The West Virginia University Eye Institute and WVU Foundation raised approximately $40K in funding during the inaugural WVU Eye Institute Day of Sight on Friday, September 4.
The clay-shooting fundraising event brought together WVU Eye Institute and Foundation faculty and staff, donors, volunteers and community members for a day of fun and fundraising at Hunting Hills Shooting Preserve in Dilliner, Pennsylvania. All funds raised from the event will benefit the ongoing growth of research, patient care and academic initiatives at the Eye Institute.
Professor and Chair of the WVU Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Thomas Mauger, MD, said this support helps to expand the department’s mission as the opening of the new $233 million Eye Institute in the fall of 2027 draws closer.
“Our institute is undergoing a historic and once-in-a-lifetime period of growth that will continue to raise the bar for the standards of eye care in West Virginia and the surrounding region,” Dr. Mauger said. “This expansion would not be possible without the support of our gracious donors, sponsors and patients who make valuable contributions to our cause every single day.”
The Day of Sight brought together 94 shooters, who were split up into 24 teams to complete a fun and challenging course where each participant had the chance to shoot at 100 clay targets. The course consisted of 17 stations spread throughout the shooting range, each of which was supported by a local community sponsor. A team of 24 volunteers was also on-site to assist with scoring, operating the clay launchers and providing snacks and refreshments for the competitors.
At the conclusion of the competition, attendees gathered for a lunch followed by a raffle and silent auction where participants could make additional donations to win prizes including various gift baskets, a signed WVU football helmet and a two-night stay at a local retreat.
An awards ceremony was also held, where prizes were given to the highest overall scoring team, the team with the best team spirit, the most honest team and the best male and female shooters. Organizers said the event was a massive success that they aim to continue building on and expanding in the years to come.
“We hope that this is the beginning of a new, fun and valuable tradition at the West Virginia University Eye Institute,” said Zac Sargent, executive administrator for the Eye Institute. “We are so grateful to all of the people who joined us for a fun day in the sun and to support the ongoing growth of our institute, and are eagerly looking forward to how we can make this event bigger and better in the future.”
Organizers said they hope to host the event on an annual basis and aim to double participation by expanding to 200 shooters in 2027.
The complete list of sponsors for the event included:
- Adams – A Vertex Company
- Artec Consultants
- Chapman Corporation
- Daniel’s of Morgantown
- Doug Leech
- Gas Field Services, LLC
- HED – An Integrated A&E Company
- Heidelberg Engineering
- Howard Hanna: Premier Properties by Barbara Alexander
- Hoy’s Construction Company Inc.
- JD Enterprises, LLC
- Mark Hofbauer, DPM
- McKamish Inc.
- Mountaineer Roasting Co.
- Octane Environmental
- Parrotta Paving
- Prescott’s Med
- Select Water Solutions
- Sullivan Cotter – Russel Crawford
- SurgicalOne
- Swath Design
- System One Environmental
- TOPCON Positioning Systems
- WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital
- WVU Medicine United Hospital Center
- WVU Medicine – WVUHS Medical Group
To learn more about how you can support the Eye Institute and make a donation, visit the official GiveWVU Eye Institute web page.
To view a full gallery of photos from the Day of Sight event, click here.