On Wednesday, the Atlanta Hawks helped more than 150 middle school students get vision screenings and new eyeglasses in partnership with the non-profit Vision To Learn.
The event took place at Camp Creek Middle School in Fulton County where star John Collins, in-game host Shamea Morton, mascot Harry the Hawk, other team entertainment and volunteers from Vision To Learn met with students.
“It is important that the Hawks Foundation continues to empower the city’s youth,” Hawks Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility Andrea Carter said in a press release. “This event at Camp Creek Middle School is one way that we continue to make an impact through the power of vision not just on the court, but also in the classroom and beyond.”
In addition to free eye exams and glasses, the event helped “students collaborate with Hawks Entertainment and Collab Crib, an Atlanta-based content house made up of Black creators, to create TikTok videos.”
Every day, thousands of children in the Atlanta area attend school without the glasses they need to read the board, complete homework from their books or participate properly in class, according to Vision To Learn. The main reason? Low-income students often lack access to basic vision services. To address this issue, the non-profit uses mobile vision clinic vans to provide vision services to students at school free of charge.
“The need for our program has never been greater, and together with the Hawks, we plan to help thousands more kids in the year to come,” Ann Hollister, President of Vision To Learn, said in a press release.
The Atlanta Hawks Foundation has partnered with Vision To Learn since 2017. In 2018, the Hawks and Vision To Learn paid a surprise visit to Toney Elementary School, where more than 60 students received new glasses and were treated to a basketball clinic.
