At the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Mayor Femke Halsema praised Tonnie’s dedication on behalf of many thousands of others.

The unique nature of Tonnie’s contributions to OOG in OOG lies in her long, uninterrupted, volunteer involvement, the pioneering work she has done in building a completely new patient organization, and the tangible impact her work has on the lives of people who see with one eye or wear an ocular prosthesis.

In addition to her volunteer work for the OOG in OOG Association, she is also the founder of the Eigen Gezicht Foundation, which provides psychosocial support to people with facial abnormalities. “Her exceptional dedication has had a lasting impact on the empowerment of many people with facial differences,” said Janneke Hazelhoff, president of Stichting Eigen Gezicht.

The Gein 1 Residents’ Committee also wrote a letter of recommendation describing Tonnie’s tireless dedication to her own neighborhood.

Tonnie, on behalf of the other board members, staff, and members of the OOG in OOG Association, we would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to you on this well-deserved award. During the National Contact Day on May 2, there will be plenty of opportunity to congratulate Tonnie in person.

Watch Mayor Femke Halsema’s speech below: