Organization Name: Prevent Blindness
Texas
When was your
organization founded / how long have you served in the San Antonio Community: Prevent Blindness
Texas has been serving the south Texas region, including San Antonio area since
1965.
What is your Mission
Statement:
The mission of Prevent Blindness Texas is to prevent blindness and preserve
sight.
How does your
organization impact our San Antonio Community: Prevent Blindness
Texas’s “Star Pupils” program is designed to educate parents and the general
public on children’s vision issues by providing disadvantaged children in Bexar
County with access to vision care through educational platforms and
partnerships.
One
of the components to our “Star Pupils” program is our Sight for Students
application.
It
assists families with a household income at or below 200% of the Federal
Poverty Level by providing a free eye exam and/or glasses as needed. The voucher system allows children (18 yrs.
and younger) to receive an eye exam and glasses if needed without any cost to
the family. Prevent Blindness Texas is
also committed to assisting families who may qualify for free eye care services
through the Sight for Students program by assisting with additional vision
resources, such as free vision screenings
and education services.
What is the vision of
your organization for the future of our Community: An indicator of the
success our program continues to see, is evident through increased screening
numbers and requests from SAISD’s Student Health Services to continue our
collaboration. Year after year, we
continue to increase the number of underserved and at-risk children in Bexar
County through the “Star Pupils” Program.
True
to our mission of preventing blindness and preserving sight, there are no
specific criteria to participate in free vision screenings. All children, parents, educators and the
general public are eligible to receive educational information on children’s
eye health and safety.
The
“Star Pupils” Program will arm parents with the information they need in order
to protect their children’s eyes at play and school to ensure a lifetime of
quality vision. It also helps families
with a household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level by
providing children with a free eye exam and/or glasses as needed without any
cost to the family.
Providing
access to free vision screenings, eye exams and glasses enables children to be
all they can be. It equips them with the
necessary supplies and the greatest possible chance at success.
How does the Junior
League of San Antonio help you fulfill your Mission: With the Junior
League’s support, Prevent Blindness Texas is able to reach out to a greater
number of children every year, providing more and more free vision screenings. More
and more children and families in need can receive assistance and be better
prepared for State mandated testing in the Spring.
