Conexus Receives Grant From Robins Foundation

Robins Foundation recently awarded $50,000 to Conexus in support of its Mobile Clinic delivery during the 2019-2020 school year throughout Greater Richmond.

“The support of Robins Foundation will allow us to bring healthy vision to school-aged children throughout the region,” said Jeff Baldwin, communications director for Conexus. “Delivery of our Mobile Clinic program is mission critical and allows us to ensure that poor vision is no longer a barrier to a child’s academic success.”

Thank you Robins Foundation!

Taylor and Parrish Construction Returns as Presenting Sponsor for Conexus Golf Classic

Conexus is pleased to announce that Taylor and Parrish Construction has signed on once again as the Presenting Sponsor for the Conexus Golf Classic. The tournament, entering its 28th year, will be held on Monday, May 6, 2019 on both courses at Hermitage Country Club.

The tournament hosts over 200 golfers and is recognized as one of Richmond’s largest and best rated corporate golf outings.  This tournament raises over $100,000 annually to help Conexus in our mission to eliminate poor vision as a barrier to learning in school.

Dominion Charitable Foundation Continues Its Support of Conexus

The Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation recently awarded $25,000 to Conexus in support of its healthy vision programs across the Commonwealth. 

“We are extremely grateful for the continued support of Dominion Energy,” said Jeff Baldwin, communications director for Conexus. “With this funding, we can continue our efforts to remove poor vision as a barrier to academic success for thousands of school-aged children.”

This grant is part of Dominion’s $1.6 million awarded to more than 200 nonprofits providing essential human services in 12 states. This is the fourth year the company has awarded more than $1 million to meet critical community needs.


“Each year we look at ways to support charitable organizations that work day-in and day-out to make a positive impact in our communities,” said Hunter A. Applewhite, president of the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation. “These grants will help provide the food, shelter and medical care needed by many for a better life.”

To read more, click HERE.

Conex Mourns the Passing of Former Board Chair Herb White

Herb White, former Chairman of the Board of Directors, passed away on Sunday, January 27th.

“Herb White was one of the finest men I’ve known,” said Tim Gresham, Conexus CEO.

Herb White, a retired newspaper executive with Richmond Newspapers, served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for two years and was instrumental in advancing our mission for countless years.

“In addition to providing wise counsel as a leader of our organization, Herb was very methodical and precise. He was basically in charge of the production of Richmond Newspapers, so he always insisted tasks be done right and on time!”

Our thoughts and prayers are with Herb’s wife of 56 years and their son Scott.
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You can read Mr. White’s full obituary at https://bit.ly/2FWO7Za.

Conexus Vision Tests Resolve Challenges for RPS Students

(Excerpt from a Richmond Times Dispatch article)

​Nearly 1 in 3 Richmond Public Schools students are in school with untreated eye problems. A local nonprofit organization is working to address that.
Chesterfield County-based Conexus has given vision screenings to more than 21,000 city students since 2015, referring 32 percent of them for further testing — a rate exceeding the national average of 25 percent. Last school year, 1,243 students ended up with glasses because of it.
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“With a certain percentage of kids, it’s just not going to happen if we don’t make it happen,” said Timothy L. Gresham, the president and CEO of Conexus since 1992. “It’s a bad cycle to be in, and we have a solution.”

​Click HERE to read the article in its entirety.

Conexus Keeps Children’s Vision Problems from Impeding Their Success

Lee Ware, Virginia Delegate
“Having spent three decades teaching History and Government to young people, naturally the wellbeing of our children in school is of immense importance to me. How well children can read can determine the quality of their learning, and poor vision is by definition an impediment to reading. Consequently, I admire—and support—Conexus in its mission to expand vision-testing for school pupils.”

When 5-year-old Preston went to school one day, there was a lady there to check his eyes. It was important, his teacher told him, because he needed to be able to see well to read and learn.

Preston was a little nervous, but the lady showed him the box that she would be using to screen his vision. It looked a little bit like the pad he used to play games and watch cartoons. All he had to do was stand still for a few seconds while she looked at him through that box. It was over before he knew it!

This quick and easy screening, called VisioCheck and conducted by Conexus, determined that Preston had astigmatism. Astigmatism can cause blurred vision, which can impact reading and many other activities.

Read the full article: ​http://bit.ly/2DSBJHV

Conexus Honors Delegate Lee Ware

Conexus recently honored Delegate Lee Ware with its prestigious ‘The Joseph Nichols Award’ in recognition of his ongoing efforts to remove poor vision as an obstacle to children’s success in school and in life. 

“Delegate Ware has made a significant difference in the lives of children throughout the Commonwealth, addressing both a public health and public education issue,” said Tim Gresham, CEO of Conexus.

In addition to serving two terms on the Conexus Board of Directors, Delegate Ware has worked to update and modernize the state law dealing with public school based vision screenings. This past year, Delegate Ware introduced a budget amendment to support a pilot program that provides for comprehensive vision programming in more than thirty school districts across Virginia, serving more than 55,000 children.

​Click HERE to read the full press release.

Conexus Announces New Board Leadership and Members

At a recent board meeting, Conexus elected Joe Bowman, former Commissioner of the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, to serve as Chairman of the Board of Conexus. Bowman follows former Virginia First Lady Roxane Gilmore as Chairman, a post she held for two years.

In addition, Terrence Kerner, President and CEO of Atlantic Constructors, was elected Vice Chairman; Steve Dickinson, retired Chief Financial Officer at Media General was elected Treasurer; and Brad Smith, Virginia Eye Institute CEO, was elected Board Secretary.

Conexus also welcomed John Locher, partner with Taylor & Parrish, and Dr. Bo Pegram, optometrist, each elected to serve as At-large members of the Conexus Executive Committee.
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Three new members were also elected to the board: Clint Diers, Senior Vice President, Marsh & McLennan Agency (Rutherfoord); Tom Shockley, President, Technology Leasing Concepts (TLC); and Jay Swedenborg, Executive Director (ret.), Communities in Schools-Chesterfield.

To read the press release, click HERE.

Celebrating Success in RPS

The Conexus, Richmond Public Schools, and Vision to Learn partner project culminated its year one activities with a press conference and celebration at E. S. H. Greene Elementary in Richmond.  Richmond Mayor, Levar Stoney, and RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras addressed the crowd to share in their support and appreciation of the 2 year project which is working to improve vision outcomes for students in RPS.  


CLICK HERE to read the full press release from the Mayor’s office.


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Conexus Golf Classic Raises $115,000

220 golfers hit the course for the 27th Annual Golf Classic.  We couldn’t have asked for better weather, course  conditions or supporters!  It was a perfect day, netting $115,000 to support the work of Conexus across Virginia.  


We’d like to offer a special thanks to our long time Tournament Chairman, John Locher and the Planning Committee for all of their hard work and support in continuing to make the Golf Classic one of Richmond’s most highly anticipated golf outings.  Additionally, we extend a huge thanks to all of our volunteers and very generous named sponsors:


Essilor  •  James River Exteriors  •  James River Interiors  •  Peebles Golf Cars  •  Taylor and Parrish Construction   •  Virginia Eye Institute