I was born in a Mwanza, Tanzania. I went to undergraduate and graduate schools in Tokyo, Japan. I’m an international business leader and have worked in international investment banking. For the past 20 years, I was the Executive Director and the founder of International Healthcare at the University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Medicine (UNMC). During this period, I visited more than 220 healthcare institutions in 57 countries and concluded strategic partnership programs with 122 institutions in 44 countries. Through my programs and efforts, UNMC provided effective healthcare training to its international healthcare partners and treated hundreds of international patients from 59 countries, generating millions of dollars in revenue for UNMC.
During my extensive travels around the world, I observed an acute need for affordable, easily accessible corrective eye care solutions. I have a profound understanding of the challenges faced by many individuals who have poor eyesight and who have no hope to access clear vision. This realization led to the inception of First Sight LLC., a philanthropic organization, dedicated entirely to revolutionizing global vision care by providing affordable and accessible eyeglasses in under ten minutes. Tens of thousands of First Sight’s high-quality eyeglasses have already been distributed in 31 countries. Click Here
I was born in Salina, Kansas. I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas, two Master’s degrees as well as a Ph.D. from Kansas State University. I have worked in professional business training and education for over four decades. I’m very passionate about children’s education and have always enjoyed teaching children and adults.
Together with my husband, I embarked on travels across the globe. My encounters with children in schools were eye-opening. We witnessed students sitting at the back of classrooms, struggling to comprehend lessons, not because of lack of ability or desire to learn, but solely due to poor vision. I observed that in so many countries, students receive limited materials, and teachers write most lessons on blackboards. For these children, the inability to clearly see the board or reading materials becomes a significant barrier to their education. The consequences are far-reaching, as they face isolation and are often mistakenly labeled with attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, or other impairments. Sadly, many students eventually drop out of school, becoming burdens to their families and societies, resulting in lifelong impacts on their futures.
The plight of adults with poor eyesight also weighs heavily on our hearts. Many are forced to abandon their jobs or struggle to succeed due to vision-related limitations. Their reduced productivity jeopardizes their employment, affecting their ability to support their families, leading to increased strain on both the family and society. I know from experience that our First Sight process is an immense help in overcoming the great need for clear vision for children and adults.
Tens of thousands of First Sight’s high-quality eyeglasses have already been distributed in
First Sight delivers immediate impact, offering vision screenings on the spot, anywhere, and enables recipients to walk away with customized eyeglasses within just 10 minutes! Nizar and Marsha envision transforming the lives of millions, empowering children to attend school and adults to lead productive and healthy lives, all through the simple gift of improved eyesight.
Motivated by these realities, Nizar and Marsha set out to find a low-tech, fool proof, practical and affordable solution to provide eyeglasses to those in need, and more importantly one that did not need trained healthcare professionals. Thus, First Sight, LLC was established, driven by a mission to offer a straightforward, low-tech, cost-effective process that can be used in any venue, and which needs no training of personnel or electricity for eye examinations and customized prescription eyeglasses, benefiting millions of children and adults afflicted by poor vision.
Please also visit firstsight.org for Donations
First Sight is driven by a heartfelt mission: to bring clear vision to the remote and underserved, especially young learners in developing countries. With our unique kits, we turn blurred worlds into realms of opportunity, promise, and hope.
“Gift the magic of clear vision and transform a life forever with your generosity.”
