SERVING OUR COMMUNITY
investing in a culture of giving
Collins Vision has a longstanding commitment to service in Southwest Florida; service to the local community and service to the individual. Led by our founder Dr. Michael J. Collins, MD, Collins Vision embodies a culture of giving back that is exemplified in ways large and small and can be felt throughout our community.
At Collins Vision, our team is made up of many unique individuals who come from all kinds of backgrounds. But one thing we all agree on is that there is so much more happiness in giving than in receiving!
Here are just a few of the organizations we are honored to support and be a part of:
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
Empowering Families One Life at a Time
One of the charities we actively support is very near and dear to Dr. Collins’ heart. March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all mothers and their infants, including premature babies.
Dr. Collins’ daughter Ellie was born premature, weighing only 1 pound, 3 ounces and spent the first three months of her life in the pediatric intensive care unit. It was a life-changing experience for the Collins family.
Today, Ellie is a happy, thriving college student and the Collins family is eternally grateful to March of Dimes.
“Without the support and technology that the March of Dimes spearheads, our family may have had a different outcome. Helping other families in this situation by supporting the March of Dimes seems like the right thing to do.” – Dr. Collins
To find out more information or to get involved, visit marchofdimes.org
The Caring Power of Community
Another organization in which we invest time and resources is our local chapter of United Way. Dedicated to creating solutions that build stronger communities, improve education, strengthen financial stability and make communities healthier, United Way serves Southwest Florida in many ways. Dr. Collins serves on the board of this service organization and the Collins Vision doctors and management team hold other leadership roles to support the board and the United Way’s mission.
In 2018, we became a Pacesetter Company by running our campaign early in order to help the United Way reach its annual goal which means a full 100% of our team contributed to the effort and we couldn’t be prouder!
Additionally, each holiday season, we are blessed to sponsor a local family in need through the United Way, providing food, gifts and gift cards to make sure each family member has the best holiday possible! This has become one of the traditions we look forward to the most.
United Way also partners with an organization called WeCare and Dr. Collins has donated procedures ranging from cataract surgery to pterygium removal for area individuals in need through this organization.
To find out more information or to get involved, visit unitedway.org
Championing Conservation
Dr. Collins is an avid fisherman and boater. When asked, he will readily admit that one of the main reasons he decided to live and practice in Southwest Florida was the year-round ability to enjoy the great outdoors!
Captains for Clean Water (CFCW) is the local grassroots movement that has gained international recognition for educating the public about what needs to be done to improve water quality, decrease pollution and protect the estuaries and Everglades of Southwest Florida and beyond. When it came to Dr. Collins’ attention that a local and national government policy was putting our water quality behind certain special interests in South Florida, he knew he needed to get involved.
CFCW works tirelessly to open the eyes of the community to the environmental and financial impact of water quality in Southwest Florida and the Everglades. Dr. Collins calls this his passion project and serves on the board of this grassroots organization.
To find out more information or to get involved, visit captainsforcleanwater.org
Hope and Joy for Critically Ill Children
Collins Vision is proud to be involved in Make-A-Wish of Southern Florida’s annual fundraiser, Wishmaker’s Starfishes and Wishes. As a major sponsor in 2022, we were able to help raise enough money to grant the wishes of over 90 children in the community who are battling a critical illness, allowing them to hold onto hope and experience joy despite their health struggles.
To find out more information or to get involved, click here.
THE GIFT OF SIGHT
Partnering with a few select organizations, Collins Vision is committed to helping those who can’t otherwise afford it, have access to sight-restoring treatments and procedures.
Our Dry Eye Clinic Director and medical optometrist Dr. Nicole Alessi routinely works with a group organized by the Club de Liones de Caborca (Lions Club of Caborca) on medical mission trips to the underserved communities in rural Caborca in Sonora, Mexico.
Over the course of just a few days, the team works from sunup to sundown, performing cataract surgeries, taking patients from near blindness to functional vision.
“Amazingly, the day after surgery, most patients returned for their post-op exam unassisted! They have regained mobility, independence and have seen their family members for the first time in years. It was an immensely gratifying experience that reminds me of why I chose this field.” – Dr. Alessi
We’re so proud of Dr. Alessi for donating her time and talent to improve the lives of individuals who don’t have the resources for or access to sight-restoring, life-changing eye care.
To find out more information or to get involved, visit e-clubhouse.org/sites/cordoba/
Collins Vision, through its alliance with United Way, also partners with an organization called WeCare and Dr. Collins has donated procedures ranging from cataract surgery to pterygium removal for area individuals in need through this organization.
Launched in 1982 as a philanthropic project of area churches, WeCare Inc. is an independent nonprofit with a simple mission: to connect people in need with area resources and help.
To find out more information or to get involved, visit wecare-inc.org
OTHER SPONSHORSHIPS
Canterbury School is an independent, college-preparatory school located in Fort Myers.
To find out more information, visit Canterbury School Extravaganza.
City of Palms Classic is the No. 1 high school basketball tournament in the nation, and it’s held right here in Fort Myers, Florida. This annual tournament is an exciting preview into the next generation of great stars headed to college and the NBA. See you courtside!
To learn more, visit: cityofpalmsclassic.com
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida has been a leading environmental advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the water, land, wildlife and future of the five-county area of Southwest Florida.
To find out more, visit conservancy.org
The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels are the Class A Advanced Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club, based in Fort Myers, Florida.
To learn more, visit their website: Mighty Mussels Baseball Team
PGA South Florida Section
The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, run by Florida Arts, Inc. (a 501c3 organization), is dedicated to bringing world-class art events to the Southwest Florida community.
To find out more, visit sbdac.com
SERVICE TO COMMUNITY IS THE COLLINS VISION WAY
In addition to the higher-profile organizations we partner with, Collins Vision quietly gives and serves in countless other ways on a smaller scale. Why? Because when you truly buy into a shared company culture of giving and serving, it’s just business as usual.
Have a cause or a local service organization you and your family love? We’d love to hear about it.