PHILANTHROPY OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR
Knights Templar Eye Foundation
Our Mission: To improve vision through research, education, and supporting access to care.
We have learned over past decades that our efforts in funding pediatric ophthalmology research have been the primary reason that we have had fewer and fewer children with strabismus (crossed eyes) to treat. Our research dollars have helped develop new, non-surgical treatments for this problem, and additional research and endowment programs are all being funded as well by your faithful support.
Every donation will assist in making a tremendous difference in the lives of children by helping the Foundation to fulfill its mission. Sir Knights, aside from his salvation, there is no greater gift for man on this earth than the gift of sight. Through your generous contributions, lives are being changed; research is being funded, which is allowing mankind to lead more fruitful and blessed lives.
Pedriatic Opthalmology Grants
The Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc. is committed to support research that can help launch the careers of clinical and basic researchers focused on the prevention and cure of potentially blinding diseases in infants and children. Grants supported by the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc. are awarded to impact the care of infants, children, and adults. Clinical and basic research on conditions that may be potentially preventable or correctable such as amblyopia, cataract, glaucoma, optic nerve hypoplasia, nystagmus, retinopathy of prematurity, and hereditary diseases that occur at birth or within early childhood, such as retinoblastoma, is encouraged. Proposals for support of basic research on eye and visual system development also are welcome.
Each year the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc., invites eligible investigators to submit applications for pediatric ophthalmology research grants:
- Career-Starter Research Grants – up to $90,000 per grant. Applicants for these grants must be at the beginning of their academic careers and must have received M.D., Ph.D. or equivalent degree.
- Competitive Renewal Grants – up to $90,000 per grant to extend the original grant project for one additional year when the data collected from the original grant is compelling enough to apply.
PARTNERSHIPS
Preserving sight for over 35 years.
EyeCare America, one of the country’s leading public service programs, provides eye care through our volunteer ophthalmologists. Since 1985, we have helped more than 2.2 million seniors and those at increased risk of glaucoma access eyecare and resources. Ninety percent of the care provided is at no out-of-pocket cost to the patient.
Pediatric Ophthalmology Education Center
In the pursuit of our mission to improve vision through research, education and supporting access to care, your Knights Templar Eye Foundation has partnered with the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the largest ophthalmic organization in the world, to create a Pediatric Ophthalmology Education Center. This Center, a part of the Academy’s Ophthalmic News and Education (ONE®) Network, will be comprehensive in scope, and global in reach.
IRIS Registry Pediatric Ophthalmology Research Fund
The Knights Templar Eye Foundation IRIS Registry Pediatric Ophthalmology Research Fund is another example of the vibrant collaboration with the American Academy of Ophthalmology to accomplish the following objectives: eliminate blindness, educate ophthalmologists, invest in the improvement of quality of eye care to the public, and to serve the youngest and most vulnerable populations.
KTEF Pediatric Ophthalmology VR Simulation Program
The KTEF Pediatric Ophthalmology VR Simulation Program is a first-of-its-kind educational initiative, offering free, open, cutting-edge simulation training to ophthalmologists worldwide through the use of VR headsets, other hardware, and web browsers widely available to consumers.
The VR program will provide residents, trainees, and practicing ophthalmologists with a simulated and safe learning environment that targets our youngest patients and diseases critical to pediatric eye care, and pushes beyond the boundaries of two-dimensional spatial learning.
Through this sponsored program from the Knights Templar Eye Foundation of $5Million over 10 years, the Academy plans to build both a virtual ecosystem and the first simulated ophthalmic patient encounters designed specifically for children’s eye care, including but not limited to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and strabismus surgery.
The platform will be robust enough to support these first groundbreaking simulators and eventually patient encounters that span the spectrum of ophthalmology. The platform will benefit trainees across the globe, providing an individualized learning path for students on their own time. By first practicing skills in a virtual environment, residents and fellows will be better prepared to manage childhood eye diseases, reducing the risk of complications in patients and accelerating their competency from classroom to the clinic and operating room.
All Children See
The Children’s Eye Foundation is the official foundation of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Its mission is to end preventable vision loss in children. To mark its 50th anniversary in 2020, the foundation launched All Children See in partnership with the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, who generously funded the program. All Children See was created to provide a critically needed pathway to quality eye exams for all children (18 and under), regardless of their socioeconomic circumstances. The public service program pairs children needing a comprehensive eye exam with nearby, highly qualified pediatric ophthalmologists at no cost for children who do not have health insurance or cannot access care for other financial reasons
MISSOURI TEMPLAR CHARITIES
HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE FUND
The Missouri Holy Land Pilgrimage Fund is used to pay the expenses of sending a Minister to the Holy Land under the provisions of the Grand Encampment. The Holy Land Pilgrimage Committee of the Grand Commandery can provide more information about qualifying Ministers.
HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE ENDOWMENT FUND
The Missouri Holy Land Pilgrimage Endowment Fund is an endowment, the interest of which is used to generate income for the Holy Land Pilgrimage Fund (above). Commandery Recorders are to ask each Sir Knight on their annual dues statement to remit at least $3.65 towards the Holy Land Endowment Fund, and Commanderies are encouraged to have fund raisers to generate money for this fund.
MISSOURI KNIGHT OF SILOAM
The Knight of Siloam special award program in Missouri was created by Sir Knights J. Edward Blinn, REPGC, and Danny L. Ferguson, REPGC, during the 93-94 Templar year as a means of recognizing those Missouri Sir Knights who make substantial contributions to the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, and to encourage others to do so. A special medal and patent is presented to those who donate $500.00 or more to KTEF either in a lump sum or in installments. The jewel is designated as a meritorious service jewel and may be worn on the Knight Templar uniform. Friends and relatives may honor any Sir Knight with the Knight of Siloam by making a like donation in his honor.