Conexus Golf Classic – A huge success, rain or shine!

​The 2017 Conexus Golf Classic opened as one of the wettest in the event’s history, but thankfully concluded with sunshine, smiles, and another successful day, netting over $106,000 in support of the Conexus mission!
 
Hermitage Country Club was yet again an amazing host to the event.  The recent renovations to the clubhouse entrance, tournament staging area and golf pro-shop were beautiful.  The staff was flexible and accommodating with all the rain, and the new Golf Pro, Matt Evans, kept the day on track.  How Hermitage staff respond to the needs of the day, whatever they may be, is always something Conexus can count on to insure the best possible experience for our guests.
 
After a morning of driving rain, the clouds seemed to part around 1:30 and it was smooth sailing from there on out!  Congratulations to the winners of the Siegel Cup – ColonialWebb: Jason Forsyth, Kent Graham, Matt Mellert, Nathan Wethington. 

Patricia Cornwell Visits Conexus

World renowned, best-selling author Patricia Cornwell visited the Conexus Headquarters today to learn more about how our programs are working to improve educational outcomes for students. Patricia, a long-time friend of Conexus Board Chair, Roxane Gilmore, spent time with the Conexus staff to learn more about our comprehensive children’s vision program, VisioCheck, and how prevalent vision problems are in children, especially in our urban communities.  Ms. Cornwell had a deep appreciation and understanding of the importance of good vision as it pertains to learning success in school and offered her support in our mission.
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We look forward to exploring how we can work together to help eliminate undetected and untreated vision problems as barriers to success in school and life, allowing every child to reach their fullest potential.

Conexus Attends Mobile Health Clinic Association Mid-Atlantic Coalition Meeting

Yesterday, Conexus staff participated in the 2nd Annual Mid-Atlantic Coalition meeting hosted by Bon Secours at the Washington Redskins Training Center in Richmond, VA. MHCA Mid-Atlantic is the local coalition of the national association of organizations focused on meeting a variety of healthcare needs in the unique mobile clinic setting and includes groups from Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. 

At the meeting, Conexus had the opportunity to tour units from the Bon Secours Care-A-Van and Rally/Children’s National Medical Center fleets, network with other mobile health providers, and learn of some of the latest health concerns in mobile health care delivery. As Conexus looks to expand programming and services to reach some of our most “at-risk” populations this network of providers will be invaluable.

HB1408 Becomes Law

Today, Governor Terry McAuliffe signed HB1408 into law!  HB1408 paves the way for schools to use outside resources at their choosing to improve vision outcomes for their students.  As Conexus works to elevate vision as a health priority, this bill offers permissive language for schools to be proactive in advancing vision outcomes in an effort to improve academic performance.  If you’d like to know more about to bring VisioCheck to your school division, contact Melissa Perry.

HB1408 Update

On February 20, HB1408 passed the Senate on a 38-2 vote and was returned back to the House for a vote on the Senate amendments.  Today, the Senate-amended HB1408 passed the House on a 98-0 vote! Virginia has taken the first step toward improving vision outcomes for students and working to eliminate undetected and untreated vision problems as barriers to success in school.
 
Conexus is grateful for the good work of Delegate Lee Ware to see this bill through and also for the unexpected and very timely support of Ken Hutcheson, who offered his professional guidance in support of HB1408 as the bill made its way through crossover. 
 
There is still much work to be done, but the passage of HB1408 with such strong bipartisan support demonstrates awareness of the need of improved vision programming in schools, which is the first step in active program implementation. 

HB1408 Proposes Updates to VA Code

§ 22.1-273 of the Code of Virginia requires school based vision screenings for students in K, 3rd, 7th, and 10th grades.  The Code was first introduced in 1950 and, with only some minor changes in 1980, has had no substantial updates.
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HB1408 seeks to update protocols for school based vision screenings and provide school divisions with opportunities to improve vision standards and services for their students. Delegate Lee Ware is the Chief Patron of HB1408 and Delegate Roxann Robinson, OD is the Bill’s Chief Co-Patron.

Today the Bill was introduced in the House Education Committee and passed to Appropriations on a 20-0 vote.  There is a budget amendment in conjunction to the Bill offering funds to school divisions across the Commonwealth to improve school based vision screenings by introducing comprehensive vision programming such as the Conexus VisioCheck program.

Students See a Whole New World

On January 19th, Conexus delivered 20 pairs of glasses to students at Elizabeth Scott Elementary in Chesterfield County.  Elizabeth Scott was one of 16 Title I Chesterfield County Elementary schools selected to participate in Conexus programming in conjunction with a study performed by VCU.  Students at Elizabeth Scott Elementary had their vision screened through Conexus’ technology-based comprehensive children’s programming and those identified as needing follow-up vision care were invited to receive a free eye exam and glasses through the services of a mobile vision clinic right in their own school! 

Through the generous support of our partners at VSP, students got to pick out their own frames from a wide selection including named brands like Nike, Nine West, and XGames and the prescriptions were sent off for lab services in FL.  In just a few short weeks, the glasses were returned for dispensing at the school.

Gift of Light Awards Breakfast

The staff at Virginia Eye Institute’s Watkins Center location enjoyed a delicious hot breakfast in celebration of their fundraising efforts in the holiday Gift of Light Campaign.  Under the leadership of Michael Cuffee, the Watkins Center office more than tripled their efforts from 2015 and raised $1,583.93 in support of Conexus school-based programs, narrowly beating out the three-time winners from the Forest Location by just $7.26!!

Virginia Eye Institue CEO Brad Smith joined Conexus President and CEO Tim Gresham in congratulating the Watkins staff and helped Michael Cuffee recognize his top fundraising associate, Pam Combs, who raised a whopping $641.82 over the 4 weeks of the Campaign!!!
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Congratulations to all of our Virginia Eye Institute locations for an amazing campaign that raised over $18,000 in support of improved school based vision programs for area students!!