EyeCare4Kids™, a nonprofit based in Midvale, Utah, that has provided professional eye care to more than half a million underserved children since its founding, is ushering in a new chapter of leadership and international expansion. Maggie Cline, MPH, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, succeeding founder Joseph Carbone, who will now lead the organization's growing initiatives in Africa.
Cline, who joined EyeCare4Kids in 2022 as Executive Director for Utah, has been at the forefront of efforts to scale the organization's services across the state. In that role, she oversaw the delivery of more than 50,000 vision services annually, bringing mobile clinics to remote communities, expanding partnerships with school districts and shelters, and helping launch a new permanent clinic in Ogden.
A public health professional with a personal connection to the organization's mission, Cline spoke candidly about her motivation. “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. 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,” said Cline. “I look forward to expanding the reach of EyeCare4Kids and thank Joseph Carbone for founding, growing, and leading the organization for so many years.”
PHOTO: Maggie Cline, MPH, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, EyeCare4Kids™
Building on a Legacy of Vision and Access
Cline assumes leadership from Joseph Carbone, a board-certified optician who founded EyeCare4Kids in 2001 with a belief that every child deserves access to clear vision regardless of their family's financial circumstances. Carbone, who will celebrate 50 years in clinical practice next year, spent over two decades growing the organization into a regional force for health equity.
Under his leadership, EyeCare4Kids developed a multi-pronged care model that includes five permanent clinics, four mobile units, and a dedicated in-house optical lab where glasses are manufactured and fitted. Today, the nonprofit operates in Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Idaho, focusing on rural and low-income areas, as well as Indigenous, refugee, and immigrant populations.
PHOTO: EyeCare4Kids™ Mobile Vehicle
“Over the past twenty 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.”
PHOTO: EyeCare4Kids™, a nonprofit based in Midvale, Utah, has provided professional eye care to more than half a million underserved children since its founding.
Africa in Focus: Scaling a Global Model of Vision Care
Carbone's next chapter will take him across the globe. As the new head of EyeCare4Kids Africa, a registered NGO, he will lead efforts to scale the organization's footprint across the continent. The group currently operates a fully functional clinic in Kenya and plans to open a second location in South Africa in 2025.
With a bold goal of reaching one million African children by 2030, Carbone will focus on developing partnerships with national ministries of health, local NGOs, universities, optometrists, and lens manufacturers. The aim: to create a sustainable, collaborative, and scalable ecosystem that mirrors the model built in the U.S. including on-site glasses manufacturing, mobile outreach, and child-centered care.
PHOTO: Founder Joseph Carbone, who will now lead the organization's growing initiatives in Africa.
A Clearer Future for Children Around the World
One in four American children has a vision problem, and in high-poverty areas, those numbers more than double. The consequences are profound: undiagnosed vision issues can impact academic performance, behavioral development, and long-term confidence. EyeCare4Kids addresses those challenges head-on by eliminating cost, transportation, and awareness barriers delivering high-quality exams and custom-fitted glasses, often in the school setting itself.
