Vision to Learn is a US nonprofit organization that provides free optometry services to children in low-income communities.
| Founder | Austin Beutner |
|---|---|
| Type | Charitable organization |
| 45-3457853[1] | |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) organization |
| Purpose | "Provide free exams and glasses to students in low-income communities" |
| Headquarters | 12100 Wilshire Blvd Suite 12575 |
| Location |
|
Executive director | Joan Chu Reese |
Key people | Ann Hollister, President |
Main organ | Board of directors |
| Website | visiontolearn |
History
editFounded by philanthropist Austin Beutner in 2012, the organization started with a single mobile clinic in Los Angeles, California, staffed by optometrists.[2]
Vision to Learn had served over 25,000 children by 2014,[3] and by 2019, it had 25 mobile clinics in 12 states.[2]
Ann Hollister, the organization's president, told The Washington Post in 2017 that 70% of Vision to Learn's revenue originated from philanthropy, while the other 30% came from partnerships with organizations like the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Unified School District.[2]
In April 2018, the district threatened to cancel a $6M contract with the charity, saying it was behind schedule meeting its commitments. Hollister countered that the district did not have the most recent information and that the delays were due to miscommunications between the district and the schools.[4]
Vision to Learn partnered with Johns Hopkins University from 2016 to 2021, and with eyewear retailer Warby Parker as part of the city initiative "Vision for Baltimore".[5] A study done by the university found that for students most behind in school, receiving eyeglasses narrowed their achievement gap equivalent to four to six months of learning.[6]
As of August 2023, Vision to Learn was active in 15 states and the District of Columbia, and had administered 2.3 million optometry screenings, and distributed 390,000 pairs of eyeglasses to children.[7] Its board of directors include Micky Kantor, Jake Winebaum,[8] and Laphonza Butler.[9]
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References
edit- ^ "2022 Vision To Learn (Form 990)". ProPublica. 2013-05-09. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
- ^ a b c Iati, Marisa (2019-08-05). "A mobile clinic is helping low-income students to see clearly — one pair of glasses at a time". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
- ^ Albright, Matthew (October 26, 2014). "Vision to Learn is bringing eyeglasses to children in need". Newspapers.com. The News Journal. p. A13. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
- ^ Blume, Howard (April 17, 2018). "Beutner charity is facing scrutiny". Newspapers.com. Los Angeles Times. p. A1, A7. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ "Setting sights higher". The Hub. Johns Hopkins University. 2019-10-10. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
- ^ Rosen, Jill (2021-09-09). "Eyeglasses for school kids boost academic performance, study finds". The Hub. Johns Hopkins University. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
- ^ Kuiper, Maria (August 8, 2023). "Getting Vision to Learn". Newspapers.com. The Courier. p. A1, A4. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
- ^ "Leadership". Vision To Learn. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
- ^ "2022 Vision To Learn Form 990". ProPublica. 2013-05-09. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
