Fy-Eye August 2018 - Prevent Blindness Wisconsin

PBWI small FY-Eye: August 2018

Prevent Blindness Elects New Board Member from Wisconsin

Congratulations to one of our very dedicated board members and Chair of our Marketing Committee, Jeff McClellan. This past July, Jeff was elected to Prevent Blindness’s Board of Directors at the Eyes on Capitol Hill Advocacy Summit. Jeff is the owner of a creative communications firm, Anthologie Inc. in Milwaukee where he and his staff have donated countless hours and beautiful designs, helping our organization flourish and grow.

Jeff has been a long-time supporter, volunteer, and mentor to our organization and staff, serving Prevent Blindness Wisconsin for 17 years. We thank you for your hard work, guidance, and perseverance towards our mission and vision throughout the years. We are very excited and honored to see you taking this next step by serving and representing Wisconsin on the national board. Thank you Jeff!

Read the full press release.

$20,000 for 20/20 Vision

Thank you to all who supported Addi’s Walk on Wednesday, August 1. It was an exciting evening with more than 300 registered walkers, 17 sponsors, raffles, kid’s activities, a walk along the Hank Aaron Trail and more! Addi’s mom, Michelle, shared that Addi’s vision has improved from 20/100 to 20/20! The event is expected to raise more than $20,000 to support free certified vision screenings for children, like Addisyn, across the state. Stay tuned for information on next year’s walk!

Gifts in Addi’s honor can still be made on the Addi’s Walk website.

Visit Facebook to see photos of the night!

City on a Hill helps over 80 Milwaukee Adults see more clearly

Thank you to City on a Hill for having Prevent Blindness Wisconsin at your monthly Neighborhood Outreach Clinic this past July. The outreach clinic offers free vision screenings and vision services to uninsured, underserved, and homeless adults in Milwaukee County. Over 80 adults received vision care and a pair of eyeglasses to help them see more clearly. One guest went 10 years without a pair of eyeglasses–when she tried her new glasses on, tears came to her eyes and she said with a smile, “so this is what it’s like to see.” Our staff is truly humbled and grateful to have been a part of this amazing experience and we look forward to future partnering opportunities with City on a Hill!

Do you have old eyeglasses and eyeglass cases you don’t wear or use anymore? Recycle them with our team and we will donate them to City on a Hill for their vision outreach clinic! Please contact [email protected] for more information.

Jefferson County Head Start is ready for back-to-school

Nine family educators and advocates at Jefferson County Head Start received training and certification on Children’s Vision Screening in July. It was an “eye-opening” experience for the staff to learn about children’s vision health and the variety of free resources that Prevent Blindness Wisconsin has available. “Thanks for the training! It was wonderful,” said Jenny Adkins, Family Advocate at Jefferson County/CESA 2 Head Start.

Early Learning Network July Jamboree

Prevent Blindness Wisconsin had a wonderful opportunity to educate over 40 early childhood directors, teachers, and staff about vision health in preschoolers and the importance of vision screening and early detection of vision problems at the Early Learning Network July Jamboree. One participant remarked “I’ve been doing this for 13 years and this is the first time anyone talked to us about vision! I had no idea it was so important or that we could check this in young children.”

If you are interested in having a presentation for your early childhood group, please contact Shelby LaTona at [email protected] or (414) 765-0505 ext. 103.

2018 Eyes on Capitol Hill: Focus on Eye Health National Summit

Prevent Blindness Wisconsin participated in the 2018 Eyes on Capitol Hill: Focus on Eye Health National Summit this past July, advocating and promoting for an increase in vision health programming in the United States.

Our 2017-2018 Preschool Vision Screening Ambassador’s mom, Michelle, joined our team this year to share her story and the impact early detection and effective treatment had in her daughter’s life. Our team talked to Congressman Glenn Grothman from the House of Representatives on the impact our vision health programs have made in the lives of so many Wisconsin children and adults. With the help of our dedicated board members, Kristin Ellsworth, Jeff McClellan, and Michelle Reed and Chief Executive Officer, Tami Radwill, we were able to take one more step towards making healthy vision a priority not only in Wisconsin, but across the nation.

