Eversight Ohio Vision | Page 5

Eyes on the Prize! Projects supported by the Cleveland Eye Bank Foundation typically involve microscopes and tissue samples. But this summer, the organization is putting resources toward a project that involves basketballs and poker chips. Thanks in part to the Foundation’s support, the 2016 Transplant Games of America will be held in Cleveland June 10-15, with Eversight Ohio and the Cleveland Eye Bank Foundation as hosts. “Our board saw this as a great opportunity,” Eversight Ohio Executive Director Debbie May-Johnson said of the chance to back the 2016 games. The campaign to bring the games to Cleveland began two years ago, May-Johnson said. The big event is now fast approaching, and efforts to get the word out about the The Games are in full swing. Among the many promotional events was a webinar through which May-Johnson shared information with team captains across the country. TGA Live will air on the TGA website, transplantgamesofamerica.org, at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily throughout the games. Until and throughout the event, Transplantgamesofamerica.org will serve as ground zero for everything anyone wants or needs to know about the games, VanDemark said. Through a partnership with the Ohio University School of Journalism, a group of students will produce the 30-minute broadcasts, which VanDemark likened to Sports Center for the Transplant Games. The show will include previews, recaps and interviews with athletes and others involved with the games. VanDemark said details are in the works to provide a live stream of the event’s opening and closing ceremonies, making it possible for anyone, anywhere, to share in the pageantry, emotion and excitement. “I educated them about corneal transplantation, donation and research,” she said. Promotion of the games will continue until and throughout the event. Nick VanDemark is communications manager with the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. He said a “small army” of people has been assembled to post and tweet about the games as they’re happening. “It will be promoted heavily on our signage, and throughout the event,” VanDemark said. Participants and guests at the Transplant Games will be encouraged to add the hashtag to their Facebook posts, tweets and Instagram photos. “There will be a ton of content coming from the games through Facebook and Twitter,” VanDemark said.. In addition to social media coverage, the games will be covered via a twice-daily webcast. # #tga16cle Game on! @transplantgames Transplant Games of America Spring 2016 | V I S I O N | Page 5