Fundraising and Campaigns in McLean

  In conjunction with Eyecentral VA's 50th anniversary our office has been busy with two projects this summer of 2011.

The first has been a 6 week long fundraising effort to benefit Guide Dogs of America headquartered out in Sylmar California. Established in 1948 this fine organization has spent over 60 years providing fully trained guide dogs for the blind around the entire country, and doing it solely through donations from public and corporate concerns. We're both honored and excited to be raising money for this honorable organization and you can do your part by taking advantage of our "free frame" program through the end of August. If you didn't receive one of our fundraising letters and want to take part, please feel free to call our office at 703-356-1292 for details. You can also donate via check or credit card, as well. The response has been incredible and I'm so happy so many of our patients and clients have stepped up to help out. I know its a tough time for everyone monetarily , so I'm doubly thankful that everyone has been so generous in this endeavor.And even though our letters seem to indicate that the smallest donation we'd accept via check or credit card is $50.00 ,I want to assure everyone that even a $5.00 donation is greatly appreciated. (My "fundraiser consultant" coerced me into making $50 the lowest amount in our letters, because, apparently,  if I listed $5.00 all of you would have donated only that amount. I should have just said "who cares?")Anyway, there is two weeks left in our event and you still have time to get some great eyewear at a greatly reduced price! Thanks to all who have already taken part. You are all heroes to me! (you know who you are!!) 

The second project in McLean is an advertising promotional campaign that will appear in DC Magazine over the next 6 months. The first ad was a full page highlighting Dr. Greg Foley's welcome addition to the practice (although he's already been here nearly three years)and it appeared in the recent July 2011 edition. The theme of the next three ads is "Real People, Real Frames, Real Life" and, you guessed it-- we're replacing those glossy irritatingly flawless and perfect  fashion drones who tend not to look like any of us in reality with real patients and clients of EYECENTRAL wearing their real eyewear purchased and fitted through us. The first ad will appear in the September 2011 issue and features an Arlington woman and her two teenage girls. (The Pitcher Family). The emotional impact of the ad, for me at least, is that the mom in the shot started coming to Eyecentral in the 90's when she was a young single woman in her 20's- and all these years later is still a valued part of our practice tapestry, but with two teenage children not too much younger than she was when she first found us herself. That, and the fact  that all three of them look sensational in their fabulous current eyewear, is the reason why they were chosen to be in our first ever magazine ad. Considering how good looking all of my clients are and how smart they look in their eyewear (and I"m dead serious about that), it's going to be incredibly tough to choose the real people who will represent us in the concurrent issues. But in any case, our ads will present real people elevating their own looks by their choice in eyewear - something anyone can do with the right guidance and product. Something we do everyday at Eyecentral. 

Finally, I want to thank everyone again who has been involved in our fundraising efforts for the Guide Dogs of America Organization. In spite of the fact that I spend most of my days bullying  and strong arming most of you into decisions not necessarily organic to your makeup, you are all great sports and incredible patients and clients. We certainly couldn't do what we do without you!