Vision To Learn immediately demonstrated its commitment to ensuring that every child has the vision to learn effectively. The program’s inaugural Georgia vision van was deployed to provide vital services – free vision screenings, comprehensive eye exams, and prescription glasses – to students within Atlanta Public Schools (APS) throughout the 2017-18 academic year. This initiative was warmly welcomed by then APS Superintendent Meria J. Carstarphen, who attended the launch at Hollis Academy, where an inspiring 49 students received glasses, marking the immediate positive impact of Vision To Learn.
The Atlanta program of Vision To Learn has been significantly bolstered by the generous support of the Atlanta Hawks Foundation. Beyond crucial financial contributions, this partnership brings an exciting community element, with the Hawks Foundation actively participating in glasses-dispensing events at schools situated near Hawks community basketball courts. Imagine the excitement as Hawks players, the beloved mascot Harry the Hawk, and the energetic Hawks Cheerleaders join in celebrating children receiving their new glasses! The inaugural Hawks-themed event at Fickett Elementary School in December 2017 perfectly exemplified this vibrant collaboration, further emphasizing the importance of vision to learn within the community.
[Insert image here: A photo of children receiving glasses at a Vision To Learn event in Georgia. Alt text: Smiling students receive new eyeglasses at a Vision To Learn program in Georgia, highlighting the importance of vision to learn.]
Thanks to the dedication of local visionaries and organizations including Georgia Power, Junior League of Atlanta, Waterfall Foundation, and Learn4Life, Vision To Learn has achieved remarkable success in Georgia. To date, the program has facilitated an impressive 47,000 eye exams and provided 39,000 pairs of glasses to children across numerous counties. These include Atkinson, Brantley, Clayton, Clinch, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Floyd, Fulton, Glascock, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Henry, Jefferson, McDuffie, Polk, Stephens, Taliaferro, Troup, and Warren counties, demonstrating the widespread reach of Vision To Learn in ensuring children across Georgia have the vision to learn.
A particularly impactful aspect of the Georgia program is its success in extending services to out-of-school program sites. This has been largely driven by a highly effective partnership with local library systems. Through this collaboration, over 7,300 children have received essential eye exams, and nearly 5,000 have been provided with life-changing glasses. Vision To Learn proudly partners with library systems in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, and Henry counties, recognizing libraries as vital community hubs to reach children and support their vision to learn journey. By bringing vision care directly to where children are, Vision To Learn effectively removes barriers and empowers students with the clear sight they need to succeed academically and beyond.
