ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY – The New Jersey Department of Human Services’ Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI) was honored as “Organization of the Year” by the Elizabeth Colombian Lions Club at its Awards Dinner, held at Los Feroles Restaurant in Elizabeth, Union County, on June 21. Sunil Parikh, Coordinator of Project Prevention, represented CBVI for Director Vito DeSantis.

The Lions and CBVI historically have worked in combination to provide free eye examinations. The mobile units they used are the predecessors to CBVI’s current Project Prevention. “Project Prevention provides free eye screenings to those in need,” said Coordinator Parikh, “and early detection and treatment is key to preventing blindness or visual loss.” The National Center for Disease Control states that 50 percent of blindness could have been prevented with proper eye care.