Welcome to RP International - Serving The Visually Impaired

WHERE YOUR DONATION GOES...

RP (Retinitis Pigmentosa) International has been helping counsel and comfort the visually impaired and their families for approximately 40 years.
RPI is providing education and spreading the word regarding the millions of people who have retinal degenerative diseases like Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), Macular Degeneration and Usher's Syndrome.
Our research advisory board invites funding requests from prestigious research centers and awards the most promising. RPI has contributed over $8 million to medical research and is behind the first successful retinal transplant.
Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) strikes people of all ages. Unfortunately, children are the most commonly diagnosed. We are determined to stop RP within this generation.

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"We've found the cure... Now you can fund it!" TM


Start your own online fundraising campaign NOW! It's Easy!

Donate $25 to enter the FREEDOM FROM BLINDNESS CAMPAIGN to win a Lasik Eye Surgery
valued at $6k. (Scroll down for details.)

Renowned local eye doctors, Kerry Assil, M.D. of Assil Eye in Santa Monica, and Dr. Thomas Tooma of NVision Laser Eye Centers in Newport, each have donated a Lasik Eye Surgery to help RP International's efforts to save The Van Nuys School for the Blind from closure.  Entrants making donations to RPI, at a minimum of $25.00, through Friday, July 1, 2011, will be eligible to win one laser eye surgery certificate valued at $6,000.00.  Donate $100.00 and you will be entered four times. Donate $500.00 and you will be entered 20 times!  (Every additional $25.00 donated increases your entries with an additional chance to win.)  The winner will be selected in a special drawing on July 4, 2011.  (Please note, a subsequent donation drive will take place after July 4th for the second surgery certificate, immediately following the announcement of the winner of the first drawing.)
Donate now by clicking the blue "Donate" button on the top right side of this website or to enter by mail, enclose a check or money order along with a hand printed or typed contact information including your full name, complete address with zip code, date of birth, and day/evening phone numbers with area code with the proper postage affixed: RP International, PO Box 900, Woodland Hills, CA 91365.  All mail-in entries must be postmarked during the Donation Drive Period and received by July 1, 2011.
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Kerry K. Assil, MD is one of the world’s foremost experts in eye surgery. More than 10,000 ophthalmologists from around the world have come to Dr. Assil for training in the latest refractive and ocular surgical techniques. During his more than twenty years in practice, Dr. Assil has authored more than one hundred textbooks, textbook chapters and articles on refractive and cataract surgery. His many inventions and improvements in technology continue to advance the precision and safety of vision correction surgery available to his patients.  www.assileye.com
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Dr. Tom Tooma was the first in California to perform LASIK surgery and the first to perform Custom Wavefront Guided LASIK. He was also the first in the U.S. to use the Femtosecond Laser (IntraLase FS30 – All Laser LASIK). Using the IntraLase laser rather than the blade (microkeratome) makes the procedure safer and more precise, and increases the chance of 20/20 or better vision.  In 1999, He partnered with the largest provider of laser vision correction in the world, NVISION Laser Eye Centers, Inc.  www.NVISIONCenters.com

For more information and recent press on the School for the Blind, please visit: http://vhav.org/press.html.

CLICK "READ MORE" BUTTON BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE SCHOOL, AS WELL AS DONATION DRIVE RULES & REGULATIONS.

  About The School for The Blind  (VHAV.org)

The School for the Blind in Van Nuys, California--also known as the Visually Handicapped Adults of the Valley (VHAV) Program--is the only program in the San Fernando Valley that caters especially to the elderly and visually impaired adults.  In the past, this almost 40 year old venerable institution has enjoyed the funding of volunteer services supported by RP International and the City of Los Angeles.  However, the past two years have been challenging due to the state of the economy.  VHAV has lost its grants, and as a result had to reduce the number of classes offered, close its doors to only one day per week, as well as make staff layoffs.  Despite the obstacles, VHAV continues in their efforts to keep the doors open to serve the blind.  "This school is a lifeline for these people," says Harris.  “Transportation and classes in Braille and home economics are just a few of the pieces that have dwindled off as each of the grants has been removed.  There's a great need for a facility like this because blind people need a way out of their homes with trained people that they can trust.”

RP International (RPI) aims to raise a minimum of $75,000 (the cost to keep the program running fully each year) to save the School from closure since its State-funded grant of the same amount has been cut in a wave of social programs that the State eliminated due to the lagging economy.  RPI was able to successfully raise an initial $20,000 via a Holiday fundraising campaign to keep the school open past December 2010, when its last grant expired, but the amount is a far cry from what it takes to keep the doors open.
Harris says, “The School provides a haven for those that are visually impaired with training for the social, emotional and physical implications related to losing one's vision.  The program is also hosting autistic and mentally disabled students, so it will be a tragedy for all of these students and their loved ones if this program cannot continue.  If the funds are not raised to keep the school open, these students will have nowhere to go to continue their specialized education and mobility training, which allows them to function as productive and purposeful citizens."

