LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Helen
Keller International on May 18, 2015

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organiza-
tions and individuals who devote themselves to the welfare of the commu-
nity and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 100th Anniversary of Helen Keller International, to be cele-
brated at the Spirit of Helen Keller Gala on May 18, 2015, at The New
York Public Library, New York City; and
WHEREAS, Helen Keller International, headquartered in the Flatiron
District of New York City, is one of the world's oldest and most
respected non-profit organizations in the field of global development;
and
WHEREAS, Founded in 1915, Helen Keller International is dedicated to
saving the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged; the
staff of this vital group combats the causes and consequences of blind-
ness and malnutrition by establishing programs based on evidence and
research in vision, health and nutrition; and
WHEREAS, Helen Keller International envisions a world where no one
suffers from preventable and treatable blindness, where no one suffers
from malnutrition, and where all people live life to their fullest
potential; and
WHEREAS, Helen Keller, the organization's founder, overcame impossible
odds and lived a remarkable life dedicated to the betterment of others
which made people throughout the world rethink what is possible; and
WHEREAS, Helen Keller International, established 100 years ago, helps
people in some of the world's poorest communities by treating and
preventing various conditions, including anemia, cataracts, refractive
errors, vision loss from diabetes, intestinal worms, river blindness,
schistosomiasis, trachoma, and vitamin A deficiency, all afflictions
that rob people, especially young children and women, of the ability to
live life to the fullest; and
WHEREAS, Currently, Helen Keller International funds more than 180
programs in 21 African and Asian countries; the staff helps women secure
their family's future by teaching them to raise their own nutritious
foods which provide regular access to healthy food and also income; and
WHEREAS, In addition, they train both local health workers in the
Republic of Niger to treat and prevent malnourishment in children in
their villages, and teachers in Cambodia to become agents of change in
their own communities by promoting hand-washing and other practices to
prevent intestinal worms which keep children out of school; and
WHEREAS, Helen Keller International partners with companies throughout
Africa to ensure that staple foods are fortified with essential nutri-
ents; and it also enables children with disabilities in Indonesia to
access education through inclusive schools; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, this valuable organization operates ChildSight,
an eye health program in the United States which provides free vision
screenings and prescription eyeglasses to tens of thousands of students
living in poverty in New York, California, Connecticut, New Jersey and
Ohio; and
WHEREAS, Helen Keller International serves 300 million people each
year living in poverty, continually adhering to Helen Keller's adage of
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much"; and

WHEREAS, For its dedicated service to those less fortunate, Helen
Keller International has been the recipient of numerous awards and acco-
lades including the Charity Navigator's highest four star rating, the
Antonio Champalimaud Vision Award, the Henry R. Kravis Prize in Leader-
ship, and a BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award; and
WHEREAS, The ability of this organization to respond to changing needs
over the past 100 years has sustained its viability as an important
resource; Helen Keller International is well prepared and positioned to
move into its second century maintaining a commitment to its mission of
eliminating preventable blindness and vision loss and significantly
reducing malnutrition and its devastating impact in our world; and
WHEREAS, Organizations and individuals devoted to improving the quali-
ty of life for others, enabling them to build lives of dignity and self-
worth are deserving of the highest praise and recognition; now, there-
fore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Helen Keller International on May
18, 2015; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Helen Keller International.