How do you summarize 20 years of science in a few minutes?

How do you summarize 40 studies?
9.5 million shekels invested in research?
Dozens of researchers, hundreds of hours of work, scientific publications - and Israeli knowledge that reached far beyond the country's borders?

The truth is - it is impossible.

But maybe you don't need to either.

Because behind every number there is a story.

And behind every study there is a person.

A researcher who believed in a new question.
A doctor who was looking for a better way to treat.
A scientist who didn't give up until he found an answer.

This week many read about the determination of the late Nobel laureate Prof. Ada Yonat!

And behind them all is one goal:

To maintain vision and prevent blindness.

 

20 years ago we set out with a vision.

Over the years, we managed to raise about NIS 9.5 million, and support about 40 studies in the field of eye health and prevention of blindness.

I am very proud of this achievement.

But if you ask me what I am most proud of - my answer is not 9.5 million.

I'm proud of what we were able to do with that money.

I am proud of the quality of the science.

in studies that became scientific publications.
In the Israeli researchers who presented their work in the international arena.
And the fact that Israeli research in the field of eye health does not stay here - but goes out into the world.

Many of the studies were presented at the Arbo conference, the annual international conference for eye research.

And in those moments there was a special feeling:

We in Israel do not only learn from the world.
We also donate to him.

And that, in my eyes, is the heart of an association to see.

We don't just raise money.

We gather trust.

We take the trust of donors and partners - and turn it into an opportunity for researchers.

We take research - and turn it into knowledge.

And we hope that one day this knowledge will become better treatment, better prevention, and life with better vision.

for many patients.

This is why any research is important.

Because we don't always know in advance which research will change the future.

But we do know one thing:

Without research - there is no future.

And today, when we celebrate 20 years, and we will distribute another NIS 300,000 to 6 outstanding researchers,

I want to stop and say thank you.

Thanks to the researchers.

Thanks to the doctors.

Thanks to the donors and partners who believed in us.

Thanks to everyone who worked, supported, encouraged and was part of the way.

And I also want to say thank you for my personal privilege to be part of this journey.

20 years is a significant chapter.

But for me they are not the end.

They are the beginning of the next chapter.

A chapter where we will continue to look for the next study.
the next idea.
The next way to prevent blindness.

Because in the end, you can measure an association in money.

It can be measured in several studies.

It can be measured in the number of publications.

But its real success is measured elsewhere:

In the eyes of the person who will one day be able to see thanks to the science we are investing in today.

And that's why we're here.

20 years of seeing.
20 years of believing.
20 years of investing in science.
And 20 years of seeing far.

so that in 20 years,

More people will see the world - and fewer people will lose their sight.

Thank you very much.