Students at the College of Optometry have many opportunities to be involved and many of these students are afforded the ability to receive monetary awards. The Missouri Optometric Foundation (MOF) is one of those organizations that is designed to “pay it forward” to future optometrists through various grants, scholarships, and assistance.
The mission of the Missouri Optometric Foundation (MOF) is to promote private practice in Missouri. The MOF was created in 1970 by Earl M McClellan, an optical laboratory owner in Kansas City with a mission to promote independent optometric practice in Missouri. Our vision is to sustain the MOF through membership. Missouri optometrists would become more aware of the Foundations contributions to students and the profession.
According to Dr. Debbie Kerber (‘91), a member of the MOF executive board, “The foundation was influential in forming the UMSL College of Optometry in 1980 and supporting students during their academic career is important in fulfilling our mission.”
Over the past 15 years, the MOF has been instrumental in providing financial resources to many of our students. The MOF has provided housing stipends to students at select externship sites, yearly scholarships for assisting in cost of living and education, and graduation awards to students who plan to practice in Missouri. Since 2000 the MOF has provided students with more than $900,000 in aid to help with the cost of attending the College of Optometry. After graduation, the MOF does not stop helping alumni, in fact since 2000, the foundation has provided more than $75,000 in support to alumni through sponsorships for continuing education, and convention sponsorship.
This year the MOF began a new initiative with the incoming class at the College of Optometry, which entitles members to scholarships, stipends, and equipment. This year the MOF added a class liaison, Kate Hamm (’19), to help foster a relationship between the foundation and the student population. “Not only is the MOF looking to help students with scholarships, but also with unique ways to relieve financial stress. MOF has started a new initiative for students to start their membership with MOF while they are in school. With this $100 membership, students receive a jacket, water bottle, equipment, but also unique membership perks throughout their time at UMSL,” Hamm said.
The MOF message is clear. They are here to help foster future optometrists through financial and developmental opportunities. As Hamm states, “ The MOF works to give students scholarships so they are able to become incredible optometrists without worrying about the financial component of their education.”
Giving and paying it forward doesn’t stop at graduation. Membership into the MOF is $500 for a lifetime membership, or $50.00 a year. These funds are invested into future optometrists. “Alumni are able to connect with MOF by giving back to students who are going to become their colleagues. By helping students to be able to focus on their education, alumni are able to help make the profession of optometry better because students are able to focus on their optometric education more than their finances”, commented Hamm.
Graduates should consider joining the MOF and to help foster the vision of the organization that likely gave financial assistance to them during their optometric education. “Alumni should join the MOF to support the profession and the students and recent graduates. Our hope is that all Missouri optometrists will join the Missouri Optometric Foundation,” Kerber said. The cost to join is minimal, but the reward on making a difference on future optometrist is priceless. The MOF welcomes new members and looks forward to continuing to support the students at UMSL through scholarship and educational opportunities. The new relationship with creating a liaison and branding of the MOF here at UMSL will hopefully spark a renewed interest in giving back to a organization which sole purpose is to help future optometrists.