PEOPLE Davis Vision, MLB Teams Go to Bat for Underserved Kids By Staff Monday, September 5, 2011 12:00 AM At CitiField, kids received free eyecare and eyewear prior to the N.Y. Mets game. PLAINVIEW, N.Y.—For four consecutive years, Davis Vision’s Focus on America outreach program has partnered with the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates to host free vision screenings for underserved children. Each year, the events draw in huge crowds and provide a day jam-packed with fun for the participants, including tickets to the ball game, giveaway items and visits from the team mascots. Recent events with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Mets have made the summer brighter for many underinsured children. In Pittsburgh, Tickets for Kids Charities provided free game tickets for nearly 200 participants following their vision screenings. Participants also received books as part of Davis Vision’s literacy and vision initiative, “Bring a Book. Get a Book. See a Book.” At CitiField in Flushing, N.Y., the children received a free day of eyecare and a pair of new sunglasses before the weekday afternoon Mets game at the ballpark. Of the 240 children screened at both events, nearly half were in need of follow-up care and received a voucher for a free comprehensive eye exam and eyeglasses, if needed, from Davis Vision retail stores in New York and Visionworks and Total Vision Care stores in Pittsburgh. “Events like this are important because they allow us to bring free services and education about eye health to a fun summer event,” said Laura Dyer, Davis Vision’s assistant vice president of community relations. “It also ensures that the children will have new eyeglasses for the upcoming start of the school year.” Davis Vision is part of the HVHC Inc. group of companies, which also includes Viva International Group and Eye Care Centers of America. Davis Vision has been providing comprehensive vision benefits for nearly 50 years. For more information about Davis Vision, visit http://www.davisvision.com/Focus-On-America/. ■