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Service code. All contributions to the Foundation are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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American Macular Degeneration Foundation
P.O. Box 515
Northampton, MA 01061-0515
tel: 1-413-268-7660
tollfree: 1-888-MACULAR (1-888-622-8527)
web: http://www.macular.org
email: amdf@macular.org
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