Clear-eyed Problem Solving: Couple Donates Reading Glasses to Hackensack University Medical Center

Allan Keene had a visionary thought while manning the library cart as a volunteer at a hospital. He’d seen time and again how patients (and sometimes their caregivers) – who may have come to the hospital in an emergency or with little notice – were caught short without their reading glasses.

And so, the non-profit Keene Reading Glasses Program was born. Since 2013, Allan and his wife Margaret have given out hundreds of thousands of reading glasses to patients at hospitals and other health care facilities in New York, Florida, and California.

Now, the program has come to Hackensack Meridian Health, as the couple recently made a donation of 3,000 glasses to Hackensack University Medical Center, with another 6,000 more glasses soon on the way to the health system.

"The glasses that Mr. and Mrs. Keene have so generously donated have made such a significant impact on our patients," says Elizabeth Paskas, DNP, MBA, RN, NE-BC, CPXP, senior vice president, chief patient experience and performance improvement officer, Hackensack Meridian Health. "This kind donation has been invaluable. It ensures that patients can read clearly and comfortably during their hospital stay. We are deeply grateful for the Keenes' support and dedication to improving patient care."

Allan said the couple was pleased to add Hackensack Meridian Health to their roster. “We make a lot of people happy,” he says. The glasses provide comfort during what may be a stressful time. “The patients who receive glasses give higher ratings to the hospitals, so it’s a win-win situation.”

The program distributes 100,000 pairs per year. The traditional reading glasses come in dark-frame and clear-frame varieties in three different strengths. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Keenes also provided prescription-strength goggles needed for the operating room of a New York hospital.

The couple largely funds the program themselves. When they do receive outside donations, Allan, a retired stockbroker, has been known to paint a portrait of the donor in gratitude.

He and Margaret were impressed during a recent visit to Hackensack University Medical Center. 

“Everyone in the organization is committed,” he says, and he singled out the new state-of-the-art Helena Theuer Pavilion for praise. The nine-story pavilion features 530,000 square feet of surgical and intensive care space. “It is spectacular.”

We thank Allan and Margaret for their generosity and support of our patients! To make a gift in support of Hackensack University Medical Center, visit GiveHMH.org/HUMC or contact Richard Knupp, vice president of development, North Region, Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation at richard.knupp@hmhn.org.