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White Castle System, Inc. and Lisa Ingram Honored at the 2019 People of Vision Award Dinner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           

                                            

For more information:

Prevent Blindness, Ohio Affiliate

Taylor Elder

Phone: 800-301-2020 ext.105

E-mail: [email protected]

White Castle System, Inc. and Lisa Ingram Honored at the 2019 People of Vision Award Dinner

Columbus, OH (March 28, 2019) – White Castle System, Inc. and Lisa Ingram, President and CEO, were recognized for their outstanding visionary leadership and philanthropic work at the Prevent Blindness 34th Annual People of Vision Award Dinner. State Auto Mutual Insurance Companies and Mike LaRocco, President & CEO, who served as the Chair of the event, presented the award. Ashlee Baracy, meteorologist for WBNS 10 TV, served as emcee.

Nearly 190 people attended the event held at The Grand Event Center in Columbus on March 26th. $89,150 was raised to support the sight-saving programs of Prevent Blindness including vision screening training for schools, health departments and organizations in the aging network along with advocacy for public policies to widen access to vision care for all.

The People of Vision Award was established in 1985 by the Ohio Affiliate of Prevent Blindness to honor and recognize visionary organizations and their top leadership for the outstanding work they have undertaken to enhance the quality of life within their communities. The premise of the People of Vision Award is that our community is enriched by such leadership that reflects a “vision of community” to be celebrated and emulated. It has been recognized as one of the area’s premier charitable events.

 “White Castle System, Inc. and Lisa Ingram possess an exemplary commitment to serving our community and providing resources to people in need living in Central Ohio,” said Sherry Lewis, Chair of the Prevent Blindness, Ohio Affiliate Board of Directors. “Their support of the community provides a strong foundation for families to build upon and Prevent Blindness is proud to honor them with this award,” she added.

John Herubin, a volunteer with the Ohio Affiliate of Prevent Blindness, shared his vision story during the People of Vision Award Dinner. After experiencing a retinal tear in his left eye, and eventually his right, Herubin was faced with the fear of potentially becoming blind, if procedures to fix the tears failed. While his vision is now compromised, due to the retinal tear in his left eye, Mr. Herubin has a new appreciation for his sight. He has become an advocate for Prevent Blindness so others can avoid the journey he has taken.

It is estimated that the economic impact of visual disorders and disabilities costs approximately $5.4 billion annually in Ohio. Half of all blindness is preventable and the number of blind and visually impaired is expected to double by the year 2030 if nothing is done to address the problem.


The Ohio Affiliate of Prevent Blindness honored White Castle System, Inc. and its President & CEO, Lisa Ingram, at its 2019 People of Vision Award Dinner on March 26, 2019 at The Grand Event Center in Columbus. Photographed: Lisa Ingram (left), President & CEO of White Castle System, Inc. and the 2019 People of Vision Award Honoree. Mike LaRocco (right), President & CEO of State Auto Mutual Insurance Companies and Chair of the 2019 People of Vision Award Dinner presented the award.

 

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. The Ohio Affiliate of Prevent Blindness is Ohio’s leading volunteer nonprofit public health organization dedicated to prevent blindness and preserve sight. We serve all 88 Ohio counties, providing direct services to more than 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 make a contribution, call 800-301-2020.  Or, visit us on the web at www.pbohio.org or facebook.com/pbohio and Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/PB_Ohio.