Knights Templar from the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Florida joined Right Eminent Paul W. Friend, Southeastern Department Commander of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America, for a special presentation at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, where a $100,000 Knights Templar Eye Foundation Career Starter Grant was officially presented in support of pediatric ophthalmology research.
Career Starter Grant Awarded to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
The grant was approved during the Knights Templar Eye Foundation Scientific Advisory Committee meeting held in March and officially presented during the June visit. The award continues a longstanding partnership between the Knights Templar Eye Foundation and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, which has previously received Foundation support for vision research.
About the Knights Templar Eye Foundation
Founded in 1956, the Knights Templar Eye Foundation is the principal charitable organization of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America. Since its founding, the Foundation has invested more than $190 million in research, education, and patient care while awarding more than $45 million in ophthalmic research grants.
Originally established to provide surgical assistance for individuals facing blindness, the Foundation expanded its mission in 2010 to focus on improving vision through research, education, and supporting access to care. Today, its grants support pioneering research in pediatric ophthalmology and ophthalmic genetics while partnering with organizations such as EyeCare America and the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology to benefit patients nationwide.
About Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute serves as the Department of Ophthalmology for the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and is internationally recognized as one of the world’s premier centers for eye care, research, and education.
Its mission is to enhance quality of life by improving sight, preventing blindness, and advancing ophthalmic knowledge through compassionate patient care and innovative scientific research. This year marks the 24th time Bascom Palmer has been ranked the #1 Eye Hospital in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, with many of its physicians also recognized among Castle Connolly’s America’s Top Doctors.
Continuing a Tradition of Service
The presentation reflects the enduring commitment of the Knights Templar Eye Foundation and the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Florida to advancing vision research that benefits children and families throughout the world. Through partnerships with leading medical institutions such as Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, the Foundation continues to invest in discoveries that improve lives today while creating hope for future generations.
