"Every child in every school, everywhere in the country, should have the eye care they need to succeed in school and life," says Austin Beutner, Founder of Vision To Learn, a nationwide nonprofit that provides eyecare to children through mobile vision clinics at their schools at no cost to them or their families. "Ford Philanthropy's support is helping to ensure more children in Ohio get the help they need."

Nearly 250,000 students in Ohio go without glasses, revealing the gap in access to essential eye care for many families. This October, Vision To Learn kicked off the next phase of its work with a grant from Ford Philanthropy to provide mobile vision services for 15,000 students near Ford plants in Northeast Ohio, covering over 4,000 new prescription glasses and 5,000 eye exams.

At their first event in East Cleveland last month, nearly 40 students from Northwood Middle School tried on new eyeglasses they received during the kickoff celebration to mark the Ford Philanthropy and Vision to Learn partnership.

Putting Vision Care on Wheels

"The program offered by Vision To Learn is an outstanding resource for our students and their families," said Superintendent Ann Schloss. "We truly cannot express enough gratitude for partners like Vision To Learn, who provide essential vision care on campus and support students in reaching their goals." 

When access to eyecare is improved, children can perform better academically and boost their confidence. Vision To Learn has put vision care on wheels meeting students and their families where they are, going directly to their schools, fitting glasses on site and allowing parents to remain at work while their children's needs are met. 

Since its 2012 founding, Vision to Learn has helped more than 2.5 million children with vision care and over 400,000 with glasses. To support this Ford Philanthropy nonprofit partner, visit Vision to Learn.