{"id":37325,"date":"2020-04-28T20:16:48","date_gmt":"2020-04-28T20:16:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/preventblindness.org\/?page_id=37325"},"modified":"2026-03-30T10:33:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T15:33:35","slug":"bonnie-strickland-champion-for-childrens-vision-award","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/preventblindness.org\/bonnie-strickland-champion-for-childrens-vision-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children\u2019s Vision Award"},"content":{"rendered":"

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About the Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children\u2019s Vision Award<\/h2>\n

The\u00a0<\/strong>Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children\u2019s Vision Award recognizes significant efforts by an individual or group of individuals to improve public health approaches for children\u2019s vision and eye health at the state or national level in the United States. The award was established in 2014 by the National Center for Children\u2019s Vision and Eye Health Advisory Committee to commemorate Dr. Bonnie Strickland and her groundbreaking work to establish a comprehensive system for children\u2019s vision in the United States.\u00a0 Strickland served as Director of the Division of Services for Children with Special Health Needs, Maternal and Child Health Bureau before her retirement in 2014.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]The award consists of a commemorative plaque, recognition, and a 30-minute presentation at the October 29 event. The award recipient will be featured on the NCCVEH website with an overview of their innovative approaches to children\u2019s vision and eye health systems. An all-volunteer committee for the Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children\u2019s Vision Award will review nominations and select the award winner.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″]

\"Bonnie<\/div>
\"Bonnie<\/div>
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<\/div><\/div>
Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children's Vision Award Presentation<\/div>
Join us October 29, 2025, 6pm CDT, on Zoom for the presentation...<\/div>
Join us October 29, 2025, 6pm CDT, on Zoom for the presentation...<\/div>
Register Today!<\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\u201cEye Thrive<\/strong><\/a>,\u201d has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children’s Vision Award, specifically for its \u201cWraparound Vision Services\u201d program.<\/p>\n

\"Eye<\/a><\/p>\n

Eye Thrive\u2019s mission is to give children, specifically low-income kids throughout the St. Louis, Mo. metropolitan region, the ability to thrive through access to essential vision care. It accomplishes this by providing the following vision services:<\/p>\n

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  1. Free on-site vision screenings performed by NCCVEH-certified staff.<\/li>\n
  2. Access to services through Eye Thrive\u2019s two Mobile Vision Clinics<\/a><\/strong>, fully equipped optometry centers providing comprehensive eye exams and prescription glasses made on-site and dispensed the same day to children. Duplicate pairs are provided for children with high prescriptions or developmental needs.<\/li>\n
  3. A medical referral program that provides referrals to quality Medicaid-qualified and\/or low-cost specialists for children in need of additional follow-up care.<\/li>\n
  4. An eyeglass replacement program that provides free, no-questions-asked replacement glasses delivered to the child\u2019s home or school.<\/li>\n
  5. An Electronic Medical Records system to track patient care and medical information from year to year, allowing for continuity of care.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \"AA child receiving glasses through the Eye Thrive Wraparound Vision Services Program<\/h5>\n

    Eye Thrive has built partnerships with over 100 high-need schools and community centers throughout the St. Louis metro region. Before the launch of their second Mobile Vision Clinic in June 2025, Eye Thrive served 17,747 children in low-income communities during the 2024-2025 school year, providing free screenings, nearly 4,800 comprehensive eye exams, just under 6,000 pairs of prescription glasses, and 168 medical referrals.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1751990320621{margin-top: 40px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_cta h2=”Past Recipients” css=””]2024: The Alcon Children\u2019s Vision Center (ACVC)<\/strong>, a partnership between the Alcon Foundation and the Fort Worth Independent School District (ISD), provides essential vision and eye health services to Fort Worth ISD students. The ACVC provides eye health education for students and families, professional development for school nurses around children\u2019s vision, vision screenings, and no-cost eye care services, including an on-site comprehensive eye exam, and if necessary, free prescription glasses..<\/p>\n

