The Board of Directors of Alabama Children First recently announced the appointment of Dr. Martha Morrow as a new member of the board. Morrow’s appointment expands the board to 22 members who are located throughout the state – with Morrow as the only representative in this part of the state.

“Dr. Morrow’s life-long commitment to helping people in need, especially children, is exactly what Alabama Children First values, and we are very honored to have her join our board,” said executive director Christy Cain. “She will bring insight and wisdom to the ongoing challenge of making sure our children grow up to be productive citizens.”

Morrow said she had found opportunities to assist Alabama Children’s First in an unofficial capacity for quite some time, and when they asked if she had interest in working as a member of the board, “I said, absolutely.”

Morrow has been a doctor of optometry in Russellville for forty years. She served ten years on the Southern College of Optometry Board of Trustees, was their first female chairperson and received a lifetime achievement award from SCO for her tireless efforts for their program. In addition, she is the past president of the Alabama Board of Optometry and is the only woman ever to be recognized as the Optometrist of the South for 12 southern states.

Morrow is married to Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow, and she said the time she has spent with him in Montgomery is part of what convicted her about Alabama Children First.

“I just know all the legislative effort is really what controls a lot of it,” said Morrow – “it” being the programs and resources made available for the populations Alabama’s Children First seeks to serve. “There is nothing more important than children’s education, health and safety … I’m very honored to have northwest Alabama represented on Alabama Children First.”

Morrow said she is eager to get to work. She was set to participate in an all-day training session today, Wednesday. “I’m planning to work very hard in this appointment to make Alabama better for our children,” she said. She said she has a determination that people should be active in the causes about which they are passionate.

Her volunteer efforts throughout her life support that passion: Sight Chair for Russellville Lion’s Club for more than ten years, Vision USA Volunteer Provider for 30 years and provider for InfantSEE, a program which offers no-cost eye exams for infants, for more than 12 years.

Alabama Children First is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving the lives of Alabama’s children and families by shaping public policy. Children First was formed because the states’ leaders and child advocates who saw a need to advocate for children in the halls of Alabama’s legislature. For more information, visit www.alabamachildrenfirst.com.