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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Deborah Blanchard

(717) 233-6455

Sue Paterno accepts donation to the

Special Olympics of Pennsylvania from the

Pennsylvania Optometric Association

Harrisburg, PA (June 22, 2011) – Sue Paterno, wife of Penn State Football Coach Joe Paterno, accepted a $10,000 donation on behalf of Special Olympics Pennsylvania from the Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA) during its recent annual meeting in State College, Pa. Mrs. Paterno, a long-time supporter of Special Olympics Pennsylvania, was the keynote speaker at POA’s Annual Congress held at the Nittany Lion Inn. The donation was made by POA in partnership with C&E Vision Buying Group and Signet Armorlite.

Mrs. Paterno’s extensive involvement with Special Olympics Pennsylvania was recently highlighted on the Big Ten Network in a video entitled “Give Big, Sue Paterno.”

The Mid-Counties Optometric Society, the local POA affiliate, also sponsored its annual “Opening Eyes” vision screening for the Healthy Athletes initiative on June 9 and 10 during the 2011 Special Olympics Pennsylvania games held at Penn State University in State College, Pa. Volunteer optometrists, paraoptometrics and optometry students conducted vision screenings and refractions. Participants were eligible to receive prescription eyewear, prescription sports eyewear and non-prescription sunglasses based on need.

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PHOTO: Sue Paterno, second from left, accepts a check for $10,000 on behalf of Special Olympics Pennsylvania from the Pennsylvania Optometric Association. The check is presented by Ed DeRosa from Signet Armorlite (left), Marla Moon, O.D., and POA President Daniel Russell, O.D

About the Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA):

The Pennsylvania Optometric Association is the professional organization for over 1,250 doctors of optometry in Pennsylvania. An affiliate of the American Optometric Association, POA promotes the highest quality eye and vision care by optometrists, represents optometry to state government, provides its members with post-graduate education and membership benefits, and conducts activities in the interest of the visual welfare of the public. For more information, visit www.poaeyes.org.