200,000th Student and 70 Classmates Try On New Glasses at Stubbs Elementary
One small pair of glasses for a student; one giant leap for Vision To Learn.
This morning at Stubbs Elementary School, Vision To Learn celebrated a major milestone – since its founding in 2012, the nonprofit organization has provided 200,000 students with free vision exams and glasses. Delaware’s Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, together with Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki participated in the event, at which 70 students tried on their new glasses for the first time – including the 200,000th student, a 4th grader named Leilani.
“Seven years ago, Vision To Learn was founded to ensure that no child goes without the glasses he or she needs to succeed in school, and in life. Today, 200,000 students have been helped by the program,” said Vision To Learn Founder Austin Beutner. “With the help of policymakers, partners, and supporters, we look forward to helping the more than2 million students across the country who lack access to vision care.”
Senator Chris Coons, who helped bring Vision To Learn’s program to Delaware in 2015, congratulated the program.
“Vision To Learn’s program demonstrates every day that the problem of kids at school who lack needed glasses is serious, sweeping – and solvable,” said Senator Chris Coons. “In Delaware, and across the nation, Vision To Learn’s mobile clinic travels to schools and helps thousands of kids who would otherwise go without.”
Senator Tom Carper recognized the importance of glasses for students. “For students who have trouble seeing, a pair of glasses is a critical educational tool,” said Senator Carper. “Vision To Learn is an innovative way to bring vision services to students where they are every day – at school.”
Vision To Learn provides students in need with free eye exams and glasses, using a mobile clinic that travels to school sites. In addition to serving schools throughout Delaware, Vision To Learn has helped students in 12 states, from Honolulu to Baltimore.
Approximately one in four students has an untreated vision issue, according to the American Optometric Association and Vision To Learn’s own vision screening data. This issue is particularly prevalent among students in low-income communities.
