For his efforts to improve the eyesight of underprivileged people in Third World countries, John Jones, CPA, has received the 2016 Public Service Award from the California Society of CPAs.
The annual award recognizes an individual CalCPA member for services to the community or for governmental service in either a volunteer or elected capacity.
Jones, managing partner of Linkenheimer LLP CPAs & Advisors in Santa Rosa, has led missions with the Santa Rosa Sunrise Rotary Club and St. Mark Lutheran Church to provide eyeglasses and vision correction to villagers in remote parts of the world. For over 21 years he has made eye-care trips to Nicaragua, Mexico, Haiti, Guatemala, Samoa and Vietnam.
He estimates that he has personally examined more than 18,000 people for vision needs and eye problems, including cataracts and pterygiums.
“John exemplifies the meaning of service,” said Lynette Atchley, chair of the public service selection committee. “His dedication to helping the underprivileged is inspiring and sets a high bar for those who will be considered for this honor in the future.”
Jones is past president of the California Group of Accounting Firms, past president of the Rohnert Park – Cotati Rotary Club, chair of the board of elders at St. Mark Lutheran Church, and past chair of Alliott Group Worldwide, an alliance of independent accounting, law and consulting firms.
Through Santa Rosa Sunrise Rotary, he is leading an effort to develop a surgery center for villagers in the Rio San Juan region of Nicaragua. When completed, the center will serve about 30,000 people.
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