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Eugene and Marilyn Glick
Look around. What do you see? If you are like most people, you take your eyesight for granted.
But many people face a diagnosis that means impaired vision or blindness. Glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts: these are eye diseases that affect the elderly and children as well. When vision is lost in some patients, it cannot be recovered. However, with some diseases, new treatments from research can prevent vision loss or even recover vision.
At the Indiana University School of Medicine, hope has arrived in the form of a $30 million gift from Eugene and Marilyn Glick, philanthropists and community leaders who envision a world where no one has to face never seeing another sunset or a loved one again.
Their gift to the Indiana University School of Medicine will create the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute. "It is my hope that someday researchers will find a way to prevent or cure glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other diseases that rob us of our sight," says Marilyn Glick. "My dream is that our gift will result in major breakthroughs."
The Glick gift includes $20 million for the construction of an advanced eye research facility. This research center will draw the best minds in the field to IU and enhance the research of the current talented faculty members at the school. "The faculty and I have set a goal of becoming one of the top 10 eye institutes in the country," says Robert D. Yee, MD, the chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology and the Merrill Grayson Professor of Ophthalmology at the IU School of Medicine. "This gift gives us the foundation to achieve that goal." The remainder of their gift will support that work and could make the difference for patients who face impaired vision or blindness.
The Glick name is often associated with home construction. Over the past 60 years, the Glick Company, based in Indianapolis, has built more than 30,000 single-family homes and apartments. Now, it manages more than 17,000 apartments in 11 states. For Marilyn and Eugene, this gift is also a gift to the city of Indianapolis, a home they love. "What Indianapolis offers the community is improving by leaps and bounds," says Marilyn. "Gene and I are committed to doing our part to continue to make that happen."
Through this gift, the Glicks are not only combating disease, but are strengthening the expertise and scope of IU’s research. This fits perfectly with the University’s goal to foster the life sciences throughout the state. The results will not only be better health for Hoosiers, but also an investment in cutting-edge research that will galvanize industry and economic opportunities. This will create new jobs and that’s something we all want to see.