Coming up Saturday, September 14, 2024 – A fun day at the Milwaukee County Zoo just got a whole lot better!
Prevent Blindness Wisconsin (PBW) is thrilled to invite you and your family to join in on a fabulous event at the zoo on Saturday, September 14. A day spent walking in support of the organization’s statewide vision care services and public health education resources, this family and budget-friendly event is sure to appeal to community members of all ages.
2024 EYEWALK FOR SIGHT – FUN EVENT FOR FAMILIES
With your registration for the 2024 EyeWalk for Sight event as an individual, family, or team, you are not only making an incredible contribution to PBW’s mission of ensuring all Wisconsin residents have healthy vision throughout their entire lives but also getting admission to the zoo for the day, parking, a lunch, a beverage, entertainment, and games.
REGISTRATION
Fundraising for a t-shirt closes on Tuesday, August 20th!
Registration Closes: August 23rd
Event Details
Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024
Location: Milwaukee County Zoo – 10001 W. Bluemound Road, Milwaukee, WI
Schedule:
- 10:30 a.m. – Check-In Opens
- 11:00 a.m. – Lunch is Available
- 12:00 p.m. – Walk Kick-off with PBW’s President & CEO, Tami Garcia
- 12:15 p.m. – Walk Begins
MORE THAN 175K WISCONSINITES ANNUALLY
Prevent Blindness Wisconsin vision screens more than 175,000 Wisconsinites annually, and over two thirds of the individuals participating in these vision screenings are children. The importance of children’s vision care services and eye health education beginning during the critical growth period at 3-5 years of age cannot be overstated. That is why PBW invites our friends in the Greater Milwaukee Area to join us for this mission-oriented, family-friendly day at the zoo…to unite in support of our sight-saving services, especially for kids across our state like Evelyn, our 2024 Vision Screening Ambassador.
Each year, PBW appoints one child who was “caught” at one of their vision screenings as the Children’s Vision Screening Ambassador each year. Our 2024 Children’s Vision Screening Ambassador Evelyn’s story captures the essence of our sight-saving work. Through this year’s walk event, her experience underscores PBW’s motivation for providing vision care services and continuing education to Wisconsin communities.
Evelyn, a 7-year-old social butterfly, enjoys the outdoors, dance, and time with her dog Rosie and bunny rabbit Oreo. Evelyn’s eagerness to play sports, read books and find joy in her math homework was always consistent; thus, when Evelyn’s mom Sara was notified, her daughter did not pass her vision screening, it came as quite a shock.
As Evelyn showed no signs of having a vision problem, her 1st grade school vision screening was the first time her eyes were checked, and, using her right eye, Evelyn struggled with the top line of the vision screening chart. Evelyn’s mom scheduled an appointment with an eye doctor where Evelyn was diagnosed with myopia (nearsightedness) and amblyopia (lazy eye) in her right eye. At the eye doctor, Evelyn mentioned she couldn’t see anything out of her right eye; unfortunately, at such an early age, she didn’t realize this was abnormal.
Evelyn was prescribed glasses and is patching each day to regain vision in her right eye. So far, with patching and her colorful glasses, Evelyn is now seeing much better. At school, Evelyn’s teacher even talks regularly about glasses and how they help some people see more clearly–that everyone doesn’t see the world the same, and that is okay.
Prevent Blindness Wisconsin provides free, direct sight-saving services throughout Wisconsin. In implementing these services, we prevent blindness by identifying early signs of vision disorders, facilitating early and effective treatment, and preventing eye injury. We are a non-profit organization and are supported entirely by voluntary contributions from individuals, corporations, family foundations, organizations, special events, and bequests.
THE MISSION
Founded in 1958, Prevent Blindness Wisconsin improves the lives of children, adults, and families through early detection of eye conditions to prevent blindness and preserve sight. On-going vision screening activities and state-wide public health education lead to a lifetime of healthy vision.
THE VISION
The vision is for each Wisconsin resident to have healthy vision at every stage of life.
