An Eye for Helping Others
By Lisa Stephens, Resident of West Park Village
Kingsford residents Sean, Jill and Hallie
O'Donnell
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 continuing 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.
