HEALTH OCCUPATIONS STUDENTS OF AMERICA 2011 NORTH CAROLINA STATE CONFERENCE
GREENSBORO, NC (March 24, 2011) - Thousands of Health Occupations Students from across the state of North Carolina met at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, NC tonight to kick off their annual meeting. Prevent Blindness NC presented two awards to outstanding chapters who participated in vision screening projects in their counties.
The first presentation was the E.Y.E. Award to Plymouth High School of Plymouth, NC for screening 85% of elementary students in Washington County. This HOSA chapter is under the leadership of Linda West.
The second presentation is for the H.E.L.P. Award which was presented to Career Center High School in Winston Salem for Best Overall Participation in vision screening. This HOSA chapter is under the leadership of Melissa Smith.
Our sincere congratulations to these HOSA students for their outstanding community service and continued commitment to screening elementary school students.
Prevent Blindness NC provides certification training to school staff and volunteers in order to promote mass screenings of elementary school students.
Prevent Blindness NC also provides access to financial resources for children without insurance for professional eye exams if a problem is detected. For more information about programs and services, please call 919-755-5044.
PREVENT BLINDNESS AMERICA HOLDS SIXTH ANNUAL EYES ON CAPITOL HILL EVENT
CHICAGO (March 18, 2011) – For the sixth straight year, Prevent Blindness America, the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization, held its “Eyes on Capitol Hill” event, in Washington, D.C., March 2, 2011. The program provides vision health advocates the opportunity to meet with Congressional policymakers to discuss the importance of eye and vision services and funding.
The Eyes on Capitol Hill event kicked off with the Prevent Blindness America Congressional Call-In Day. Vision advocates called their Members of Congress to ask for their support and commitment to sight-saving programs as they engage in federal funding appropriations.
Simultaneously, in Washington D.C., Prevent Blindness America volunteer leadership, staff, and representatives from field offices across the country conducted in-person meetings with the Congressional leaders from their individual states. Advocates met with various Representatives and Senators including:
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Rep. Steve King (R-IA)
Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY)
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY)
“During these challenging economic times, we recognize that our elected leaders are faced with tough choices,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness America. “Our message to them is that prevention of eye disorders and vision problems is not only a sight-saving strategy, but a cost-saving one as well; particularly considering the annual cost of adult vision disorders in this country is approximately $51 billion.”
The day concluded with the 3rd Annual Congressional Vision Caucus (CVC) Reception. The CVC is a bicameral and bipartisan coalition of 90 Congressional Members and two Senate Members. During the reception CVC co-chair Rep. Gene Green (D-TX) provided remarks and welcomed Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) as the incoming co-chair of the CVC, joining other co-chairs Rep. David Price (D-NC) and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). The event was also attended by Rep. Nan Hayworth (R-NY), an ophthalmologist, and Sen. John Boozman (R-AR), an optometrist, along with many leaders in the vision health community.
“On behalf of Prevent Blindness America, I’d like to welcome Rep. Gingrey to the CVC and thank him for his support for our important mission of saving the sight of children and adults across the country,” added Parry. “I’d also like to thank Rep. Green and all the current members of the CVC for their ongoing commitment to protecting the gift of vision.”
For more information on Eyes on Capitol Hill, or information on how you can contact your Members of Congress to ask for their support on vision-related issues please call Prevent Blindness America at (800) 331-2020 or visit preventblindness.org/advocacy.