(PRESS RELEASE) Optometry Cares — The AOA Foundation, the charitable organization of the American Optometric Association (AOA), awards grants of up to $5,000 to grassroots projects that align with HEHC’s main objective: spreading awareness and increasing vision services to underserved children with uncorrected refractive errors.
The $73,300 awarded this year to 15 local community projects address unique and diverse populations, including children with special needs, low vision, infants, preschoolers and the medically indigent, as well as a children’s vision education program for legislations,” says Carol Marusich, O.D., Optometry Cares board member and HEHC committee co-chair with Carol Record, O.D. “The impact on community awareness of children’s vision needs and the sustainability of local programs to meet those needs will benefit both the children and the doctors of optometry who are considering a project for their local community.”
The program is generously supported by founding sponsor Essilor Vision Foundation. Additionally, Essilor Vision Foundation provides no-cost lenses and frames through their Changing Life through Lenses program. The 2020 grant recipients are:
- Access to Comprehensive Vision Care for Low-Income Children (Illinois)
- ACE Kern 20/20 School-Based Vision Centers (California)
- Beyond 2020 Vision Nebraska
- Children’s Vision Issues and Parent Education PSA (New Mexico)
- EYE Can See (Ohio)
- Eye Physical: Pediatric Community Eye Care (Louisiana)
- HB 5297 Child Vision Bill Teacher & Parent Ed. Materials (Michigan)
- iCare4Kids – Children’s Vision Program (Texas)
- iCare4Kids (Missouri)
- In Her Vision (North Carolina)
- Looking Out for Kids (Pennsylvania)
- Low Vision and Children Outreach: Community Education (California)
- READ: Resources, Education and Access for kids with Disabilities (Massachusetts)
- See Kids See (Utah)
- Vision Care for Underserved Children in Arizona
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