During the 2016-17 school year, Vision To Learn Iowa expanded to serve 41 schools in seven different counties throughout Northeast Iowa (Allamakee, Clayton, Clinton, Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson and Jones Counties). This expanded pilot provided 725 students with free eye exams and 540 students with free glasses.
During the Spring of 2017, Vision To Learn Iowa partnered with the United Way of Central Iowa, the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and Iowa Prevent Blindness to pilot the mobile clinic in five elementary schools in the Des Moines Independent Community School District. This partnership resulted in 214 students receiving a free eye exam and 170 students with free glasses. During the summer months, the mobile clinic is partnering with summer programs including Boys & Girls Clubs, Summer Learning programs like St. Mark Youth Enrichment and other youth-serving organizations. Students will be identified for an exam on the mobile clinic based on pre-screenings, and those requiring prescriptions will receive free glasses.
Vision To Learn is pleased to recognize the leadership of the Campaign for Grade Level Reading which works to help more children read at grade level by the end of third grade. Research by the University of California Los Angeles Mattel Children’s Hospital 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. We look forward to serving students in low-income and rural communities throughout Iowa, delivering access to glasses that will improve literacy and other educational outcomes.
Iowa Supporters:
Theisen’s Home Farm & Auto
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
Rathmann Challenge
The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation
Klauer Optical Co.
Community Foundation of Jackson County
Steve and Elaine Kahler
Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines
United Way of Central Iowa
Iowa Prevent Blindness
Contact
Vision To Learn – Iowa
900 Jackson St.
Suite #LL5-2C
Dubuque, IA 52001
+1 (563) 284-2393
Questions or concerns: iowa@visiontolearn.org
Lost or broken VTL glasses? glasses@visiontolearn.org
