News

Fy-Eye May 2019

   
PBWI small Fy-Eye: May 2019 

Upcoming Events

60th Annual Meeting of the Board

Tuesday, May 21

The Town Club

Register online!

24th Annual Swing for Sight Golf Outing

Monday, June 3

Ozaukee Country Club

Lizzy’s Walk

Wednesday, July 31

Trestle Park – Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward

Invite your family and friends on Facebook!

Upcoming Trainings

View the Children’s Vision Screener Training Schedule

May Newsletter Articles

5 Award Winners at the 60th Annual Meeting of the Board

Congratulations Barbara Struck!

Swing for Sight Golf Outing

Join us at Lizzy’s Walk

Meet Carson!

Upcoming Children’s Vision Screenings

Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon

You Have Amazing Eyes

HOSA Students Enthusiastic to Save Sight

Thank you WASN

27-E2 Lions Convention

Early Head Start Screening Protocol Reminder

Grants Galore!

NACDD Update

Workplace Safety Vision Health Presentations

May is Ultraviolet Awareness Month

Prevent Blindness Wisconsin Apparel

Interns Wanted

Donate

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]

 

PBWI small

Support Prevent Blindness Wisconsin

Support Prevent Blindness Wisconsin throughout the year by holding an event in our honor at your work, school or church. Some ideas include:

– Jeans Day

– Dedicate your birthday

– Bake sale

Please contact Bridget at [email protected] for PBW marketing materials. 


Celebrate Five Award Winners at the 60th Annual Meeting of the Board

Prevent Blindness Wisconsin is pleased to announce five award winners and celebrate their achievements towards healthy vision for all Wisconsin residents. The awards will be presented at a dinner following the 60th Annual Meeting of the Board at the Town Club on May 21, 2019, at 6:30 pm. Tickets are available for $65 by calling (414) 765-0505 or online. Register by Friday, May 10.

Kathy Backus, Children’s Screening Services Ascension Mercy Hospital Volunteers – The Gae Lach Sight Saver Award is presented annually in honor of Gae Lach. Her dedication to children’s vision health through her selfless volunteer service set an example for all Prevent Blindness Wisconsin volunteers.

Marathon County Health Department – The Children’s Healthy Vision Award recognizes a Children’s Program partner who makes children’s vision health a reality.

Racine Unified School District HOSA and Health Youth Apprenticeship Program – The 20/20 Service Award recognizes a program partner who sees clearly that healthy vision is possible only through collaborative partnerships.

Bread of Healing Clinic – The Adult Healthy Vision Award recognizes an Adult Program Partner who makes vision health for at-risk adults a priority.

Jeff Lemke – The Make a Difference Award recognizes an individual who Prevent Blindness Wisconsin staff feel is integral to the team and makes a difference by supporting our programs and services in the office and the community.

Read the full press release to learn more about these awardees!


Congratulations Barbara Struck!

Prevent Blindness Wisconsin was honored to write a letter in support of Volunteer Vision Screener and Emeritus Board Member Barbara Struck for Delta Gamma’s Oxford Award presented on April 6, 2019, at the Milwaukee Founder’s Day Celebration. Known lovingly as the “Mother of Delta Gamma Vision Screeners,” Ms. Struck began serving Prevent Blindness Wisconsin in 1976 when she founded the Ozaukee County Preschool Vision Screening Group with whom she vision screens to this day. Ms. Struck went on to cultivate the Delta Gamma West Screening group, now known as West Suburban, as well as the Madison, North Shore, and New Berlin preschool vision screening groups. Her enthusiasm and passion for children’s vision health is infectious and can be seen in the numerous volunteers she has recruited over the years.

On behalf of the thousands of children who owe their healthy vision to Barb Struck, congratulations and thank you for your dedication to our vision for each Wisconsin resident to have healthy vision at every stage of life.

 

Barb 1 - crop Barb 2 - crop


Swing for Sight Golf Outing

Sponsorship opportunities are still available for our 24th Annual Swing for Sight Golf Outing on Monday, June 3, 2019 at the Ozaukee Country Club. Some opportunities include: Golf Cart Sponsor, Prize Sponsor, Tee and Green Sponsor and more! Visit our event website or contact Julie at (414) 765-0505 ext. 102 or [email protected] for more information.

Reserve your foursome by May 24!


Lizzy's Walk Banner - Crop

Join us at Lizzy’s Walk!

We are excited to announce Lizzy’s Walk, a family-friendly walk and fundraiser scheduled on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, to benefit children’s healthy vision. Located at Trestle Park in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward, walkers will enjoy a pizza dinner compliments of Riverfront Pizzeria Bar & Grill, kids’ entertainment, a 2.3 – mile walk, raffle and more! Please visit the Lizzy’s Walk website for more information, to register a walker, start a team and donate!

