An Eye for Helping Others

By Lisa Stephens – Resident of West Park Village
Published in World of Westchase - May 2008

As the newly elected president of the Westchase Community Foundation (WCF), Sean O’Donnell is anxious to give money away. So anxious that the old adage “Money burns a hole in his pocket” could be applied when it comes to O’Donnell’s helping others in financial need.

The Westchase Community Foundation is a non-profit organization serving Westchase families with children suffering from serious illnesses. The organization coordinates charity events to raise funds used to assist families with financial burdens stemming from medical costs associated with treatment. Until recently, founding member Dan O’Brien served as president. O’Donnell, however, is eager to continue O’Brien’s work towards aiding as many families within our community as possible. “There is no reason we should ever have any money in the bank,” O’Donnell says as he looks to his future as president of the organization.

Besides presiding over the WCF, O’Donnell and O’Brien have something else in common. They share the same hometown of Boston. O’Donnell left Boston to pursue a medical sales job offer he had in Los Angeles. Before leaving his hometown, he met and married his wife, Jill. He reflects back on the early days of their relationship. “She was on a TV show in Boston and she was also a DJ on a radio station. I stalked her for a couple weeks and finally got her to go out with me. We were married eight short years later.”

Los Angeles was the perfect place for Jill to continue working as an actress while O’Donnell built a successful sales career. Yet after nine years in L.A., the couple decided to make the move to Florida when he was offered a vice president position in sales. Together with daughter Hallie the couple now resides in Kingsford and has been quite happy with Westchase’s family environment.

When he became unsatisfied with the direction his career was taking, however, O’Donnell decided to strike out on his own. He started Laser Locators, which helps surgeons buy and sell used lasers for refractive surgery. Jill’s acting skills came in handy when the Web site, www.800usaeyes.com, was created. She’s the pretty model who appears on the screen to explain the purpose and benefits of Laser Locators. The Web site also serves as a referral service for patients seeking qualified surgeons for LASIK surgery.

O’Donnell claims not to have had a lot of experience when it comes to charity or volunteer work. Yet after speaking with him for a while, you realize he has indeed played a significant role in many people’s lives. While in L.A., O’Donnell watched the television coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York. He then worked tirelessly to recruit some of the best surgeons in the area to perform LASIK surgery on the firefighters and rescue workers who went to New York to help with the rescue and recovery efforts. He also tapped manufacturers to donate supplies and equipment needed for the procedures. “I came up with the idea when looking at them on the news as they pulled their face masks off. Their glasses and, of course, their contacts were covered in dust. I realized how dangerous that must be.”

The stories the rescue workers had to tell of their experiences made quite an impact on O’Donnell. “You’d see these big, tough men just break down into tears when telling their stories.”

O’Donnell’s face brightens when he tells how the firefighters returned the favor. After the doctors spent a week performing surgeries, many firefighters showed up for Hallie’s birthday party, lining the street with fire trucks for the kids to see and enjoy.

Perhaps Jill best describes her husband’s concern for people in financial need. “It’s not always in an official capacity, but Sean is the type of guy that will jump at the opportunity to help someone. He’s the type of guy that will give the last shirt off his back to help someone.”

Her husband responds with a laugh, “Well, I don’t know about the last shirt!”

His first involvement with the WCF was three years ago when he attended the foundation’s annual golf tournament. He knew then this was an opportunity for him to help others. While he is proud of the assistance the foundation has provided to Westchase families, he is especially pleased with one change that has taken place since the foundation’s beginnings. “We’ve changed our guidelines to include more people. Now we can help more people.”

O’Donnell explains that assistance from the WCF can come in a variety of ways. “We’ve paid for physical therapy and hospital beds. We’ll do whatever it takes to get a family through!”

The WCF also provides funds for “Make a Wish” type experiences a family can enjoy together while going through a health crisis of a young child. He asks that residents of Westchase pass on the word that it’s OK to come to the foundation for help. “Public thanks is not necessary and if you know anyone or have somebody next door that needs help, come to us and ask for it.”

O’Donnell stresses that the identity of recipients is never revealed.

To learn more about the foundation, visit their Web site at www.westchasefoundation.org. Contact information for the WCF can also be found there.