Over 20 students at Garfield Elementary School received new glasses and got to try them out in a unique way – posing with the the Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy and Golden State Warriors Community Ambassador Adonal Foyle. The event celebrated a continuing partnership between the Warriors Community Foundation and non-profit provider Vision To Learn, now in its fourth year providing free eye exams and glasses to students in need throughout the Bay Area.
An estimated 7,000 kids in Oakland Unified go to school every day without the glasses they need to see the board, read a book or participate in the classroom. The primary hurdle is a lack of access to vision services for students in low-income communities. To solve this problem, Vision To Learn brings vision services to students at school using mobile clinic vans.
“Vision To Learn provides kids with the glasses they need to succeed in school, and in life,” said Ann Hollister, Founder and Chair of Vision To Learn. “Our partnership with the Warriors Community Foundation has helped thousands of kids get glasses – and made getting glasses fun.”
A multi-year partnership with the Warriors Community Foundation has helped fund the program. At Thursday’s event, over 20 students tried on their new glasses for the first time, assisted by Warriors Community Ambassador Adonal Foyle and the Warriors Dance Team. Then, the students walked outside to the basketball court, where they were treated to a surprise clinic with coaches from Warriors Basketball Camp, demonstrating how better vision helps students succeed in school and in athletics. To date, Vision To Learn has provided over 5,300 Oakland students with eye exams, and over 4,300 with glasses.
“The Warriors Community Foundation supports programs that make a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of underserved youth in the San Francisco Bay Area, and Vision To Learn is a perfect example,” said Warriors Community Foundation Executive Director Melanie Moore. “By providing students with the critical educational tool of a pair of glasses, Vision To Learn helps kids learn to read, keep up in class, and pursue their dreams.”
Vision To Learn serves students in school districts throughout the Bay Area, including in Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, San Leandro, and Contra Costa County. Since its founding in 2012, Vision To Learn has provided over 30,000 students with eye exams and 25,000 with glasses in Northern California.
“Oakland Unified School District is delighted to have the support of Vision To Learn and the Warriors Community Foundation. This program provides access to eye care to thousands of our students who would otherwise go without glasses. No student should go to school unable to see to their best ability,” said Dr. Kyla Johnson-Trammell, Oakland Unified Superintendent.
About Warriors Community Foundation:
The Warriors Community Foundation is dedicated to making a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of underserved youth in the San Francisco Bay Area. Specifically, the Foundation strives to improve educational outcomes among children in Alameda and San Francisco Counties. Established in 2012 under the new Lacob and Guber ownership group, the Foundation extends the team’s impact locally and continues a longstanding tradition of community involvement. It is sustained by generous contributions from Warriors owners, players, partners and fans. For more information please visit http://www.nba.com/warriors/foundation.
About the Oakland Unified School District
In California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” More than half of our students speak a non-English language at home. And each of our 86 schools is staffed with talented individuals uniting around a common set of values: Students First, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, Cultural Responsiveness and Joy. We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success.
