Aug. 31 deadline to enter ‘Most Beautiful Eyes Contest’

Staff Report

CHICAGO — The deadline to submit entries to the “Most Beautiful Eyes Contest” from Prevent Blindness America is quickly approaching. From now until Aug. 31, parents of children ages zero to 17 are encouraged to enter their child in the Prevent Blindness America Most Beautiful Eyes Contest by submitting a photo to the Prevent Blindness America Facebook page at facebook.com/preventblindness.

The national contest will begin the next round of online voting Sept. 1-30. The contestant with the most votes from each state, with the exception of Rhode Island, will advance to the final round. Celebrity judges including former television broadcaster Larry King, Derrek Lee of the Pittsburgh Pirates and NASA astronaut Walter Cunningham will decide the overall winner, as well as second- and third-place winners.

The most Beautiful Eyes Contest winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship and become the face of the Star Pupils program for one year. Star Pupils is the signature children’s eye health program from Prevent Blindness America. The second-prize winner will receive a $4,000 scholarship, followed by third place to receive a $2,000 scholarship. The scholarship prizes are made available by Marchon Eyewear and Advantica.

“We want to encourage everyone to go online and submit their child’s photo for a chance to win a fantastic scholarship,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness America. “We also hope that parents will take a moment to consider the importance of eye health and have their child’s vision checked.”

For more information about the Most Beautiful Eyes contest or general children’s eye health and safety, visit preventblindness.org or facebook.com/preventblindness, or call (800) 331-2020.

From the Aug. 24-30, 2011, issue