Vision To Learn will provide free glasses to 43 students at Betty Plasencia Elementary School.
Dodgers Stars Adrián González and Justin Turner, and Vision To Learn Founder and Chair Austin Beutner, joined students from Betty Plasencia Elementary School to celebrate five years providing kids with the glasses they need to succeed in school – and on the ball field. Vision To Learn provides vision screenings, eye exams and eye glasses, free of charge, to students in low-income communities. Vision To Learn’s eye care professionals serve children from mobile vision clinics that travel to school sites and community events.
The LA Dodgers Foundation has worked with Vision To Learn since it started in 2012. In addition to schools, Vision To Learn has provided vision screenings, eye exams and glasses to students at Dodgers RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) little-league events, Dodgers Day at Dodger Stadium, and Dodgers-supported community organizations like Boys and Girls Clubs.
“We are grateful for the support the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation has provided to Vision To Learn since we began our efforts five short years ago,” said Austin Beutner, Vision To Learn Founder and Chair. “We look forward to continuing to work with the LA Dodgers Foundation to make sure every child has the glasses they need to succeed in school and in life.”
The LA Dodgers Foundation was the first community partner of Vision To Learn, kicking off a successful series of collaborations between Vision To Learn and MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL teams. The LA Dodgers Foundation sponsors a special Dodgers-themed mobile clinic with pictures of Dodgers players who wear glasses. The LA Dodgers Foundation clinic visits schools throughout the school year, and during the summer serves children at Dodgers baseball events, health fairs and community organizations.
Nichol Whiteman, Executive Director of the LA Dodgers Foundation, said supporting Vision To Learn was a natural fit. “Our support of Vision To Learn makes a significant impact in children’s lives. Vision problems keep kids from reaching their full potential academically and in sports. You can’t play baseball without a bat or a glove, and you can’t do your best at school without good vision.”
Tuesday’s event celebrates the partnership with a glasses-dispensing ceremony at Betty Plasencia Elementary School, just down the hill from Dodger Stadium. 43 students will be provided glasses, passed out by Dodgers Players Adrián González and Justin Turner.
Vision To Learn began operations in Los Angeles in 2012, and now serves students in 176 cities, from Honolulu to Baltimore, becoming the largest program of its type in the nation. Vision To Learn has helped screen more than 420,000 children, examined over 80,000, and provided almost 65,000 with glasses, all free of charge.
UCLA research shows that Vision To Learn has a direct impact on education outcomes for children supported by the program and improves the learning environment for the entire classroom and school. The UCLA research can be found at https://visiontolearn.org/impact/ucla-study-impact-analysis-of-vision-to-learn/.
