Drs. Pauline Pariser and Howie Abrams were there at the very beginning of Seva Canada. It wasn’t a conventional path (or what they expected to be doing straight out of medical school), but as early supporters, they helped shape not only what the organization would do, but who it would be: principled, data-driven, and fueled by an extraordinary sense of possibility. In those early days, Seva Canada was gathering momentum, supported by people who truly believed that anything was possible. We recently connected with Pauline and Howie to hear about their experiences, and to learn more about one particularly important moment in Seva Canada’s history.
On June 21, 1984, at what is now known as Canada’s Wonderland in Toronto, Seva Canada’s mission to prevent blindness and restore sight came vividly to life through the Third Eyeball. This fundraising concert featured the Grateful Dead as the headlining band, with The Band as the opening act. The event was organized by Seva Canada’s earliest supporters, including Pauline and Howie, in collaboration with founders Drs. Bev Spring and Alan Morinis, alongside many other early Seva Canada volunteers.
At the time, the Grateful Dead and The Band were far more than just popular rock-and-roll bands. They represented a cultural movement rooted in community, generosity, and social responsibility—values that aligned closely with Seva Canada’s mission. Bringing a show of that calibre to Toronto was extraordinary. It signaled that Seva Canada was something special, worthy of the attention and energy of people with global reach and influence. Counterculture literary icons Ken Kesey, Paul Krassner, and Allen Ginsberg were all in attendance.
Pauline and Howie recall that the Third Eyeball itself was joyful, creative, and unapologetically grassroots. They used their home phone number to handle ticketing themselves, saving money wherever possible. They opened their small apartment to peace activist and Seva co-founder Wavy Gravy (and his infamous clown shoes), as well as visiting volunteers from the Hog Farm hippie commune, who helped promote and carry out the event. As some of the only Toronto-based volunteers at the time, Pauline and Howie offered their floor space to sleep on, their kitchen It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Seva Honorary Board Member, Bob Weir. We offer our most sincere condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones. A founding member of the Grateful Dead, Bob Weir helped shape generations of musicians through his innovative guitar work, enduring creativity, and commitment to community. Beyond his legendary career as a musician, Bob has long embodied the spirit of Seva — selfless service — through his steadfast support of Seva’s mission to restore sight and prevent blindness in some of the most challenging areas where the need is greatest, around the world. When once asked why he supported Seva, Bob answered simply, “because I can.” That humility, generosity, and sense of responsibility to others reflect the very heart of Seva’s work. We are profoundly grateful for his compassion, his music, and his enduring example of service. We honour his life, his music, and his profound impact on our community and the world. to a woman named Goose to cook large quantities of vegetarian food for volunteers, and organized friends and family to act as chauffeurs, producers, and concert crew—ensuring that every possible dollar went directly to restoring sight.
There was no pretense—just trust, imagination, and an eclectic group of people willing to pitch in. The mix of world-class performers and deeply hands-on generosity created a sense of magic that defined Seva’s early years. The concert raised over $100,000 for Seva Canada’s eye care programs, a sum that was matched by the Canadian government. Every seat represented an eyeball—and a sight-restoring surgery made possible through donated funds. Pauline recalls, “This single donation helped create the infrastructure for the Nepal Sight Program, then and now the WHO’s model program of health care delivery to the blind… With one night of entertainment, the Grateful Dead and The Band helped more people who were blind to see than all the doctors I’d ever known.”
Looking back, Pauline and Howie remember those moments not just as successful fundraisers, but as proof of what can happen when people come together around a shared belief. That same spirit—creative, compassionate, and courageous—continues to guide Seva Canada today, thanks to supporters like Pauline and Howie, and because of supporters like you.
In Memory of 1947-2026 Bob Weir
It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Seva Honorary Board Member, Bob Weir. We offer our most sincere condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones. A founding member of the Grateful Dead, Bob Weir helped shape generations of musicians through his innovative guitar work, enduring creativity, and commitment to community. Beyond his legendary career as a musician, Bob has long embodied the spirit of Seva — selfless service — through his steadfast support of Seva’s mission to restore sight and prevent blindness in some of the most challenging areas where the need is greatest, around the world. When once asked why he supported Seva, Bob answered simply, “because I can.” That humility, generosity, and sense of responsibility to others reflect the very heart of Seva’s work. We are profoundly grateful for his compassion, his music, and his enduring example of service. We honour his life, his music, and his profound impact on our community and the world
