Meet Brookfield Lion's Club Member Joseph Rocky, Everyday Hero

Do you know someone making a difference in our community? Patch wants to tell their story in a new series we’re calling “Everyday Heroes.” We are looking to share inspirational and uplifting stories of people who work to change others’ lives for the better.

The first in our series was sent in by Susan and Michael O’Brien.

Name of Everyday Hero:

Joseph Rocky

Relationship to nominee:

Fellow member of the Brookfield Lions Club

Details of his good works:

Joe Rocky leads a relatively new Pediatric Vision Screening Project for Brookfield families that enables the early detection of vision problems in preschool and kindergarten children. The screening is conducted at no cost by specially trained volunteers in the Brookfield Lions Club using a state-of-the-art “camera.”

Joe initiated the program in 2013 by visiting school administrators in the local area to tout the value of this project. At first he faced rejection and concern from skeptical school administrators who were not familiar with the testing. But he persisted in his mission by providing testimonials and other evidence of the value of the screening while demonstrating the safety and expediency of the process.

In a years’ time, he began to achieve significant success. During 2014, more than 200 children in Brookfield have received vision screening, including those at the Goddard Learning Center, Prince of Peace, Christian Life Academy, Country Kids Daycare, Brookfield Center School and St. Joseph’s School. Just over 7% of the children screened had vision or other eye health problems detected and were referred for additional examinations by their family ophthalmologist.

Why he is an everyday hero:

Joe is making a difference in the lives of the children who may struggle with learning due to vision issues that might otherwise remained undetected for years. Despite being confined to a wheelchair, he schedules and attends appointments with school officials, stays current on the use of the screening equipment and techniques, and encourages others to volunteer in support of the mission – all with a heartwarming smile on his face.

Joe’s ability to rise above his own adversity exemplifies the strength of his spirit and demonstrates the deep devotion he has to help others. Joe is a hero within our own Lions club, but it is without a doubt that he will in turn be a hero to many families who will ultimately benefit from his persistence and passion to serve our community.

Do you know someone who is an “Everyday Hero?”

Nominate them by following the instructions below:

Please answer the following questions below and email your answers, along with a photo, to wendy.mitchell@patch.com and your Everyday Hero could be featured!

1. Name of Everyday Hero
2. Your relationship to the nominee
3. Details of good work done or being done
4. Why do you feel is this person an everyday hero?

Have a news tip? Email wendy.mitchell@ patch.com.

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