FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information:
Prevent Blindness Ohio
Dori Jennings
(614) 270-0746
[email protected]
Prevent Blindness People of Vision Celebration Features Keynote Speaker Jim Pollock, Recognizes Area Office on Aging
of Northwestern Ohio, Inc.
March 11, 2024 (Toledo, OH) – Prevent Blindness Ohio (PBO) featured keynote speaker, Jim Pollock, President of Junior Achievement of Northwestern Ohio at a luncheon event at The Pinnacle in Toledo.
Since 1985, Prevent Blindness Ohio has recognized and awarded select organizations and their leaders for outstanding leadership and community service. The annual event has recently evolved into the People of Vision Celebration, where community visionaries are invited to share with guests their personal journey in establishing a vision for their community and seeing it through to fruition. The People of Vision event has become one of Northwest Ohio’s premier charitable events in support of PBO and its mission to prevent blindness and preserve sight.
Pollock shared JA’s vision and plans to roll out its groundbreaking “5th Year” program which was created to address the fact that each year, thousands of Northwest Ohio high school students graduate without a clear path forward. The prohibitive cost of college, unfamiliarity with job and career options, and a lack of certain business, financial and life skills leave many young adults feeling as if they have few choices. “5th Year’s” ten-month program helps graduates transition from high school and home to independence and a thoughtful exploration of professional opportunities. The unbiased, non-judgmental approach of the program gives students the insight they need to make practical decisions about their future.
Pollock explained that 5th Year is a ten-month program that allows recent high school graduates to explore professional opportunities, while experiencing campus life, before committing to a career path. This gives students the insight they need to make informed decisions about their future before investing time, effort and money in options they may know little about.
At the luncheon, PBO also took the opportunity to present the Community Partner in Vision Award to the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, Inc., for their critical role in bringing vision care to medically underserved areas in Ohio.
“Prevent Blindness Ohio was proud to feature Jim Pollock and the fantastic work of Junior Achievement of Northwestern Ohio and to recognize the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, Inc. for its long partnership with PBO,” Amy Pulles, President and CEO of Prevent Blindness Ohio, stated. “Half of all blindness is preventable, and the number of individuals who are blind or visually impaired is expected continue to grow exponentially if nothing is done to address the problem. Furthermore, it is estimated that the economic impact of visual disorders and disabilities costs approximately $6.1 billion annually in Ohio,” she explained.
About Prevent Blindness Ohio
Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. The Ohio Affiliate of Prevent Blindness serves all 88 Ohio counties, providing direct services to 1,000,000 Ohioans annually and educating millions of consumers about what they can do to protect and preserve their precious gift of sight. For more information or to contribute, call 800-301-2020 or donate here. Visit us at pbohio.org. Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/pbohio/ and X: twitter.com/PB_Ohio
