by Staff
Tax Collector Lynwood Roberts received the Vision Is Priceless Council’s top award at the non-profit’s annual meeting last week.
Roberts was recognized with the Legendary Service Award for 25 years of volunteer work with the Council, which does over 90,000 adult and youth vision screenings throughout North Florida.
The meeting was at The River Club and about 75 attended.
The other winners:
• Ed Banker, publisher of the Maturity Today newspaper, received the Roger Gibson Award for the organization’s “most valuable volunteer.”
• St. Vincent’s Medical Center, which provides office space and other support, was given the Jane M. Wynn Award “in recognition in upholding the motto ‘Vision Is Priceless’.”
• Jackie and Phil Valyou, who volunteer in the VIP Council office, received the Frances Bartlett Kinne Award “for faithful participation in sight-saving programs.”
• Ch. 47 received the Henry G. Motes Award for “contributing to public awareness.” The television station was recognized for its coverage of the Community Nutcracker, a major fundraiser for the organization.
• The Council chairman, Dr. Janet Betchkel, gave two Chairman’s Awards: to Council director Carol Baumer and to the Council’s medical director, Dr. Vernon Jones.
• Peggy Hoff of the University of North Florida Student Nursing Program received the Dot Mathias Award, which goes “for providing invaluable service to the Duval County School Vision Screening program.” The VIP Council annually checks the vision of all public school students as well as most private, preschool and Head Start children.