History of Project Construction Sight | 
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A Great, Big Idea
In
2004 Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic launched an aggressive plan to do
something that had never been done before -- implement a scientifically
developed, medically endorsed Certified Children's Vision Screening
program in each of Virginia's 131 communities and 1,800 public
schools. This would increase the number of children Prevent
Blindness screened from 58,000 to nearly 400,000 children each year.
A Perfect Fit
When looking to launch Project:
Construction "Sight" Prevent Blindness first sought to partner with
those who had a common mission and a vested interest in their
communities. The most logical first choice was the local Lions Clubs.
Within the first year, many local Lions Clubs embraced this program. Their financial support brought the Certified Children's
Vision Screening Program to their schools through their school nurses.
Support Spreads
Over
time businesses, foundations, individuals, and even the Commonwealth of
Virginia became supporters of Project: Construction "Sight". Before
long, the Prevent Blindness Certified Children's Vision Screening
program had become the preferred method for accurately and
effectively screening children's vision in Virginia's schools.
How One Lion Makes A Big Difference
Through
this growth process, Lion Dennis Brining-CSF II District 24-A
Chairman, Fairfax Host Lions Club teamed with Prevent Blindness to help
spread this amazing program. Lion Dennis, who had considerable
experience working with Lions Club International Foundation, wanted to
see Project: Construction "Sight" put to work in his
district.
Over the course of 3
years and 2 grant cycles,
Lion Dennis and Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic
successfully secured funding
through LCIF, District 24-A Lions, and Kaiser Permanente to place The
Certified Children's Vision Screening program in all 398 schools in 14
localities within Dennis' District.
Today, this portion of Project Construction Sight serves 97,000 children
annually.
[ Watch the video about this project in District 24-A. ]
Since 2004...
Over
the course of the 5 years since the programs introduction there have
been 75 local Lions Clubs that have contributed to the success of this
project. To view a full listing of all Project: Construction "Sight" Communities and their supporters, please click here.
The Home Stretch
Project
Construction Sight has just recently been funded by a matching
grant from LOVF and LCIF in the total amount of $97,436. This
final phase
will bring the Certified Children's Vision Screening Program to the
remaining 37 communities in Virginia within Lions Districts C, D, E, and
F.
The Dream Finally Comes True
The
importance of this last phase is extremely significant to Prevent
Blindness Mid-Atlantic, The Lions, and the families of Virginia.
First, it helps to culminate the work of a 5 year project and
institutionalizes a standard approach to the State mandated Vision
Screening for children in Virginia’s public schools.
Now, every child in Virginia will have
access to a Prevent Blindness Certified Vision Screening. Roughly 400,000 children
are screened in Virginia public schools each year.
Single Largest Virginia Supporter
By funding this final phase of Project: Construction "Sight", the Lions become the
single largest supporter of this program. Lions are directly
responsible for the implementation of this program in 44% of Virginia
communities. While, not all of these communities are the largest or
most populated communities, Lions support provides the broadest coverage of this program across Virginia, an
achievement that makes the Lions Community proud.
» What You Might Not Know...
About Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic
Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic
is the only local volunteer-based nonprofit organization whose sole
mission is to preserve sight and prevent blindness. The primary means
of accomplishing our mission since 1957 is through vision screenings
for both children and adults, providing support groups for seniors, and
supplying public and professional education and information. For more
information, or to contribute to the sight-saving fund, call toll-free,
(888) 790-2020, ext. "0." We also gratefully accept online
donations here at this web site!
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