Ten years ago, I left a career in public relations and marketing communications. By accident or providence, I ended up in optometry. From the first day all those years ago, I knew this was my second act. I loved being able to work directly with the people I was helping instead of my impact being more abstract in a corporate setting.

This year, I was able to fulfill a dream of going on a mission trip. I chose a community service brigade through Hope Worldwide. These brigades bring needed healthcare to a local communities in Central America. I chose Guatemala, because only one optometrist had visited through the brigade once in 7-8 years. This brigade had 1,000 pairs of donated glasses collecting dust. I knew I had to go.

As you can imagine the experience was very impactful for me, and potentially life changing for those whose vision improved with a basic eye exam and a free pair of glasses.

I would love to go back for the next brigade in February 2026. I’ve set up a go fund me site if you’d like to help me return. The money will go for my expenses, but more importantly it will give the gift of better sight to an underserved community. http://bit.ly/3I2lqLX