Vision To Learn ventured into the American south in May 2017, with a launch in Jackson, Mississippi. The program will provide eye exams and glasses, free of charge, to those K-12 students in need in Jackson Public Schools. Of the 30,000 students in Jackson Public Schools, an estimated 5,000 go to school every day without the glasses they need to see the board, read a book or do their math homework.
The effort kicked off May 16, 2017, at Timberlawn Elementary School, with special guest Deuce McAllister of the New Orleans Saints. The event was attended by Jackson Public Schools Interim Superintendent Dr. Freddrick Murray, Vision To Learn Mississippi Director Gayle Wicker, as well as Linda Ross Aldy, Executive Director of the Mississippi Optometric Association.
Former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and Ms. Gayle Wicker co-authored an Op Ed commemorating the program’s launch, which can be read here.
The project is funded in part by generous support from Jim and Donna Barksdale, Ambassador John Palmer, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. With Jackson as only the beginning, Vision To Learn’s program will expand to help children throughout Mississippi.
He spoke to the kids, saying, “You’re faced with a lot of challenges already. This is probably one of the missing pieces.
Mississippi Supporters:
Jim and Donna Barksdale
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
Mississippi Optometric Association
Ambassador John Palmer
Contact
Vision To Learn, Mississippi
Brittany Powell, Program Director
+1 (800) 485-9196
Questions or concerns: mississippi@visiontolearn.org
