One distinct advantage helped Michael Staenberg focus his attention on making a gift to the Low Vision Rehabilitation Service (LVRS) at UI Hospitals and Clinics: He could see clearly where and how his contribution would improve patients' lives.

Staenberg, president of THF Realty, Inc., in St. Louis, says the "bottom line" is never far from his mind, whether in business or in his varied philanthropic interests.

"When I was shown what kinds of assistance this crucial service offered, I thought, 'Here are some real needs where I can make an immediate difference,'" Staenberg says. "If I can help a few people and know they will feel the effects soon, that's great. I like to see results."

Indeed, Staenberg's gift already has had a tangible effect on the lives of several patients of the LVRS, which is part of the UI Center for Macular Degeneration in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.

LVRS Director Mark Wilkinson, O.D., says private gift support is essential to many of the service's patients because health insurance generally does not cover the cost of the devices that will help them function more normally.

"Our program provides a full continuum of services-medical, physical, psychological, and social-to help our patients with impaired visual functioning to lead more productive, satisfying lives," Wilkinson says. "The range of devices we offer runs the gamut, too-from special reading glasses and magnifiers to closed-circuit television systems and special computer monitors. These devices can make a huge difference for patients, and gifts like Michael's can make the difference between getting or not getting the needed assistance."

Patients with low vision experience a significantly reduced visual function that cannot be corrected to the normal range by ordinary glasses, contact lenses, medical treatment and/or surgery. About 4.3 million Americans are partially sighted, and eight million to 10 million more Americans report vision problems that interfere with their ability to perform daily activities without help.

So far, four patients have received aid from the Staenberg Low Vision Assistance Fund. One of those, a 34 year-old single mother with retinitis pigmentosa, wrote to Staenberg to say that her device ". . . helps me fill out all my paperwork and do the daily reading that I need for school.It also helps me pay my bills on time.Thanks to you, I am doing much better."

Your gifts help provide the best care for Iowans
In 2003, nearly 6,200 generous individuals and organizations made outright gifts totaling more than $1.9 million in support of University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The honor roll and story in this section represent but a small portion of the total giving. Through this report we wish to thank all who made gifts that benefited the patients we serve.

Contributors to UI Hospitals and Clinics make their gifts through a variety of programs conducted by The University of Iowa Foundation, which can help contributors explore the many ways of making and planning gifts. To learn more, contact Sheila Baldwin, University of Iowa Foundation, at 800-648-6973, 319-335-3305, or sheila-baldwin@uiowa.edu. Or visit the Web site at www.uiowafoundation.org/hospitals.