Learn more about the 2018 Eyes on Capitol Hill: Focus on Eye Health National Summit.

Register for a Volunteer Vision Screener Training

Have you heard the news? This fall, all Prevent Blindness Wisconsin volunteer vision screeners are transitioning to a simpler, more efficient preschool vision screening chart called the EyeCheck. If you are currently a member of a Prevent Blindness Wisconsin volunteer group, we ask that you attend a training this fall to become certified on the EyeCheck.

If you’ve considered becoming a volunteer vision screener, now is the perfect time! Sign up for a volunteer vision screener training. Volunteers should register for any training titled “Children’s Vision Screener Training for Community Volunteers”.

Please call our office at (414) 765-0505 with any questions. Please note: there is no training fee for community volunteers.

Fall Trainings to Highlight New Follow-Up Resources

Our trainings are filling up fast! There are many new and updated vision screening tools and resources available to you this school year, including our Vision and Eye Health Curriculum for 3K/4K, 5K, and 5th grade classrooms. Attend a training this fall to have a complete look at all of the lesson plans and activities, and learn how your school(s) can access this resource for FREE! Additionally, we have new training handbooks coming soon that will include all of our newly developed follow-up resources, many of which are translated into Spanish and Hmong, and a copy of our comprehensive Follow-up Manual to outline our recommended vision screening referral follow-up procedures.

Please contact Valerie Grimm at [email protected] or (414) 765-0505 ext. 104 with any questions.

Please note: As of 4/1/18 Prevent Blindness Wisconsin implemented a $75 per person training fee. This fee is waived for Wisconsin Lions/Lioness.

Grassroot Fundraisers

Thank you to all who supported Prevent Blindness Wisconsin at our grassroots fundraising events throughout July at the Mequon Chancery, ABV Social, and Café Grace. Keep an eye out for upcoming fundraisers by liking and following us on Facebook.

Casual for a Cause

Get your office involved in Prevent Blindness Wisconsin by hosting a jeans day in support of our sight saving services. Participants will make a small donation to wear jeans for a day. Talk to your HR Department to start this program.

Join our Team!

Prevent Blindness Wisconsin currently has two positions open. Please submit a cover letter, resume and, three references via email to Breanna Overesch at [email protected].

RUSD Vision Screening Coordinator

Volunteer Coordinator

Your support allows us to carry out our vision for each Wisconsin resident to have healthy vision at every stage of life.

Thank you!

Upcoming Events

Cocktails for a Cause

Extended through August!

ABV Social and Cafe Grace

Prevent Blindness Wisconsin will receive $1 from each specialty cocktail purchased.

Celebrity Bartending

Tuesday, August 28

5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Milwaukee Athletic Club Rooftop

Join Celebrity Bartenders, Ned Purtell, Bob Flood, and Elizabeth Pancratz from Founders 3 at the MAC. All tips and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Prevent Blindness Wisconsin!

38th Annual Celebrity Waiters Dinner

Join in the celebration of 60 years of saving sight!

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Italian Community Center

24th Annual Swing for Sight Golf Outing

Save the Date!

Monday, June 3, 2019

Ozaukee Country Club

Prevent Blindness Wisconsin Apparel

You can’t learn if you can’t see the board!

Be sure to order early to have your shirt by World Sight Day on Thursday, October 11!

Upcoming Trainings

Volunteers

Lion/Lioness and School and Public Health Nurses

August Newsletter Articles

Prevent Blindness Elects New Member to the Board of Directors

$20,000 for 20/20 Vision

City on the Hill

Jefferson County Head Start

Early Learning Network

2018: Eyes on Capitol Hill

Volunteer Vision Screening Training

Lions/Lioness and Public Health Nurses Training

Grassroot Fundraisers

Host a Jeans Day

Join our Team!

About Us

Founded in 1958, Prevent Blindness Wisconsin improves the lives of children, adults, and families through early detection of eye conditions to prevent blindness and preserve sight. On-going vision screening activities and state-wide public health education lead to a lifetime of healthy vision.

wisconsin.preventblindness.org

[email protected]