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Confirm your team sponsorship by Monday, May 6 to guarantee your company logo on the event brochure. Please contact Bridget at [email protected] or (414) 765-0505 ext. 107 to confirm your sponsorship or for more information.


Meet Carson! 

 

 Meet Carson 

Carson received a certified vision screening from Prevent Blindness Wisconsin at St. Lucy Catholic School in Racine. Having not passed his vision screening, Carson was referred to the eye doctor and was prescribed glasses. Carson got to pick out his “cool” glasses and is much happier now that he can see to learn and play! Carson’s mom Becky is thankful he received a vision screening because she had no idea that his vision was compromised. We are very grateful to St. Lucy Catholic School for the opportunity to come and vision screen their students. Way to go Carson; we know you have a bright future ahead of you!


Upcoming Certified Children’s Vision Screener Trainings

Sign up for one of our upcoming Children’s Vision Screener Trainings. If you have questions or if you would like to schedule a training, please contact Shelby at [email protected].

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Certified Children’s Vision Screener Training and Plusoptix – Cuba City

5:00 PM – 7:30 PM

American Legion

413 East Calhoun St.

Cuba City, WI 53807

REGISTER NOW!

Friday, August 16, 2019

Children’s Vision Screener Training at CAP Services

8:00 – 11:00 AM

CAP Services

2900 Hoover Road, Ste B

Stevent Point, WI 54481

REGISTER NOW!

Monday, June 3, 2019

Certified Vision Screener Training & PlusOptix – Beloit

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

River of Life UMC

2345 Prairie Ave

Beloit, WI 53111

REGISTER NOW!

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Certified Children’s Vision Screener Training – Eau Claire

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Eau Claire Health Department

720 2nd Ave

Eau Claire, WI 54703

REGISTER NOW!


Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon

Prevent Blindness Wisconsin celebrated our community volunteers by hosting a Spring Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon in their honor on April 11. This luncheon event, held at the Woman’s Club of Wisconsin was a wonderful opportunity to recognize our network of over 180 volunteers statewide who help support our vision for each Wisconsin resident to have healthy vision at every stage of life.

View more pictures from the event on Facebook.

Volunteer Luncheon  Volunteer Luncheon 2


You Have Amazing Eyes

A big thank you to Cooper Elementary School in Burlington for allowing us to share “Your Amazing Eyes Story Time.” This fun presentation incorporates reading books about vision, games, optical illusions, and fun glasses. Students learn how to keep their eyes healthy and the importance of wearing different eyewear to keep their eyes safe. It proves to be a wonderful time and we can’t wait for the next story time.

Funding for this program is generously provided by the Racine Community Foundation. If you would like to have the “Your Amazing Eyes Story Time” in your Racine County 4K or 5K class, please reach out to [email protected] or call (414) 316-6265.


HOSA Students – Statewide – Enthusiastic to Save Sight

Last month, Prevent Blindness Wisconsin attended the 2019 Wisconsin State HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) Leadership Conference in Wisconsin Dells. The conference was a great opportunity to network with high school students and teachers from across the state. High school students who attended welcomed the opportunity to learn more about the importance of vision and eye health as well as how they can help provide certified vision screenings in their community. If you have questions about our high school partnership program or know of a HOSA organization that would be interested in having their club trained to become Certified Children’s Vision Screeners, please contact Shelby at [email protected]

HOSA table


Thank You WASN for Supporting Healthy Vision

Thank you to everyone who visited the Prevent Blindness Wisconsin booth at the Wisconsin Association of School Nurses Conference (WASN). We are thankful to be able to provide vision health resources, Vision and Eye Health Curriculum, and vision screening protocol to nurses in Wisconsin. For access to our vision health resources, please visit our School Nurse Vision Screening Toolkit. If you missed us at WASN, but still have a question please feel free to contact Shelby at [email protected]. 


A Roaring Good Time at the 27-E2 Lions Convention

Prevent Blindness Wisconsin certified 27 Lion and Lioness Club members as Children’s Vision Screeners during the 27-E2 Lions Convention – Certified Vision Screener Training in Eau Claire. We are so thankful to have dedicated partners who are able to provide vision screenings and referrals! “It was great to learn about vision screening and to get answers to any questions I had,” said one participant. To learn more about our partnership with the Wisconsin Lions Foundation or to schedule a training for your club, contact Shelby at [email protected].

Lions E2 Convention


Early Head Start Screening Protocol Reminder

Providing vision screenings for your Early Head Start students can be confusing. A new tool that Prevent Blindness Wisconsin provides, “18 Vision Development Milestones from Birth to Baby’s First Birthday,” can help. If you would like to schedule a training to learn more about vision screening for Early Head Start or if you have questions about the tool, please contact Shelby at [email protected].


