ST. LOUIS—The AOA Foundation recently appointed Howard Purcell, O.D., vice president of Customer Development, Essilor of America, Inc., as a member of the Optometry’s Fund for Disaster Relief committee, which provides immediate financial aid to optometrists who have experienced the effects of a natural disaster.

Optometry’s Fund for Disaster Relief was established in August 2005 as a response to Hurricane Katrina. In 2009, donors contributed more than $35,000 to the fund, six requests for assistance were received and two $2,000 grants were awarded. Since the fund’s inception, more than $427,000 has been granted to optometrists affected by a natural disaster. For more information on Optometry’s Fund for Disaster Relief, visit www.optometryscharity.org.