FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information:
Prevent Blindness, Ohio Affiliate
Dori Jennings
(614) 464-2020 x.105
Prevent Blindness and Dayton Children’s Honor Kettering Health Network with the People of Vision Award March 27, 2020 (Dayton, OH)
Due to the recent developments around COVID-19 and the safety recommendations from the Ohio Department of Health and the CDC, Kettering Health Network and Terry Burns, Chief Operating Officer, were presented with the People of Vision Award virtually instead of through the in-person event that was scheduled to take place at the Dayton Country Club on March 27.
Since 1985, The Ohio Affiliate of Prevent Blindness has recognized and awarded select organizations and their leaders for visionary leadership and community service. The People of Vision Award luncheon has become one of the Miami Valley’s premier charitable events in support of The Ohio Affiliate of Prevent Blindness (PBO) and its mission to prevent blindness and preserve sight.
After receiving the 2019 People of Vision Award, Deborah Feldman and Dayton Children’s served as chair of this year’s event. Ms. Feldman asked that we join her in honoring Kettering Health Network and Terry Burns for their amazing work in the Miami Valley.
\”I want to thank Kettering Health Network and Terry Burns for their dedication to the mission of improving the lives of people they serve through health care and education. In the tradition of its namesake—world-renowned inventor, scientist, and humanitarian Charles F. Kettering—Kettering Health Network is fulfilling a vision for the future in the rapidly changing world of healthcare. Terry’s leadership in the healthcare industry and his involvement in our community brings us one step closer to a healthier Dayton region and moves us toward a vision of community.\”
Kettering Health Network and Terry Burns proudly accepted this honor through the following statement:
\”Every large family, including mine, has had loved ones who have suffered from some kind of vision challenge, whether it’s as severe as blindness, macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma. Other times it’s the need for glasses, which is common in my family. The need for corrective lenses reinforces the need for regular eye exams and a commitment to eye health. I was blessed with what I felt was laser-sharp vision up to the age of 40. Over a short period I noticed road signs that I had been able to read from a great distance were harder to read and became blurry. This was most noticeable at night. My first pair of glasses gave me a great appreciation for the tremendous value of our vision. I never took my vision for granted after that. I, along with all of Kettering Health Network, am humbled and honored to receive this recognition.
Prevent Blindness performs important work in our community and the People of Vision Award helps to shine a spotlight on this worthy organization, and should serve to encourage others to support this organization’s life-changing programs. My wife, Dorothy, and I have been very blessed, and we share our blessings through the support of our church, critical community projects including the United Way, tornado relief, and most recently the COVID-19 crisis. We have learned that you cannot out-give God. We like Prevent Blindness because the organization’s programs profoundly change lives every day.\”
Prevent Blindness, Ohio Affiliate is proud to honor Kettering Health Network and Terry Burns with the People of Vision Award. Sherry Williams, President and CEO of PBO stated,
\”Kettering Health Network has been a great partner with Prevent Blindness here in the Miami Valley for the past two decades. They have contributed over $55,000 to support our sight saving programs right here in the Miami Valley area. Prevent Blindness has provided vision screening training and equipment to Kettering Health Network providers and patient education workshops through their excellent community outreach programs.”
Prevent Blindness, Ohio Affiliate looks forward to the 2021 People of Vision Award event when Kettering Health Network and Terry Burns will serve as chair of the event.
About
Prevent Blindness Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation\’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screening and training, community and patient service programs and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. Together with a network of affiliates, Prevent Blindness is committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America. For more information, or to contribute to the sightsaving fund, call 1-800-331-2020.
Visit us on the web at pbohio.org, Facebook at facebook.com/pbohio/, or Twitter at twitter.com/PB_Ohio.
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