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RP INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM FROM BLINDNESS DONATION DRIVE & SWEEPSTAKES RULES

Eligibility: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. MAKING A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE AN INDIVIDUAL'S CHANCE OF WINNING. The RP International Sweepstakes (the “Sweepstakes”) is open to all legal U.S. residents (except residents of FL, NY and RI,) who are at least twenty-one (21) years of age, except employees, directors and officers (or any persons who have been employees, directors or officers in the past twelve months) of RP International, Inc., (“Sponsor”), or prize suppliers and their affiliates, partners, subsidiaries, franchises, distributors, retailers, advertising and promotion agencies, and the immediate families or household members of each. The Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited or restricted by law or regulations.

How to enter: The Sweepstakes begins at 12:00 a.m. PT on April 20, 2011, and ends at 11:59 p.m. PT on July 1, 20011 (“Sweepstakes Period”).  Any eligible individual who contributes $25.00 or more to RP International during the Sweepstakes Period will automatically be entered into the Sweepstakes. Each additional $25.00 will result in an additional entry for that donor. To enter by mail, enclose a check or money order along with a hand printed or typed contact information including your full name, complete address with zip code, date of birth, and day/evening phone numbers with area code with the proper postage affixed: RP International, PO Box 900, Woodland Hills, CA 91365.  All mail-in entries must be postmarked during the Sweepstakes Period and received by July 1, 2011.    All entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned.

Prize(s): One (1) winner will receive a laser eye surgery certificate (ARV: $6,000.00).

Winner will be responsible for all expenses not specifically included herein, and all applicable federal, state and local taxes. Prize is transferable, but no cash equivalent is allowed.  

Selection of winner: Winner will be determined in a random drawing on or about July 4, 2011 (from among all eligible entries). Judges’ decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to this Sweepstakes. Winner will be notified by telephone, mail or e-mail on or about July 4, 2011, and will be given instructions on how to claim prize. Winner may be required to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility and liability release (and, where permitted, a publicity release).   Failure to comply when requested may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.  Limit of one (1) prize per individual/household per year from Sponsor.

Release of Liability: By participating, you release Sponsor, RP International and their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, employees, directors, agents, advertising agencies, and all other associated with the development and execution of this Sweepstakes, from any and against any and all injury, loss or damage caused or claimed to be caused by your participation in the Sweepstakes and/or the acceptance, awarding, receipt, use and/or misuse of the prize, and you agree that these entities are not responsible for any warranty, representation, or guarantee, expressed or implied, in fact or in law, relating to the promotion and/or the awarding of any prize except as expressly set forth in these Official Rules.   By entering, you further agree that (i) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in connection with the sweepstakes, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually without resort to any form of class action; (ii) any claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering the sweepstakes, but in no event attorney’s fees; and (iii) under no circumstances will any entrant be permitted to obtain any award for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental or consequential damages and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased and any other damages, other than damages for actual out-of-pocket expenses.           

Additional Rules: Entry materials/data that have been tampered with or altered, or mass entries or entries generated by a script, macro or use of automated devices are void.   No responsibility is assumed for: (i) lost, late, misdirected, damaged, garbled, postage due or illegible entries; (ii) error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operations or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alterations of entry materials, or for technical, network, telephone equipment, electronic, computer, hardware or software malfunctions of any kind, or inaccurate transmission of or failure to receive entry information by Sponsor on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any web site or any combination thereof; or (iii) any injury or damage to entrant’s or any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participating in the Sweepstakes.  By participating in the Sweepstakes, you (i) agree to be bound by these official rules, including all eligibility requirements, and (ii) agree to be bound by the decisions of the judges, which are final and binding in all matters relating to the Sweepstakes.  Failure to comply with these official rules may result in disqualification from the Sweepstakes.  Sponsor reserves the right to: (i) permanently disqualify from any sweepstakes it sponsors any person it believes has intentionally violated these official rules; and (ii) suspend, modify or terminate the Sweepstakes if Sponsor believes, in its sole discretion, that malfunction, error, disruption or damage is impairing or will impair the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper play of the Sweepstakes. If Sweepstakes is terminated before the end date, Sponsor will determine the winner from all eligible entries received as of the termination date. These Rules and this Sweepstakes are governed by and controlled by the laws of the State of California, applicable to contracts made and performed therein without reference to the applicable choice of law provisions. All actions, proceedings or litigation relating hereto will be instituted and prosecuted solely within the State of California, Los Angeles County. The parties consent to the jurisdiction of the state courts of California and the federal courts located with such state and county with respect to any action, dispute or other matter pertaining to or arising out of this Sweepstakes.

Privacy: By entering the Sweepstakes, you agree to receive informational and promotional communications periodically from RP International.  If you want to opt-out of receiving communications from , make your request to the Membership Department at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , by phone at 800 FIGHTRP, or by mail at RP International, PO Box 900, Woodland Hills, CA 91365.

LEGAL WARNING: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN INDIVIDUAL, WHETHER OR NOT AN ENTRANT, TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE, DESTROY, TAMPER OR VANDALIZE THIS WEB SITE OR INTERFERE WITH THE OPERATION OF THE SWEEPSTAKES, IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND DILIGENTLY PURSUE ALL REMEDIES AGAINST ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

Winner(s) Name: For the name of the winner(s) or for a copy of the Official Sweepstakes Rules, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope  by July 4, 2011 to: RP International, PO Box 900, Woodland Hills, CA 91365