About the Awards
One of the cornerstones of New Vision is Community Education—a vital pillar in our mission to eliminate barriers for people with vision loss.
The Axy Awards, short for “Accessible,” was launched in 2016 to celebrate those local companies within Lake, Sumter, and The Villages that go above and beyond to ensure a positive experience for our neighbors living with low vision or blindness. From something as simple as dignified customer service to employing people with disabilities, our Axy Award nominees, finalists, and winners are making a difference!
How It Works
We accept nominations every summer in the categories of most blind-friendly:
- Restaurant
- Eye Doctor
- Fitness Center
- Grocery
- Pharmacy
- Clothing Store
- Bank
- Utility
- Salon/Spa
- Movie Theatre
- Hospital
We also have open-ended nominations for other categories if desired. Past categories have included salon/spa, bowling alley, public transit, and cell phone.
Then we take the top businesses in each category with the most nominations—our finalists—and do another round of voting in the fall.
Announcing Our Winners
This year, we’re announcing our winners in a new way!
We’ve provided our winners with a Celebration Kit containing promotional items like table tents, signs, window decals, and stickers.
We are also sponsoring a special feature in the August “Best of the Best” issue of Lake-Sumter Style Magazine, available in print throughout our community and online.
2024 Axy Award Winners
And without future ado, announcing our winners!
- Restaurant: Culver’s Mount Dora
- Fitness Center: Genesis Health Clubs, The Villages
- Grocery: Publix
- Pharmacy: Publix
- Clothing Store: Kohl’s Eustis/Tavares
- Bank: Addition Financial Credit Union
- Utility: SECO Energy
- Movie Theatre: AMC Lake Square 12
- Hospital: AdventHealth Waterman