WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (October 15, 2024)– Miracles In Sight (MIS), one of the largest nonprofit eye banks in the world, has launched a capital campaign to help recover from a 2022 flood in its local facility. Now in its public phase, funds raised in the $5 million dollar campaign will be used to purchase, remodel, and upfit a new facility in Clemmons, and run through the end of 2025.
Currently, based in Winston-Salem, with recovery offices in nine cities across North Carolina, South Carolina, and a lab in Texas, Miracles In Sight helps restore sight for approximately 3,800 patients each year. The organization facilitates corneal transplantation, a procedure used to help prevent or restore vision loss resulting from disease or damage to the cornea.
The 2022 flood, caused by a water heater failure, damaged the current 15,000 square-foot facility the organization leased for over 20 years, destroying its main laboratory. The nonprofit’s usable working space was cut in half, reducing it to just over 6,800 feet.
“Sometimes, turning tragedy into opportunity reveals possibilities we might otherwise miss,” said Ingrid Schunder, president and CEO of Miracles In Sight.
Slated to open in spring of 2025, the new facility will house a specialized lab to meet industry and regulatory requirements, training facilities, an MIS museum, and offices. The new building will sit on a 2.27-acre site, providing 25,920 square feet of space on two levels, with generous room for future expansion and a location with convenient access to I-40.
The new space will provide a dedicated lab to train physicians and ophthalmic technicians on surgical procedures and handling human tissue; build a dedicated area for innovation and product development. In addition, the new space will allow for the retention of 100 skilled jobs, with the room to add more potential positions after the space is completed.
“My excitement about MIS comes from its ongoing ability to inspire others to give of themselves, literally, so those who utilize our services can change lives,” said David Barnwell, Ph.D., a co-chair of the capital campaign. “With the completion of the capital campaign and the move to the new facility, MIS can expand upon its rich history and continue to find innovative approaches for curing blindness.”
Dean Vavra joins Barnwell as a campaign co-chair. John Googe is serving as the honorary campaign chair.
For those interested in making a contribution or learning more about the Miracles In Sight campaign, visit, miraclesinsight.org.
ABOUT MIRACLES IN SIGHT: The Mission of Miracles In Sight is to support the restoration, preservation, and enhancement of sight through transplant, research, education, and innovation. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C., MIS was founded in 1951 as the Eye Bank For Restoring Sight and later became the North Carolina Eye Bank before becoming MIS in 2014. Providing patients with the best tissue, in quality and selection, for transplant by leading ophthalmologists is accomplished by MIS through a state-of-the-art process. For more information, visit miraclesinsight.org, Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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Media Contact:
Erin McCloskey
(336) 207-5222
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