Pittsburgh
In June 2018, Vision To Learn launched a program in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to serve Pittsburgh Public Schools students in need. Through this initiative, Pittsburgh Public Schools nurses provide vision screenings to students; and Vision To Learn provides eye exams and glasses, free of charge, to Pittsburgh Public Schools students. An estimated 2,650 children in Pittsburgh go to school every day without the glasses they need to see the board, read a book, study math, or participate in the classroom.
Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Anthony Hamlet, Pennsylvania Executive Director of the Children’s Health Insurance Program Patricia Allan, Pittsburgh Steelers Wide Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, Vision To Learn Pennsylvania Co-Chair Bruce Gebhardt, and Vision To Learn President Ann Hollister participated in a kickoff event on June 1 at Pittsburgh King PreK-8, where 21 students received glasses.
Vision To Learn aims to establish partnerships with school districts in surrounding areas of Allegheny County as well as Westmoreland County and Washington County. Building on its efforts in the southwest region of the state, Vision To Learn is working with local partners to assess the feasibility of expansion to other regions within the state.
Philadelphia
In September 2019, Vision To Learn joined forces with The Eagles Charitable Foundation to expand service to students throughout the School District of Philadelphia (SDP).
Over 30,000 SDP students lack the glasses they need to achieve their academic potential. Since 1996, the Eagles Eye Mobile has visited schools in the Greater Philadelphia area; and Vision To Learn assumed management of the program in fall 2019, joining forces to amplify vision care services for students. With the addition of Vision To Learn and another mobile clinic, “Eagles Eye Mobile – powered by Vision To Learn,” over 60 schools will be visited in the area annually.
Pennsylvania Supporters:
AMETEK Foundation
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
Deerbrook Charitable Trust
Eagles Charitable Foundation
Essilor Vision Foundation
The Heinz Endowments
Hillman Foundation
Independence Blue Cross Foundation
Richard King Mellon Foundation
Merck & Co., Inc.
Pittsburgh Steelers
PNC Charitable Trusts
RP Simmons Family Charitable Trust
Warby Parker
William Penn Foundation
Contact
Vision To Learn, Pennsylvania
Mark Scaramuzzi, Program Manager Pittsburgh Area
+1 (412) 453-6737
Questions or concerns: westernpennsylvania@visiontolearn.org
Rachel Weiner, Program Manager Philadelphia Area
+1 (215) 339-6770
Questions or concerns: philadelphia@visiontolearn.org
