Prevent Blindness and White Castle System, Inc. Honor Nationwide and the Nationwide Foundation with the People of Vision Award

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Prevent Blindness and White Castle System, Inc. Honor Nationwide and the Nationwide Foundation with the People of Vision Award

Columbus, Ohio (April 1, 2020)  Due to the recent developments around COVID-19 and the safety recommendations from the Ohio Department of Health and the CDC, Nationwide and the Nationwide Foundation were presented with the People of Vision Award virtually instead of through the in-person event that was scheduled to take place at The Fives in Columbus on April 1.

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 Dinner has become one of Central Ohio’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, Ms. Lisa Ingram and White Castle System, Inc. served as chair of this year’s event.  Ms. Ingram asked that we join her in honoring Nationwide and the Nationwide Foundation for their amazing work throughout the region. Ms. Ingram feels Nationwide and the Nationwide Foundation are worthy recipients of this honor.

The mission of the Nationwide Foundation is to improve the quality of life in communities  where Nationwide customers, associates, partners and their families live and work. Since 2000, the Nationwide Foundation has contributed more than $498 million to nonprofit organizations across the country that work to meet crucial needs in communities with a significant presence of Nationwide associates.  In 2006, the foundation pledged the largest gift in its history, granting $50 million to Nationwide Children’s Hospital and has since gifted the hospital with an additional $60 million in grants to establish and support the Nationwide Foundation Pediatric Innovation Fund.

Ms. Ingram stressed the great work that Nationwide and the Nationwide Foundation has been doing for decades to provide for the vision needs of Ohioans.

Nationwide and the Nationwide Foundation have supported the sight saving programs of Prevent Blindness by helping to found the organization in 1957.  During this time, Nationwide has contributed nearly 1 million dollars to PBO and several of its associates have served as volunteer leaders.  Because of this support, PBO has provided sight saving education to millions of Ohioans, provided access to donated vision care to over 500,000 Ohioans, trained, certified, and equipped over 50,000 teachers, nurses, and volunteers at public service organizations across Ohio to screen the vision of children and adults.

Nationwide and the Nationwide Foundation proudly accepted this honor through the following statement:

“Nationwide and the Nationwide Foundation are humbled to receive the People of Vision Award. It’s indeed an honor to be recognized as a visionary company for our philanthropy and associate giving, not only in Ohio but in many communities across the country that we call home,” said Chad Jester, vice president of Nationwide Corporate Citizenship and president of the Nationwide Foundation. “We’re pleased to partner with organizations such as Prevent Blindness that help improve the quality of life for everyone.”

Prevent Blindness, Ohio Affiliate is proud to honor Nationwide and the Nationwide Foundation with the People of Vision Award.  Sherry Williams, President and CEO of PBO stated,

Nationwide and the Nationwide Foundation helped found the Ohio Affiliate of Prevent Blindness  in 1957.  Their financial and leadership support as well as the time and expertise that their associates and partners bring  to our organization has been tremendous and our sight saving work would not be possible without them.  

Prevent Blindness, Ohio Affiliate looks forward to the 2021 People of Vision Award event where Nationwide and the Nationwide Foundation 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 sight-saving 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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