Jennifer Bateman, Kristin Unzicker, Chris Collins, Jane Calvert, Teddy Thompson all of Boys & Girls Club of America accepting the check from Bob Stein.
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DULUTH, Ga.—National Vision, Inc. (NVI) has entered into a multi-year partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). The partnership provides funding, plus free vision screenings, access to free comprehensive eye exams, and if needed, eyeglasses for members at Boys & Girls Clubs through NVI’s America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses locations. The news was announced at NVI’s 20th annual Vendor Conference this week.

For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,100 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Club programs promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Nielsen Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives.

“This partnership aligns nicely with our mission… ‘We help people by making quality eyecare and eyewear more affordable and accessible’,” said Bob Stein, chief philanthropic development officer at NVI. He said that NVI will screen and provide needed care to thousands of Club members at identified sites in 2016, with the goal to continue increasing its reach and impact in subsequent years.

The partnership launches a new NVI program for BGCA as part of the organization’s preventive care and wellness initiative. In addition to its eyecare and eyewear commitment, NVI will contribute $1 million annually to BGCA in support of its mission to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. NVI’s investment and eyecare and eyewear commitment supports BGCA’s healthy lifestyles pillar, which seeks to build a healthier generation where young people can thrive. “

“At Boys & Girls Clubs, our vision is that all Club members graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and leading a healthy lifestyle. We’re committed to building a Culture of Wellness in our Clubs, which includes ensuring young people have access to vision and eyecare services,” said Jim L. Clark, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “We’re proud to partner with National Vision, Inc., and we’re grateful for their generous support, which will provide more youth with access to needed care and enable them to achieve great futures.”


National Vision associate Stephanie Zielenkievicz screening a child with a Snellen chart at the Mableton, GA Boys & Girls Club.
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A launch screening program was recently conducted in the A.W. “Tony” Matthews Boys & Girls Club in Mableton, Ga. In this first effort, vision screenings revealed 43 percent of the young people screened in the Club that day needed an exam, and more than half of those same children have never worn corrective eyewear. “For several of these kids, having access to an eye exam and getting glasses is going to be a life-changer,” Stein explained. “One young man could not see the big E on the eyechart. Imagine how his life will change when he can see clearly,” Stein added.

At the conference, Christopher Collins, executive director, from the A.W. “Tony” Matthews Boys & Girls Club, spoke about the impact this program will have on both Club Kids and parents. Additionally, Bob Stein presented a check to BGCA totaling $350,000 to represent NVI’s commitment for the remainder of 2015. There to receive the check on behalf of BGCA were Jennifer Bateman, national vice president, Health, Wellness & Gender; Kristin Unzicker, senior director of Nutrition, Health & Wellness; Teddy Thompson, national director-Corporate & Cause Partnerships; and Jane Calvert, director-National Corporate Partnerships & Cause Marketing.  

For two decades, NVI has held a conference annually with vendors, sharing business and industry news, all while benefiting a good cause through a golf tournament. As of 2015, the golf tournament’s proceeds are applied to 20/20 Quest, NVI’s foundation. This year the foundation is supporting Prevent Blindness Georgia, and other philanthropic programs that align with NVI’s corporate mission.

National Vision, Inc. is the fourth largest optical retailer in the U.S., operating over 800 retail locations in 44 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. NVI has several retail divisions including America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses, Vision Centers brought to you by Wal-Mart, Eyeglass World, Vista Optical inside Fred Meyer and Optical Centers on select military bases.