Grants Galore!

Prevent Blindness Wisconsin is proud and honored to announce it has been awarded grants from the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation and the R.D. & Linda Peters Foundation to support our sight-saving services.

Thank you Greater Green Bay Community Foundation for supporting the Head Start Vision Health program which brings the future into focus for the low-income children of Green Bay Public Schools Head Start!

Thank you R.D. & Linda Peters Foundation for supporting the Children’s Vision Screening Program for children in Calumet County, thus ensuring children are vision-ready to learn, play, and grow!

Greater Green Bay Community Foundation


NACDD Update

20/40. Many adults will be seeing 20/40, if not better, after NACDD (National Association of Chronic Disease Directors) programming is complete in Milwaukee County. We’ve experienced wonderful success over the past few months of this program, vision screening more than 100 adults through this program with plans to screen many more. This work would not be possible without our dedicated partners, the City of Milwaukee Public Health Department’s Milwaukee Breast and Cervical Cancer Awareness Program and the Milwaukee Consortium for Hmong Health. We would also like to thank Wisconsin Vision for it’s partnership and contribution to helping adults in this program receive necessary dilated eye exams. Because of your collaboration, we are making healthy vision possible for at-risk adults in our community.

April and Near Acuity Distance Screening 1 Students

Health Department Logo MCHH
WI Vision Logo


Workplace Safety Vision Health Presentations

Are you interested in setting up a Vision Health Workplace Safety Presentation at your facility? Presentations are approximately one hour long and cover the following:

– Common Vision Problems in Adults

– Risk Factors, Preventative Tips, and Treatment Options for Common Adult Vision Concerns

– Tips and Tricks on How to Make your Work Environment Safe for Your Vision Health

– How to Protect Your Vision at Work

– Vision Health Resources and Financial Assistance Programs

Awareness is one of the first steps to healthy vision. Is your vision safe at work? Contact Courtney at [email protected] for more information.

Adult Workplace Presentation Pic Safety First Workplace Presentation


Here Comes the Sun! May is Ultraviolet Awareness Month

As the weather gets nicer and summer approaches, we all know to pull out the sunscreen! Protecting your skin is important, but have you ever thought about protecting your eyes from the sun? Over time, the sun’s UV-rays (invisible rays of light) can cause permanent damage to your eyes. Common vision problems associated with unprotected sun exposure include cataracts (a clouding of the eye’s lens), age-related macular degeneration (AMD; an eye disease that affects the macula of the eye, the area responsible for central vision), Pterygium [tuh-rij-ee-uh m] (growths on the white portion of the eyes), and corneal burns.

Prevention and Protection

– Avoid the use of indoor tanning beds. Exposure to UV radiation in tanning beds is 100 times greater than it is from the sun. This can lead to the development of cataracts and cancer of the uvea, the layer of tissue beneath the white area of your eye.

 – Wear sunglasses or goggles that have a label stating they “absorb 99-100% of UV-A and UV-B rays” and make sure your sunglasses cover your entire eye.

– Wear a large brimmed hat outside to help reduce glare from the sun.

sunglasses may hat 2 sun screen

Join Prevent Blindness Wisconsin Outside this Summer!

Swing for Sight

Monday, June 3, 2019

Ozaukee County Club

Enjoy a day of golf while supporting a sight-saving cause. Remember to bring your sunglasses and sunscreen! Form a team today!

Visit our event website for more information!

Lizzy’s Walk

Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Trestle Park – Historic Third Ward

A family-friendly walk that gets you outside and active! Join us for Lizzy’s Walk on Wednesday, July 31 to benefit children’s healthy vision

Learn more on our event website!

 


Prevent Blindness Wisconsin Apparel

 

2019 T-Shirt Flyer-small


Interns Wanted!

Public Health Marketing Intern

Do you know of a college student who is majoring in the marketing field? Prevent Blindness Wisconsin is looking for a volunteer intern this summer to help with monthly educational press release campaigns, social media campaigns, and aid in the design of public education materials and handouts. To learn more and to send inquiries, please email Courtney at [email protected].

Special Events Intern

Prevent Blindness Wisconsin is looking for a volunteer Special Events and Communications Intern to assist in the planning of our three annual events as well as other events and development duties that include: auction solicitation, sponsor recognition, and newsletter creation. For more information, please email Bridget at [email protected].

Interns

Interns are needed all year-round! If you are interested in learning about Prevent Blindness Wisconsin’s internship opportunities, please contact Breanna at [email protected].

Interns wanted


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

Thank you!

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 2018 Email pictures