Please join us in celebrating and congratulating this year’s award winners from our Annual Meeting Celebration! The following people, partners, and programs have been instrumental in helping Prevent Blindness Wisconsin move the needle and provide the assistance needed for everyone in our communities.
Germantown High School Health Career Students | Children’s Healthy Vision Award
Since 2016, Prevent Blindness Wisconsin has partnered with Germantown High School students enrolled in Diversified Health 1 to offer them the opportunity to earn a healthcare certificate. Prevent Blindness Wisconsin Staff trains the students, making sure they understand the importance of vision screening for common refractive errors and other vision deficits as well as using best practices. Once certified, these students then assist a district nurse in performing vision screenings at local elementary schools.
Working with the district nurse, certified students screen three grades at each of four Germantown School District Elementary Schools each year. The partnership between PBW and Germantown High School has truly proven a win-win relationship. The certified students make a difference in the lives of young children while enriching their own lives in the process.
Congratulations, Germantown High School Health Career Students. You richly deserve the Children’s Healthy Vision Award!
Eye Care Vision Center of Wauwatosa | Shared Vision Award
The Eye Care Vision Center of Wauwatosa has serviced the Wauwatosa and greater Milwaukee area since 1955. Although the optometrists have changed over the years, customer service has always remained the same. Due to its friendly and personalized service, patients have entrusted their vision care needs to Eye Care Vision Center for decades.
A fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, Dr. Lind continues to foster these long-term relationships by paying close attention to each individual’s eye care needs. Her extensive experience in providing comprehensive vision examinations, contact lens exams, specialty contact lens fittings, pediatric eye care, medical management, and referral services for various ocular conditions and surgical care fills a critical role among those with vision care needs.
Since 2015 they have seen over 160 clients through our VSP vision care voucher program with last FY year alone seeing 74 clients with the majority of them being adults. The program has changed a few times over the years and they continue to be charitable to their community.
Prevent Blindness Wisconsin is proud to honor Eye Care Vision Center of Wauwatosa with the Shared Vision Award!
Steve & Tammy Schneider | 20/20 Service Award
Steve came to Prevent Blindness Wisconsin through a corporate screening. Having been deeply impacted by the little children struggling to see, Steve found himself vision screening multiple times. Realizing Steve’s interest in helping children get the vision support they needed, a PBW Board Member approached Steve about joining the board. Steve’s dedication and enthusiasm has already served PBW well as we plan for the 2nd Annual Ride for Sight. Steve was instrumental in getting this fundraiser off the ground last year and Prevent Blindness Wisconsin cannot thank him enough.
Twice blessed is truly the case when describing Prevent Blindness Wisconsin’s relationship with the Schneiders! After guiding two wonderful children into their teenage years, Tammy was looking for additional ways to make a difference. Fortunately, PBW has been the beneficiary of Tammy’s desire to work with and for children. Her love for children, experience as a K4 and K5 aide, and unbridled enthusiasm have combined to make her an invaluable member of the PBW family.
Steve and Tammy have joined forces as they work together to further a mission they are both passionate about, to ensure each Wisconsin resident has healthy vision at every stage of life. Prevent Blindness Wisconsin is proud to honor Steve and Tammy Schneider with the 20/20 Vision Award.
Amy Mihelich | Gae Lach Sight-Saver Award
Amy’s long history of volunteer work with Prevent Blindness Wisconsin began 20 years ago when, as a member of Delta Gamma Fraternity, she joined her sisters in promoting their motto to “Do Good” and further their philanthropy of Sight Preservation & Aid to the Blind.
Over the course of her two-decade relationship with PBW, Amy’s contributions are many and varied. Her work in vision screening includes the North Shore Preschool Vision Screening (PVS) Group where she ultimately served as coordinator. Taking that experience further, Amy started the South Shore Group and served as PVS Coordinator there as well. She updated PVS materials and started the “online” process for organizing screening groups. As Certified Children’s Vision Screenings is the hallmark service of PBW, Amy’s contributions to this area are invaluable.
Amy has also served on the PBW Board for many years during which time she contributed her expertise to many committees. She also recruited others to serve with her in various capacities, coordinated the PBW Zoo Walk, and was instrumental in raising much-needed funds throughout her years of service.
Amy has taken the Delta Gamma motto of “Do Good” to a new level during her years of service to Prevent Blindness Wisconsin and is most deserving of the Gae Lach Sight Saver Award!
Vanessa Bello | City of Mil. Health Dept. Well Woman Program | Adult Healthy Vision Award
The City of Milwaukee Health Department’s Well Woman Program has laid the foundation for Prevent Blindness Wisconsin’s Adult Vision Health Program throughout the state. What once was a pilot program to move adults to further vision care in 2019 has aided over 650 adults with their vision health. Vanessa Bello and Lisa Phillips have taken the Adult Vision Health Program to new levels in their Well Woman Program, offering in-person and over-the-phone vision screenings to clients and detailed case management to ensure clients are able to access the vision care they need and deserve.
Vanessa Bello is an Alverno College graduate where she earned her Health Educator degree. Since 2019, when she joined the Milwaukee Breast and Cervical Cancer Awareness/Wisconsin Well Woman Programs, she has served as the Community Education Assistant for the Wisconsin Well Woman Program (WWWP).
Her role consists of community outreach, enrolling clients into the annual mammogram screening program, and raising awareness of women’s health. What Vanessa most enjoys about her job is attending community events where she can engage with people and educate them about chronic diseases and preventative care.