Post Date: 11/21/2017 11:30 AM

California-based nonprofit partners with William “Hicks” Anderson Community Center for event on November 22

Mayor Mike Purzycki and Department of Parks and Recreation Director Kevin F. Kelly, Sr., today announced that Wilmington children will once again have an opportunity to receive free eye exams and free glasses courtesy of Vision to Learn. Vision to Learn’s Mobile Clinic will visit the William “Hicks” Anderson Community Center, 501 N. Madison Street, on Wednesday, November 22, from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Formed in 2012, the California-based nonprofit organization delivers free eye exams and glasses to the hardest-to-reach kids in low-income communities. More than 89% of kids served by Vision To Learn live in poverty and 87% are kids of color.

VTL launched a pilot expansion program in Delaware in October 2014 at Shortlidge Academy, and began serving children statewide less than a year later. The mobile clinic began visiting schools in the Community Education Building, 1200 North French Street, earlier this year, and since that time has provided over 75 eye exams and more than 60 pairs of free glasses to students at Kuumba Academy and Great Oaks Charter Schools. Mayor Purzycki joined Senator Chris Coons and Governor John Carney at an event held at the Community Education Building celebrating this success in April. Since its inception, Vision To Learn has helped over 80,000 kids, including more than 4,000 school children in Delaware.

“It’s amazing how people often overlook the fact that something so simple as correcting failing vision can have such a huge impact on a child’s success in school – both academically and socially – as well as later in life,” said Mayor Purzycki. “Vision to Learn helps solve a problem that is easily overlooked, and in doing so gives many children in this city and across our state a chance to prosper and reach their fullest potential. And that’s good for everybody.”

According to Vision to Learn, as many as 6,000 students in Delaware lack the glasses they need to fully participate in school, and the organization helps to bridge the gap in access felt by many students – and their families – in low-income communities. Vision to Learn’s optometrists work out of a mobile clinic bus that travels to school sites every day. Students are examined on the bus and, if glasses are prescribed, kids can choose their frames for a wide selection of colors and sizes. Vision to Learn then delivers the glasses to the children at school. All services – from exam to glasses – are provided free of charge.

For more information about tomorrow’s event, please call WHACC at 302-571-4266.

For more information about Vision to Learn, visit www.visiontolearn.org or call 302-220-4820.

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Media Contact:

John Rago

Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Communications

Office of Mayor Michael S. Purzycki

Mobile: (302) 420-7928

Email: jrago@WilmingtonDE.gov