Fy-Eye December 2018

Prevent Blindness Wisconsin welcomes Tony Revolinski, Senior Accountant at Wipfli, to our Board of Directors. Tony has a wide range of accounting experience including performing audits, reviews and compilations as well as tax returns. Tony received both his BS in Business Administration and his Master of Business Administration from Creighton University. In his free time, Tony enjoys playing hockey and serves as the Ozaukee County Hockey League Captain. Using his knowledge and experience as an accountant, Tony currently serves on the Prevent Blindness Wisconsin Revenue and Golf Committees and has shown his dedication to Prevent Blindness Wisconsin’s mission and sight-saving work. Thank you Tony!

Prevent Blindness Wisconsin would like to give a huge ‘thank you’ to all of our volunteer groups for helping us to vision screen over 2,000 children during the fall and winter months. We cannot do what we do, without all of you!

A Dane County Success–Meet Peter!

Peter is a happy-go-lucky 3-year-old who loves his new glasses! Peter’s mom said she didn’t suspect that he had a vision problem because “he is so young and he never complained of not being able to see.” The vision screening helped Peter’s parents learn that he needed glasses to see more clearly. He is loving the attention he is getting in his new glasses. 

A very special ‘thank you’ to the Dane County Volunteer Group for helping us make sure that children like Peter have the healthy vision they need to be successful both inside and outside of the classroom.

Lions Take Pride in Vision Health 

Lions continue to advocate for healthy vision through vision screening and recently launched an initiative on diabetes awareness. On November 13, 22 Lions and 3 school nurses were certified at the Phoenix Center in Richland Center, WI as Children Vision Screeners. On November 16, the Wind Lake Lions Club hosted a Children’s Health Fair in partnership with Prevent Blindness Wisconsin, Children’s Hospital, and Froedert and the Medical College of Wisconsin. At the event, children and adults were offered free certified vision screenings, healthy snacks, and information about Lions summer camps and healthy meal choices. Thank you Lions! Together, we can provide a lifetime of healthy vision for every Wisconsinite. 

School Nurse Vision Screenings Help Save Sight

In November, more than 60 school nurses and staff from Milwaukee Public and Racine Unified School Districts were certified as Children’s Vision Screeners. These nurses will provide sight-saving vision screenings to students in their district and refer those who do not pass to further care. A vision screening referral can set a child on a path for a lifetime of healthy vision. If you’d like to be certified as a Children’s Vision Screener, review our upcoming training schedule or contact Shelby at [email protected].

Upcoming Trainings 

If you would like a training in your area of the state, please contact Shelby at [email protected] to schedule a local training. 

Full list of trainings here.

Prevent Blindness Wisconsin is excited to announce it has been awarded grants from the Byron L. Walter Family Trust, the Four-Four Foundation, and the Marjorie Christiansen Foundation to support our sight-saving services for Wisconsin children and adults.

Thank you Byron L. Walter Family Trust for supporting the Children’s Vision Screening Program in Brown County which will ensure more than 15,000 children have healthy vision for success in school and beyond!

Thank you Four-Four Foundation for supporting the Children’s Vision Screening Program in Waukesha County, ensuring more than 12,000 children have healthy vision to begin their educational careers with success!

Thank you Marjorie Christiansen Foundation for supporting the Adult Vision Health Program in Racine County which will make healthy vision a priority in the community by educating and equipping local healthcare professionals to act as vision health advocates and providing sight-saving vision screenings and vision health education to community members.

‘Tis the Season for Toy Safety

December is Safe Toys and Gifts Month! As we begin to celebrate the holiday season, Prevent Blindness Wisconsin wants to make sure healthy vision and eye safety makes everyone’s holiday list.

Unsafe toys, such as toys with sharp, pointed edges and those that shoot projectiles, can cause damage to a child’s eye including bleeding and swelling of the eye, and blurry vision. Injury to a child’s eye can result in vision loss, traumatic cataracts, and an increased risk of glaucoma (a buildup of pressure in the eye) as they age. 

For safe gift ideas, follow the tips below:

-Look for toys that are age-approved.

-Make sure toys are stamped with the symbol ‘ASTM F963.’ This symbol means it is safe for children to play with and follow the safety standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials.

-Look for toys that are made of durable plastic or wood. These materials are less likely to break.

Gifts that should be avoided:

-Gifts/toys that are cracked or broken.

-Any toys that shoot darts or projectiles. If these are given as a gift, a pair of safety goggles would serve as a great pairing gift, ensuring your child’s eyes are safe when they are playing.

-Any toys/gifts that have a recall on them. If a toy is received that has a recall on it, it should be returned to the store.

Eye safety never takes a holiday. Be aware of the gifts your children receive and the toys they are playing with. We hope you and your family have a safe holiday season. Happy Holidays!

Amazon Smile

Use Amazon Smile for your one-stop-shop this holiday season and choose Prevent Blindness Wisconsin as your charity to donate 0.5% of eligible purchases back to Prevent Blindness Wisconsin!