EyeCare4Kids, a Midvale-based nonprofit organization that provides eye care services to low-income, visually impaired children and underserved families across the southwest United States and Africa, has announced the promotion of Maggie Cline to CEO.
Cline joined EyeCare4Kids in 2022 and served as executive director for Utah, where she oversaw the delivery of more than 50,000 vision services annually at school clinics, community centers and other underserved areas across the state.
Cline succeeds Joseph Carbone, who founded the organization in 2001 and will transition to a role focused on international development.
EyeCare4Kids eliminates many of the logistical and affordability barriers that prevent vision screenings in children in low-income situations. In addition to school and five community-based clinics, the organization deploys four mobile vision clinics across Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Idaho. It manufactures its own glasses for distribution to children needing vision correction.
In her prior role, Cline increased patient volume at the EyeCare4Kids-owned Midvale clinic and supported the launch of a new permanent clinic in Ogden. She played an integral role in expanding the mobile outreach team to serve more remote and underserved areas across Utah, cultivating partnerships with school districts across the state, homeless shelters, refugee centers and other organizations serving vulnerable populations.
“The mission of EyeCare4Kids is both professional and personal for me because I used to be one of those kids whose family faced challenges and anxiety navigating the complicated U.S. health and education systems,” said Cline. “That’s why I understand how important it is when one person or one organization offers a hand up, potentially offering a life-changing impact with one act of kindness. I look forward to expanding the reach of EyeCare4Kids and thank Joseph Carbone for founding, growing and leading the organization for so many years.”
In his new role, Carbone will dedicate more time to forging partnerships in Africa with different countries’ government departments, other NGOs specializing in vision care, optometrists, clinics, lens manufacturers, universities and schools. Akin to their work in the United States, EyeCare4Kids Africa will build the infrastructure to manufacture, cut and fit lenses into frames efficiently, Carbone said.
“Over the past 20 years, I’ve seen how our work in Africa helps children to see better, do better in school, and set up opportunities to improve their quality of life. I’m very much looking forward to my next chapter when I can focus on building long-lasting relationships that extend the impact of EyeCare4Kids,” said Carbone. “I also congratulate Maggie Cline on her well-deserved promotion. Her hard work, dedication and resourcefulness combined with her compassion will serve EyeCare4Kids well in the future.”