The Foundation’s KidSight program has won the 2017 Region IV Head Start Association Corporate Award. What started as a pilot program spearheaded by the Murray Lions KidSight coordinator, Terri Long, KLEF with the support of Lions Club International Foundation, Louisville Downtown Lions Club, and Lions of Kentucky, collaborated with the Kentucky Head Start Program in May 2015 to provide free vision screenings to head start children throughout the state.  Because of the partnership over 12,000 head start children were screened during FY 2015-2016.

The award is very significant as the Region IV Head Start Association (RIVHSA), founded in 1986, is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to improving the quality of early care and learning for Early Head Start and Head Start children and their families in 8 affiliate states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.  RIVHSA represents more than 165,000 children, 30,000 staff, and 250 member programs.

This collaboration enhances the Foundation’s outreach to children and families in need of screenings and promotes quality vision care throughout the Commonwealth.  The Foundation is very excited about the success of the partnership with the Kentucky Head Start Association and looks forward to its continued growth in future years.