    2023: Danielle Crull, ABOM, author, business owner of A Child\u2019s Eyes, organizer of The Pumpkin Patch Project, and founder of the Truffles the Kitty Organization (TKO)<\/a><\/strong> for her efforts to raise awareness of vision disorders in children, promoting early detection and treatment, supporting children in their patching treatment for amblyopia (lazy eye) and eyeglasses-wearing, and engaging families and the public in efforts to reduce stigma around vision disorders.<\/p>\n

    2022: Donny W. Suh, MD, FAAP, MBA, FACS, Chief of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, and Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine<\/a>.\u00a0 <\/strong>Dr. Suh serves as medical director of the UC Irvine Mobile Eye Clinic which has provided vision screenings for more than 20,000 preschoolers in Orange County, Calif. Dr. Suh was also recognized for training pediatric ophthalmologists and his leadership within the American Academy of Pediatrics<\/a> to improve communications between pediatrics and ophthalmology, and for developing vision screening guidelines.<\/p>\n

    2021: Ms. Shavette L. Turner, Vice President, Children\u2019s Vision Services at Prevent Blindness Georgia (PBGA)<\/a>. Ms. Turner implemented a unique approach to helping disadvantaged and underserved youth across Georgia access vision and eye care, with emphasis in Hall County where there is a significantly large Latino population who experience barriers to eye care. Ms. Turner recruited more than 200 community volunteers, resulting in screening thousands of students and providing 300 pairs of eyeglasses.<\/p>\n

    2020: Logan Newman, NBCT, ABO, MS Ed, Program Developer and NYS Certified Science teacher and Career in Technical Experience Teacher at the East High School Vision Care Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    2019: Anne L. Coleman, M.D., MPH, UCLA Stein Eye Institute<\/a>.\u00a0 Dr. Coleman is the Fran and Ray Stark Foundation Professor of Ophthalmology at Stein Eye Institute of the David Geffen School of Medicine; Vice Chair, Academic Affairs, UCLA Department of Ophthalmology; Professor of Epidemiology in the UCLA Jonathon and Karin Fielding School of Public Health; Director of the Stein Eye Institute Center for Community Outreach and for her leadership of the UCLA Mobile Vision Clinic<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    2017: Sean P. Donahue, MD, Ph.D., Professor of<\/strong>\u00a0Ophthalmol<\/a>ogy<\/a> and<\/a> V<\/a>isual Sciences at Vanderbilt University<\/a>.\u00a0 Dr. Donahue was selected by the volunteer Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children\u2019s Vision Award Committee for his efforts to improve children\u2019s vision through stakeholder engagement, volunteer coordination, and advancement of vision screening technology.<\/p>\n

    2016: The Illinois Eye Institute (IEI) at Princeton Vision Clinic based at the Illinois College of Optometry<\/strong>.\u00a0 The IEI at Princeton was selected by the Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children\u2019s Vision Award Committee for its consistent and on-going commitment to addressing the unmet visual needs of Chicago Public School students.<\/p>\n

    2016 Honorable Mention:\u00a0Vivian James, PhD, North Carolina Preschool Exceptional Children Coordinator for the Office of Early Learning – State Board of Education, Department of Public Instruction<\/strong>. \u00a0Dr. James was recognized for her exceptional work in North Carolina to improve vision screening systems as they relate to public health professional training as well as special education eligibility determinations.<\/p>\n

    2015: The Pediatric Physicians\u2019 Organization at Children\u2019s<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(PPOC) based at the Boston Children\u2019s Hospital in Brookline, Massachusetts.\u00a0 The PPOC was selected by the Award Committee for its consistent and on-going commitment to introducing proven and innovative new approaches to pediatric vision screening and care to providers and patients in the medical home setting.[\/vc_cta][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1751990050189{margin-top: 40px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_cta h2=”Nominees” css=””]Nominees for the Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children\u2019s Vision Award<\/em><\/strong> may be an individual or group comprised of diverse stakeholders, including family\/caregiver and community leaders, public health, healthcare, education, etc. who are implementing changes to improve children\u2019s vision in the United States and reduce disparities in children\u2019s vision and eye health. We are seeking nominations of individuals or groups who seek out new and innovative solutions to barriers to healthy vision in children and have successfully implemented solutions that are replicable and sustainable. Nominees should be able to demonstrate an impact in one or more areas of a population health system supporting children\u2019s vision:<\/p>\n