Ask Jordyn (Part 8): Raising Money for Eye Sight; An Organizational Journey

Jordyn tells her story of how she helped start a movement to raise funds for eye surgeries around the world. And how this movement creative a snow ball effect for other universities around America. 

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[00:00:00] Tuoyo Eresanara: A good time. Yeah. That was a really good time. Other really good thing. Speaking of good times, how about organizations? So for those who don't know, we were in the university of Texas at San Antonio together, and we were a U T S A ambassadors at the university.

[00:00:19] And then Jordyn had like an insight and she was like, she wants to start off , a non profits organization. So initially was partnered up with some Unite for Sight and they have a program. They have like links in Ghana. Where else do they have buildings through? 

[00:00:36] Jordyn Ruiz: It was in three other countries, India Ghana, trying to think where else they've worked.

[00:00:42] It's off the top of my head. I cannot remember, but ours was an ACRA on it. So we adopted this specific clinic and then we focused on fundraising money for that clinic, medical supplies and procedures to provide them sight so it was cataract removal surgeries. Yes. That was such a good [00:01:00] experience.

[00:01:00] I feel like that was the highlight. 

[00:01:02] Tuoyo Eresanara: Yeah. That was a great time. Raising funds for the eye clinic. How much did we end up raising? It was, I kind of, could you remember, was it, it was 

[00:01:12] Jordyn Ruiz: well over five to $6,000. 

[00:01:15] Tuoyo Eresanara: Yeah, that was good. We did sales. What did we even sell? Oh my goodness.

[00:01:25] Yeah, there were donut times. Yes. 

[00:01:28] Jordyn Ruiz: So you had to recognize college students, their mornings, they're hungry. 

[00:01:35] Tuoyo Eresanara: And then yeah. So Jordyn started that organization. I was one of her executives. I can't even remember what I was doing. 

[00:01:45] Jordyn Ruiz: Communicate. I think you're a communications vice president. Yeah. Cause you're very, you're very eloquent with your speech.

[00:01:50] I recognize your ability to sort of communicate with others effectively and you know, very passionate person as well. And so [00:02:00] combine that with communicating well you can rule the world like you can, you can do a lot. So you did so good in that role. I feel like looking back, that was, I think the highlight of my college career is like working in such close friends for a cause that was so impactful.

[00:02:17] It's, it's really, when you kind of step away from your own needs and sort of attend to others for awhile, you realize like, okay. My life is, should not just revolve around me. It's important to sort of give back in some way. So yeah, that was wonderful. 

[00:02:33] Tuoyo Eresanara: Shout out to Omar, Eric, Randa well, so who else am I missing in this list?

[00:02:42] Jordyn Ruiz: We had David, 

[00:02:43] Tuoyo Eresanara: David. Yeah. 

[00:02:46] Jordyn Ruiz: We had many members 

[00:02:50] Tuoyo Eresanara: and many members. They came along at Alicia Ramos and the whole crew and then we had a new and new person that came on from the optometry [00:03:00] society. After I left there, there are many, there are many, many people that 

[00:03:07] Jordyn Ruiz: many students 

[00:03:08] Tuoyo Eresanara: that had a great impact and then they broke our hearts.

[00:03:16] Jordyn Ruiz: They did. That was very, it was very hard. So the organization had a program for college students to fundraise in their name, but they're dissolving that program to focus on other, other things. And they told us, you know, we can't, we can't use their name anymore. It's infringing, you know, on certain, you know, trademarks and whatnot.

[00:03:34] And so once I heard that I was so heartbroken we are getting so much following and whatnot, but I decided like, you know, if you hear no, it doesn't mean like it's a, it's a hard, like the door is completely closed. Like you have other doors to walk through, you know, you can, you can take that idea and inform it down another, down another road.

[00:03:57] And so I used, I remember there was a [00:04:00] summer before my senior year. I did a lot of research and I found another organization that was. A little bigger. It was around longer. It was called See International and I contacted the, the people in charge and I told them, you know, Hey, I love the cause I personally fell in love with the cause of cataract removal surgeries, because it is one of the most effective ways to help people.

[00:04:25] You look up something called effective altruism. You'll see that it combines something called utilitarian, moral theory and health economics, and the most kind of beautiful way where it's, you're maximizing outcomes for very little cost. And so the cost for an eye surgery is about 20 to $25. In third world countries, and then it provides a, like a lifetime of sight.

[00:04:51] And then you see, look at that that, that from the health perspective health economics perspective, it's the most effective way. And I wanted to, you know, be a part of something that [00:05:00] was making an impact I wanted, you know, I wanted to get behind something like that. And so once I found that sort of movement, I jumped on it and I wanted to bring it for other people to be a part of.

[00:05:12] And so I contacted see international. I told them I advocated for, you know, I have all these students that, you know, want to help and they were, they were so open to the idea of bringing the first collegiate group the United States and so something I'm really like, I look back, I'm really proud of.

[00:05:27] Now we have I handed over the organization to, to, under underclassmen who were in charge since I've graduated, everyone who has started graduated already. And it's still thriving at UTSA and so it's, it's something to be really proud of. You know, you too Tuoyo you helped pave the way, and I also became aware that other universities.

[00:05:48] Saw what we were doing and adopted it as well. And so other universities are having see internationals and that is

[00:05:59] [00:06:00] let's go, let's do it. I think that's what it should be. It's to inspire, inspire change, and other people it's, it's the opportunity to do that for the people and like one, they want to get involved on it. Like that's such a beautiful feeling. And so, yeah. 

[00:06:18] Tuoyo Eresanara: Yeah. Let me see if I can get this snap, right. I get it almost.

[00:06:27] Oh, and I can get it here. Okay. You can't hear the sound I can use it. Use a sound effect and get this. Okay. Let's do that. Yes, that's really, that's really good. So